Only Black Girls in Town
Ratings4
Average rating4.5
15
Ratings4
Average rating4.5
From award-winning YA author Brandy Colbert comes a debut middle-grade novel about the only two Black girls in town who discover a collection of hidden journals revealing shocking secrets of the past. Beach-loving surfer Alberta has been the only Black girl in town for years. Alberta's best friend, Laramie, is the closest thing she has to a sister, but there are some things even Laramie can't understand. When the bed and breakfast across the street finds new owners, Alberta is ecstatic to learn the family is black—and they have a 12-year-old daughter just like her. Alberta is positive she and the new girl, Edie, will be fast friends. But while Alberta loves being a California girl, Edie misses her native Brooklyn and finds it hard to adapt to small-town living. When the girls discover a box of old journals in Edie's attic, they team up to figure out exactly who's behind them and why they got left behind. Soon they discover shocking and painful secrets of the past and learn that nothing is quite what it seems.
Reviews with the most likes.
Started slow but great otherwise. I would happily read a sequel if Alberta wanted to make another appearance.
5 stars
This book brought a smile to my face. I really enjoyed it
A perfect middle school friendship book! Colbert really nails those insecurities we've all been through - am I cool? Why does everyone seem older and better? Why is my friend hanging out with someone I hate? So so good.
I don't always like reading middle grade novels as an adult reader, because sometimes they are just too simplistic to be satisfying–again, to me as an adult reader. These books are intended for younger readers and often those readers do need and want a simpler story with an easier resolution. But for me, when middle grade novels are at their best they can speak to the messiness of coming of age and figuring yourself out, and that's what Brandy Colbert is doing here. PLUS ALSO a mystery that is both something that could plausibly be solved by middle schoolers without being either totally dumb or totally solved by unrealistic plot device of some sort.
Highly recommended for tweens AND adults!!
