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Code Red
In the spirit of Judy Blume, this “character-driven, thought-provoking, often funny, and, above all, timely” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) middle grade novel celebrates finding yourself, making new friends, and standing up for what’s right as a girl becomes involved in menstrual activism.
Ever since a career-ending injury, former elite gymnast Eden has been feeling lost. To add insult to actual injury, her mom has been invited to present at her middle school’s career day, which would be fine except Mom’s company produces period products like pads and tampons. Having the whole school hear about it is total humiliation. And when Eden gets into a fight with a boy who won’t stop mocking her for it, she and her classmate Maribel both end up getting suspended.
Mom’s corporate executive job means she doesn’t have time to look after Eden while she’s suspended, so Eden is sent to volunteer at the food bank Maribel’s mom runs. There, she meets new friends who open her eyes to period poverty, the struggle that low-income people with periods have trying to afford menstrual products. Eden even meets a boy who gets periods. Witnessing how people fight for fair treatment inspires Eden to join the advocacy work.
But sewing pads to donate and pushing for free access to period products puts Eden at odds with her mom. Even so, Eden’s determined to hold onto the one thing that’s ignited her passion and drive since gymnastics. Can she stand her ground and make a real difference?
Ever since a career-ending injury, former elite gymnast Eden has been feeling lost. To add insult to actual injury, her mom has been invited to present at her middle school’s career day, which would be fine except Mom’s company produces period products like pads and tampons. Having the whole school hear about it is total humiliation. And when Eden gets into a fight with a boy who won’t stop mocking her for it, she and her classmate Maribel both end up getting suspended.
Mom’s corporate executive job means she doesn’t have time to look after Eden while she’s suspended, so Eden is sent to volunteer at the food bank Maribel’s mom runs. There, she meets new friends who open her eyes to period poverty, the struggle that low-income people with periods have trying to afford menstrual products. Eden even meets a boy who gets periods. Witnessing how people fight for fair treatment inspires Eden to join the advocacy work.
But sewing pads to donate and pushing for free access to period products puts Eden at odds with her mom. Even so, Eden’s determined to hold onto the one thing that’s ignited her passion and drive since gymnastics. Can she stand her ground and make a real difference?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 13, 2024
Eden begins to struggle with finding herself after an injury takes her out of gymnastics. Her mother is the busy CEO of a feminine hygiene company. Eden makes some new friends who are more political in nature and that's hard for her mother to handle. Decent realistic fiction.
February 27, 2023
A little book with a big message: dignity and accessibility for all menstruators. Eden, a middle school student who recently experienced an injury to end her gymnastics career, feels unwanted and purposeless in her life. Her father is a pilot who travels the world and her mother, a CEO for a period products company, is constantly unavailable. But when she finds out about how many people struggle to access period products, she finds not only purpose but friends that she finally feels close to. Unfortunately, taking legislative action against businesses that your mother is the CEO of is certain to cause problems…
I liked the book as a whole and I liked the action items at the end, especially with follow up resources. I think it was nice to focus on the importance of using the word menstruators. Even though passing legislative action is a big undertaking, it didn’t feel like an unrealistic story, especially how it ended. My only complaint was that I felt the small addition of drinking was unnecessary, especially because it ended up in the last 20 pages of the book. Overall, though, Code Red is a great book for kids who want to learn more about equity, advocacy, and making a difference in their community.
I liked the book as a whole and I liked the action items at the end, especially with follow up resources. I think it was nice to focus on the importance of using the word menstruators. Even though passing legislative action is a big undertaking, it didn’t feel like an unrealistic story, especially how it ended. My only complaint was that I felt the small addition of drinking was unnecessary, especially because it ended up in the last 20 pages of the book. Overall, though, Code Red is a great book for kids who want to learn more about equity, advocacy, and making a difference in their community.
September 15, 2024
A Maine Student Book Award nominee for 24|25.
Eden is an ex gymnast perfectionist who is struggling with who she is after the end of her gymnastics career ends. Her relationship with her mom is strained; and her mother works a lot.
When she stumbles upon a local food bank she becomes interested in period poverty; the fact that many poor and unhoused people do not have access to period products. She launches on a path to local and state advocacy; all while trying to find her place in the world, and also in her mother’s world.
I really enjoyed this quick read. And I know some of my students will too!
Eden is an ex gymnast perfectionist who is struggling with who she is after the end of her gymnastics career ends. Her relationship with her mom is strained; and her mother works a lot.
When she stumbles upon a local food bank she becomes interested in period poverty; the fact that many poor and unhoused people do not have access to period products. She launches on a path to local and state advocacy; all while trying to find her place in the world, and also in her mother’s world.
I really enjoyed this quick read. And I know some of my students will too!
December 13, 2023
Really a 3.5 but I'm going to round up because I love books about periods. I especially appreciated that this book allowed Eden to learn and make mistakes about period equity (like when she didn't know that Will was trans and gets periods) and I really liked all of the conversations about period equity. I also thought it was kind of cool that the friendships were messy because it's middle school and they usually are. However, I was a bit disappointed about how easily the mom changed. First of all, she very obviously had narcissistic personality disorder so there is NO way that she would have just so easily apologized at the end. Also, she was very clear and upfront about what her politics were so again... it seemed WAY too easy that she would all of a sudden be on board with the initiative. I also had a problem with the Fernando car scene. But it still brings up a lot of good topics and I'm glad that there are more and more books about this.
April 9, 2024
This is definitely a more modern take on a subject that is often not talked about. This gave serious Judy Blume vibes. I found it to be charming and was thrilled with the advocacy element of it. There were even websites at the end of the book for those that want to dive deeper into understanding and supporting awareness around the issues. I actually learned that the state I work in is supposed to provide products to our students free if needed - but I don't know where these products are located OR if we even have them readily available for students in need.
It was a unique way to discuss the challenges some people face, rather than focusing solely on things happening to one person.
I would recommend this one to any middle schooler that is curious about advocacy as well as growing up.
It was a unique way to discuss the challenges some people face, rather than focusing solely on things happening to one person.
I would recommend this one to any middle schooler that is curious about advocacy as well as growing up.
July 24, 2023
Are You There God It’s Me Margaret for a new generation! I very much enjoyed this middle grade novel that explores period poverty and gender inclusivity without being heavy-handed about it. Also a touching story of how complicated friendships can be at that age.
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August 29, 2024I did not read this book. I just didn’t finish it.
May 23, 2024
Code Red by Joy McCullough. This book was a little out of my comfort zone because it was all about periods and helping people have access to free supplies when needed. Eden was a gymnast trying for the Olympics until an injury changed her life course. She makes new friends in the book and gets into politics.
May 15, 2023
Code Red by Joy McCullough (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, June 2023) tackles and important issue: period poverty and menstrual inequality. I never had considered these issues in the USA! Menstruators (people who menstruate, which includes trans men, since they are biologically female) around the world do not have materials for managing periods, and so menstruation becomes a life-altering difficulty. Code Red takes this to the middle school level with a likeable character, Eden, who learns about these inequalities in her own community for the first time.
Eden has spent most of her life as an elite gymnast, on track for Olympic fame. After an injury makes Olympic dreams impossible, Eden decides to end her gymnastics training. Without hours of gymnastics, Eden finds herself adrift. Then, after an embarrassing school situation, a new friend helps Eden learn about the very real issue of period poverty. Along with her friend Maribel, Eden becomes quickly involved in the menstruation movement to support women menstruators by providing free tampons and pads to those who need them. She jumps into activism.
This is all an interesting and important concept for middle grader readers to learn about, but the entire book fell flat with me. Eden’s mother is a self-made CEO of a company (MySecret) that produces period products, like tampons and pads. MySecret would be negatively affected by Eden’s activism, since the proposal would tax large companies such as MySecret in order to fund pads and tampons in schools. Yet Eden gained no understanding of the impact of her activism on her mother, her mother’s company, and her own lifestyle. Eden’s upbringing has been quite privileged, and so in some respects, her quick shift to activism did not feel realistic. In all of her years doing gymnastics, had she never noticed how rich she was?
Eden’s relationship with her CEO mother also felt unrealistic to me. There was evidence of a relationship of some kind, such as time together on weekends, but the text claims they were very distant. Her mother is now suddenly interested in Eden, when apparently she never had been before. Meetings still keep her from engaging in Eden’s life, but she cares enough to track her phone to see her location. Further, in the end when her mother sees how devoted Eden is to the cause, she completely changes her business strategy to meet Eden’s desires. Their relationship was not clear and didn’t feel realistic, from beginning to end.
Finally, I did not like that Eden spends a good portion of the book working behind her mother’s back, without her permission, in order to continue her activism. Although these plot points set up a situation for Eden to make a difference and take charge in her new life, I’m not a fan of characters in middle grade books disobeying parents in order to do what they want. A tween reader is immature, and books like these may give them ideas that disobedience is okay when the cause is a good one. That’s not a decision I want my eleven-year-old daughter making. Not even my 13 year old!
I understands that the “ends justify the means.” Eden’s purpose is a good one. Middle grade readers will learn about a real issue and may be inspired by Eden’s activism. But Eden’s story felt like too much of a shift from where she had been to where she ended up. It’s hard to believe that her mother (even a not-very-attentive one) wouldn’t have conveyed to her daughter some of the business sense that Eden was now learning on her own, actively working against her mother’s company.
I read a digital review copy of Code Red.
Eden has spent most of her life as an elite gymnast, on track for Olympic fame. After an injury makes Olympic dreams impossible, Eden decides to end her gymnastics training. Without hours of gymnastics, Eden finds herself adrift. Then, after an embarrassing school situation, a new friend helps Eden learn about the very real issue of period poverty. Along with her friend Maribel, Eden becomes quickly involved in the menstruation movement to support women menstruators by providing free tampons and pads to those who need them. She jumps into activism.
This is all an interesting and important concept for middle grader readers to learn about, but the entire book fell flat with me. Eden’s mother is a self-made CEO of a company (MySecret) that produces period products, like tampons and pads. MySecret would be negatively affected by Eden’s activism, since the proposal would tax large companies such as MySecret in order to fund pads and tampons in schools. Yet Eden gained no understanding of the impact of her activism on her mother, her mother’s company, and her own lifestyle. Eden’s upbringing has been quite privileged, and so in some respects, her quick shift to activism did not feel realistic. In all of her years doing gymnastics, had she never noticed how rich she was?
Eden’s relationship with her CEO mother also felt unrealistic to me. There was evidence of a relationship of some kind, such as time together on weekends, but the text claims they were very distant. Her mother is now suddenly interested in Eden, when apparently she never had been before. Meetings still keep her from engaging in Eden’s life, but she cares enough to track her phone to see her location. Further, in the end when her mother sees how devoted Eden is to the cause, she completely changes her business strategy to meet Eden’s desires. Their relationship was not clear and didn’t feel realistic, from beginning to end.
Finally, I did not like that Eden spends a good portion of the book working behind her mother’s back, without her permission, in order to continue her activism. Although these plot points set up a situation for Eden to make a difference and take charge in her new life, I’m not a fan of characters in middle grade books disobeying parents in order to do what they want. A tween reader is immature, and books like these may give them ideas that disobedience is okay when the cause is a good one. That’s not a decision I want my eleven-year-old daughter making. Not even my 13 year old!
I understands that the “ends justify the means.” Eden’s purpose is a good one. Middle grade readers will learn about a real issue and may be inspired by Eden’s activism. But Eden’s story felt like too much of a shift from where she had been to where she ended up. It’s hard to believe that her mother (even a not-very-attentive one) wouldn’t have conveyed to her daughter some of the business sense that Eden was now learning on her own, actively working against her mother’s company.
I read a digital review copy of Code Red.
December 2, 2022
More thorough review to come. I loved this book. The authenticity of the mother-daughter relationship and the interactions between Eden and her middle school friends were so spot-on for me. Highlighting the accessibility of activism was another thing I absolutely loved in this book. I think that kids sometimes feel like they can't make a difference when they see issues/problems in society and the way that the young kids and teenagers in the story worked together to try to help was incredibly inspiring. This is a book that brings light to something that many people haven't thought about, and that's huge. Eden's journey, both emotional and physical, is relatable to tons of middle-schoolers. Loved this. #CodeRed
August 20, 2023
"McCullough tackles period poverty with her usual feminist flair, yet the conversations bring along readers who may be less familiar with issues around menstrual equity. Changemakers eager to go against the flow will appreciate the paths Eden explores to increased self-awareness, advocacy, and social activism." [Booklist]
May 8, 2024
"Code Red" is a timely piece of realistic fiction that dives into some of today’s most relevant issues through the lens of a young, inspiring protagonist. The story gives readers a glimpse into the life of Eden, a former elite gymnast whose world has turned upside down due to a career-ending injury.
Eden’s already complicated middle school life hits another snag when her mother, who works for a company that produces period products, is invited to speak at her school’s career day. The idea of the entire school discussing menstruation is mortifying to Eden, and things escalate when she ends up suspended for defending herself against a classmate's mockery about it. During her suspension, Eden finds herself volunteering at a food bank, where she meets a diverse group of new friends, including a trans boy, who open her eyes to the issue of period poverty—the struggle many low-income people face in affording menstrual products.
This awakening sparks a fire in Eden, who starts to channel her passion and competitive spirit into activism. She joins the fight for menstrual equity, crafting homemade sanitary pads and advocating for free access to period products. Her new mission, however, puts her at odds with her corporate executive mother, setting the stage for both interpersonal drama and personal growth.
McCullough’s novel handles complex topics such as inclusivity, identity, and activism with sensitivity and grace, making them accessible for middle-grade readers. The book also does a commendable job of incorporating inclusive language and presenting a progressive perspective on gender and social issues without being preachy.
It’s not just the activism that makes this book stand out; it’s how McCullough captures the transformation of a girl finding her new path after a life-altering setback. The story is a powerful reminder that young people can drive meaningful change, and it celebrates the learning and unlearning process that comes with challenging societal norms. For anyone who gets excited about activism, especially in stories aimed at younger readers, "Code Red" is an invigorating and inspiring read.
Eden’s already complicated middle school life hits another snag when her mother, who works for a company that produces period products, is invited to speak at her school’s career day. The idea of the entire school discussing menstruation is mortifying to Eden, and things escalate when she ends up suspended for defending herself against a classmate's mockery about it. During her suspension, Eden finds herself volunteering at a food bank, where she meets a diverse group of new friends, including a trans boy, who open her eyes to the issue of period poverty—the struggle many low-income people face in affording menstrual products.
This awakening sparks a fire in Eden, who starts to channel her passion and competitive spirit into activism. She joins the fight for menstrual equity, crafting homemade sanitary pads and advocating for free access to period products. Her new mission, however, puts her at odds with her corporate executive mother, setting the stage for both interpersonal drama and personal growth.
McCullough’s novel handles complex topics such as inclusivity, identity, and activism with sensitivity and grace, making them accessible for middle-grade readers. The book also does a commendable job of incorporating inclusive language and presenting a progressive perspective on gender and social issues without being preachy.
It’s not just the activism that makes this book stand out; it’s how McCullough captures the transformation of a girl finding her new path after a life-altering setback. The story is a powerful reminder that young people can drive meaningful change, and it celebrates the learning and unlearning process that comes with challenging societal norms. For anyone who gets excited about activism, especially in stories aimed at younger readers, "Code Red" is an invigorating and inspiring read.
April 1, 2023
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central
Eden's mother is very busy with her company, MySecret, which produces period products, but makes time to come to Eden's school for career day. Unfortunately, after her visit, some kids in her school give her a hard time. Eden is already struggling since an injury ended her gymnastics career, so when Graham gives her a hard time in the hallway, there is a tussle. Another student, Maribel, steps in. Graham falls, and ends up in urgent care with a broken wrist. Maribel's mother comes to the school to meet with the principal, but Eden's mother is in a meeting. Because of the nature of the injury, both girls are suspended. Maribel's mother takes the girls to the drop in center she runs, Casa Esperanze, and puts the girls to work until Eden's mother comes to pick her up. Eden's mother doesn't say very much, but when Eden locks herself out of the house the next day while walking her dog Blizz, she decides that Eden can't stay home alone. Soon, she's hanging out with Maribel and helping out. She meets Raven, who runs a period equity charity, and her son Will. Eden has gotten her first period and was saved by one of Raven's reusable pads, so she is interested in sewing some herself. Her mother liked to sew back in the day and is glad to share an interest with Eden, so breaks out the old sewing machine and gets her started. Eden is looking for ways to fill her time since she isn't doing gymnastics, and helps out with the play that Maribel is doing at school. When Maribel's older sister mentions some political action groups she is working with, Eden is very interested in the initiative to tax corporations so that free period products can be stocked at schools and food pantries. Her mother is NOT happy with this idea and thinks it is embarassing that Eden is actively working against her. She grounds Eden, who sneaks out anyway to participate in a flash mob to raise awareness and get volunteers to help get petitions signed. Her mother is angry, but eventually the two come to an understanding, and her mother's business even supports some of the period equity initiatives.
Eden's growth spurt led to difficulties with gymnastics and an injury; like Maisie in Day's The Sea in Winter, Eden has lost part of her identity as well as a way to spend her time. Adults tend to forget how integral a part of tweens identiy sports can be. It was good to see Eden making new friends as she pursued new interests, but also to see how she tried to maintain a relationship with her friends from gymnastics. The portrayal of a busy mother who has procedures for meals and care and even spends some time with her daughter but also isn't emotionally present as much as her daughter wants is interesting.
This was on trend with many topics; Will is a trans boy, which leads to discussions that period products are not for girls and women, they are for "people who menstruate". Middle school students today are quite open about discussing menstruation, which is such a change from when I was growing up. There is also a lot of interest in social justice and equity, so this was an interesting look at period poverty and different initiatives to provide period products to a wider range of menstruators.
This is a great choice for readers who liked Evans' Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins, Harrington's Revenge of the Red Club, Schneemann's and Williams' Go With the Flow or Salazar's The Moon Within or Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories from BIPOC Authors.
Eden's mother is very busy with her company, MySecret, which produces period products, but makes time to come to Eden's school for career day. Unfortunately, after her visit, some kids in her school give her a hard time. Eden is already struggling since an injury ended her gymnastics career, so when Graham gives her a hard time in the hallway, there is a tussle. Another student, Maribel, steps in. Graham falls, and ends up in urgent care with a broken wrist. Maribel's mother comes to the school to meet with the principal, but Eden's mother is in a meeting. Because of the nature of the injury, both girls are suspended. Maribel's mother takes the girls to the drop in center she runs, Casa Esperanze, and puts the girls to work until Eden's mother comes to pick her up. Eden's mother doesn't say very much, but when Eden locks herself out of the house the next day while walking her dog Blizz, she decides that Eden can't stay home alone. Soon, she's hanging out with Maribel and helping out. She meets Raven, who runs a period equity charity, and her son Will. Eden has gotten her first period and was saved by one of Raven's reusable pads, so she is interested in sewing some herself. Her mother liked to sew back in the day and is glad to share an interest with Eden, so breaks out the old sewing machine and gets her started. Eden is looking for ways to fill her time since she isn't doing gymnastics, and helps out with the play that Maribel is doing at school. When Maribel's older sister mentions some political action groups she is working with, Eden is very interested in the initiative to tax corporations so that free period products can be stocked at schools and food pantries. Her mother is NOT happy with this idea and thinks it is embarassing that Eden is actively working against her. She grounds Eden, who sneaks out anyway to participate in a flash mob to raise awareness and get volunteers to help get petitions signed. Her mother is angry, but eventually the two come to an understanding, and her mother's business even supports some of the period equity initiatives.
Eden's growth spurt led to difficulties with gymnastics and an injury; like Maisie in Day's The Sea in Winter, Eden has lost part of her identity as well as a way to spend her time. Adults tend to forget how integral a part of tweens identiy sports can be. It was good to see Eden making new friends as she pursued new interests, but also to see how she tried to maintain a relationship with her friends from gymnastics. The portrayal of a busy mother who has procedures for meals and care and even spends some time with her daughter but also isn't emotionally present as much as her daughter wants is interesting.
This was on trend with many topics; Will is a trans boy, which leads to discussions that period products are not for girls and women, they are for "people who menstruate". Middle school students today are quite open about discussing menstruation, which is such a change from when I was growing up. There is also a lot of interest in social justice and equity, so this was an interesting look at period poverty and different initiatives to provide period products to a wider range of menstruators.
This is a great choice for readers who liked Evans' Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins, Harrington's Revenge of the Red Club, Schneemann's and Williams' Go With the Flow or Salazar's The Moon Within or Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories from BIPOC Authors.
March 30, 2024
CODE RED combines first periods, navigating new friendships, finding your place, and a little political activism into one book. It is a layered story that is well thought out and full of interesting characters.
Eden is headed to a public middle school for the first time after being forced away from her dream of being an Olympic gymnast by injury. She isn't sure who she is outside of gymnastics and with a mom off striving for her own dreams and a father who pilots airplanes she finds herself with strangers when her first period hits. This experience leads her down a rabbit hole of menstrual inequality. Along the way she meets new friends, works on learning to sustain a friendship, and discovers what it's like to work hard to something outside of gymnastics.
As a mom I struggled with the parent characters and how, despite both parents being essential absent, it was the mom that was constantly blamed for Eden feeling unsupported or acknowledged. Despite that, I highly enjoyed this story. There are a lot of layers in this book that felt real and full of heart. Navigating friendships, standing up for yourself, feeling misunderstood or awkward, and miscommunications are all universal experiences. I think we can all relate to pieces of Eden's story and hopefully learn something from her struggles.
Eden is headed to a public middle school for the first time after being forced away from her dream of being an Olympic gymnast by injury. She isn't sure who she is outside of gymnastics and with a mom off striving for her own dreams and a father who pilots airplanes she finds herself with strangers when her first period hits. This experience leads her down a rabbit hole of menstrual inequality. Along the way she meets new friends, works on learning to sustain a friendship, and discovers what it's like to work hard to something outside of gymnastics.
As a mom I struggled with the parent characters and how, despite both parents being essential absent, it was the mom that was constantly blamed for Eden feeling unsupported or acknowledged. Despite that, I highly enjoyed this story. There are a lot of layers in this book that felt real and full of heart. Navigating friendships, standing up for yourself, feeling misunderstood or awkward, and miscommunications are all universal experiences. I think we can all relate to pieces of Eden's story and hopefully learn something from her struggles.
July 14, 2023
Eden, a former elite gymnast, is back at middle school after a career-ending injury. To make matters worse, her mother, the CEO of MySecret, maker of feminine hygiene products, has just spoken to her class for Career Day. Mortified, she is confronted by Graham, who she tries to ignore, but when he gets in her face, Eden pushes back. At the same time, Maribel witnessing what happened, pulls Graham away from Eden. Graham is hurt and both girls are suspended. Because her mother works long hours, Eden starts volunteering at the food bank/community center that Maribel’s mother runs. It is there that Eden gets her period for the first time and all her products are at home. Fortunately for Eden, one of the other volunteers sews reusable pads and gives one to Eden. This opens Eden’s eyes to period poverty and she gets involved with the movement. This starts to cause friction between Eden and her mother. Will they be able to find a middle ground?
This coming-of-age book is like Judy Blume for this generation. It focuses on the challenges people who menstruate face – lack of access, affordability, etc. I liked that someone as young as Eden can get involved in social justice and activism. Recommended for grade 4 and up.
#CodeRed
This coming-of-age book is like Judy Blume for this generation. It focuses on the challenges people who menstruate face – lack of access, affordability, etc. I liked that someone as young as Eden can get involved in social justice and activism. Recommended for grade 4 and up.
#CodeRed
July 11, 2023
hm on one hand I'm like "MG and YA books are getting too long, we need more short ones" but then I'm like "this one is maybe too short for all the concepts it wants to pack in here!" I loved all the individual pieces of it and I think there's a lot of great info in here but then I think some of the character/relationship development suffered a bit for it. I've seen it listed as a modern companion to Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (I've listed it that way myself before I read it) and I think...that's maybe not quite right, despite the obvious connection of periods. You're SO in Margaret's head and she's such a full character in a way that Eden isn't quite to me. But still: a lot to like here.
July 24, 2023
I really liked this book. It's about friendship, bullying, and helping others. More importantly, it's a very positive book about menstruation and period poverty. I learned a ton reading this short book. It's for people of all ages and sexual orientation.
Reading this well crafted story, you'll be tuned into not just poverty and the need for food banks, but the need for feminine hygiene products. The characters talk about the bills that provide these products for free in schools and places of worship, but sadly, the funding to provide the supplies is often lacking. When you donate to the food bank, think diapers, formula, and now period products.
I wish the author had provided more references and links in the back of her book.
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
Reading this well crafted story, you'll be tuned into not just poverty and the need for food banks, but the need for feminine hygiene products. The characters talk about the bills that provide these products for free in schools and places of worship, but sadly, the funding to provide the supplies is often lacking. When you donate to the food bank, think diapers, formula, and now period products.
I wish the author had provided more references and links in the back of her book.
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
November 22, 2023
this was really cute!!
i liked all the themes it covered—menstrual equality, identity in sports, making friends, activism, activist exhaustion, friendship struggles, parental struggles, personal politics, etc. i didn’t agree with all the language but i appreciate how it can be helpful for younger readers. i agree with another commenter that some younger readers might get the message that it’s okay to go behind your parents’ backs if the reasons are / cause is good enough, and that could be dangerous or harmful. i also wish we got more detail on what kind of activism eden’s mom’s company does—eden doesn’t want to listen to it, and therefore we never really learn about it. that sorta pitches the message that eden’s choice of activism is inherently BETTER than her mom’s, which i don’t think is the right way to go about social issues like that.
but overall i enjoyed it. :)
i liked all the themes it covered—menstrual equality, identity in sports, making friends, activism, activist exhaustion, friendship struggles, parental struggles, personal politics, etc. i didn’t agree with all the language but i appreciate how it can be helpful for younger readers. i agree with another commenter that some younger readers might get the message that it’s okay to go behind your parents’ backs if the reasons are / cause is good enough, and that could be dangerous or harmful. i also wish we got more detail on what kind of activism eden’s mom’s company does—eden doesn’t want to listen to it, and therefore we never really learn about it. that sorta pitches the message that eden’s choice of activism is inherently BETTER than her mom’s, which i don’t think is the right way to go about social issues like that.
but overall i enjoyed it. :)
December 20, 2023
Eden's embarrassment at having her mom come talk to her school about her success as an entrepreneur of feminine hygiene products is only made worse by a boy who taunts her for it, so when she and another girl fight him, she is given suspension. Her mom makes her spend her suspension doing community service at the food bank Eden's friend Maribel works at, where Eden meets a bunch of like-minded people who educate her about "period poverty," among other injustices. Eden finds she can be useful making cloth period pads, and doing more and more, including starting an initiative to require public places to stock free feminine hygiene products, which sets her on a collision course with her mom.
Solid story about a topic that does not get much attention. The characters drive the story, which moves along nicely, if a bit predictably. Good for middle grades.
Solid story about a topic that does not get much attention. The characters drive the story, which moves along nicely, if a bit predictably. Good for middle grades.
June 12, 2023
This will be in my best middle grade stack for 2023!
Set in Seattle 🫶🏻 our main gal Eden finds herself with a sport injury and unable to continue with her rigorous gymnastics lifestyle. Her Mom is a CEO for a period product company and her Dad is off in the air being a pilot. She find herself alone most of the time until one day she makes friends with Maribel… and is introduced to the community where Eden finds her found family.
As an adult I took so much away from this book. I feel like the generation of kids today will DEVOUR it! With topics of social justice and equality I think this book will spark great conversations about period poverty in our own communities and what can be done. An eye opening novel that has characters I fully felt invested in within pages. I would love to hangout with the crew at Casa Esperanza or go to a sew-along at Ravens house!
Thank you to the publisher for this gifted copy!
Set in Seattle 🫶🏻 our main gal Eden finds herself with a sport injury and unable to continue with her rigorous gymnastics lifestyle. Her Mom is a CEO for a period product company and her Dad is off in the air being a pilot. She find herself alone most of the time until one day she makes friends with Maribel… and is introduced to the community where Eden finds her found family.
As an adult I took so much away from this book. I feel like the generation of kids today will DEVOUR it! With topics of social justice and equality I think this book will spark great conversations about period poverty in our own communities and what can be done. An eye opening novel that has characters I fully felt invested in within pages. I would love to hangout with the crew at Casa Esperanza or go to a sew-along at Ravens house!
Thank you to the publisher for this gifted copy!
January 29, 2024
Eden feels afloat trying to learn how to be a normal middle schooler now that her gymnastics dreams have ended. No more grueling practices, meets, and home-schooling. Eden’s mom is the CEO and founder of a company that produces menstrual products and when she speaks at Eden’s school, she find herself the victim of a bully. When Mirabel helps her stand up to the bully, she and Mirabel end up being suspended for a week and they end up hanging out at the community food pantry that Mirabel’s mom runs. There Eden learns about period-poverty and meets up with a group trying to do something about it. Eden starts a movement and finds herself at odds with her mother. Will Eden’s campaign succeed and will she work out her relationship with her mom?
February 10, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. It had a lot going on, between figuring out who you are, learning about political activism, learning about poverty, educating about menstruation, and parent-child challenges.
Overall, I think this book is an important read and provides valuable perspective. It is worthwhile as both a mirror and a window, though I wonder if any/many non-menstruators would pick it up voluntarily. The characters are well-developed, and the challenge Eden faces in terms of losing her identity and having to figure out her place in the world is relatable and understandable. I do wonder, also, if there are perhaps too many things happening at once, though I can see how they fit together, and it is still a compelling read.
Overall, I think this book is an important read and provides valuable perspective. It is worthwhile as both a mirror and a window, though I wonder if any/many non-menstruators would pick it up voluntarily. The characters are well-developed, and the challenge Eden faces in terms of losing her identity and having to figure out her place in the world is relatable and understandable. I do wonder, also, if there are perhaps too many things happening at once, though I can see how they fit together, and it is still a compelling read.
June 12, 2023
This is such a great book to learn more information about period poverty and how we need to do a better job of making sure everyone has access to period products.
Eden is a great character, she is learning more about herself and how to stand up for herself. She thought her life was going to go one way, but is learning to deal with a new path and new friendships.
I liked that her mom is a big period mogul, but still doesn't understand about everything and the need for period products everywhere.
I liked that Eden is able to help and make her voice heard and help her mom see where she is coming from.
A great read for anyone and everyone.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Eden is a great character, she is learning more about herself and how to stand up for herself. She thought her life was going to go one way, but is learning to deal with a new path and new friendships.
I liked that her mom is a big period mogul, but still doesn't understand about everything and the need for period products everywhere.
I liked that Eden is able to help and make her voice heard and help her mom see where she is coming from.
A great read for anyone and everyone.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
January 23, 2024
For the most part, I liked this book. There was A LOT going on, but I loved the focus on periods, period poverty, menstrual equity, changemakers, advocacy, and social activism. I loved the author's note, which most kids won't read, and how she says, "If you're not a menstruator, I'm especially glad you read this book. Our world gets better the more we understand the experiences of people whose lives are different from our own." and "One of the biggest things you can do is to normalize periods. It's am only part of life for half the humans on this planet, and the more we talk about it without shame, the better for everyone!"
January 25, 2024
Really great new middle grade novel about period poverty, the democratic process, plus all the friendship and family relationship stories you might expect in a more traditional novel. You have your main character, a former athlete who is injured and has to figure out where else she can belong. You have her mom, who founded a period products empire but doesn’t even know when her own daughter gets her period. And you have really great friends. I also appreciate the gender diversity in the book and the acknowledgement that people with uteruses menstruate, not just women and girls. There’s a lot going on in the book but it doesn’t feel heavy.
Recommended!
Recommended!
April 22, 2024
4.5 stars for this contemporary fiction for ages 8-18. It's about menstrual equity, and has lots of girl power! (Menstruator power.) Characters are racially/ethnically diverse, and there is a trans character. Poverty awareness, activism, and I'll just copy: 'this “character-driven, thought-provoking, often funny, and, above all, timely” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade novel celebrates finding yourself, making new friends, and standing up for what’s right as a girl becomes involved in menstrual activism.'
I enjoyed how more than one character learned a lot, including Eden's mother, who was not a cartoon character. Reading a woke book feels SO good!
I enjoyed how more than one character learned a lot, including Eden's mother, who was not a cartoon character. Reading a woke book feels SO good!
August 22, 2023
This is a great example of how coming of age books can help kids look at the bigger world. While Eden is struggling with the end of her gymnastics career she’s also struggling with where she fits in her family, in her community and the world at large. I really love how the author made all of the character’s points of view reasonable. It would be very easy to demonize Heather and turn Silvia into a saint. Instead, we get a careful look at different sides of an important issue. And,finally, we need to normalize talk about menstruating and books like this are a step in the right direction.
November 18, 2023
Eden encounters a new group of friends after her shoulder injury leads her to drop gymnastics. Maribel's mom runs a food pantry where Eden encounters Maribel's two older sisters, younger sister, and a mother-son duo intent on addressing period poverty. Eden's mom went from growing up in a trailer park to being the CEO of her own company making period products. She's uncomfortable with Eden hanging out with "those people" and Eden figures a way to work around it. There's a lot of mom-daughter push-pull struggles.
July 8, 2023
I loved the characters in this book - and although the topics are menstruation, activism, gymnastics and even musical theatre, I felt that this was about young people and their complicated relationships with the world. It was about learning to differentiate from your parents and being introduced to new ideas. And, I feel like that has a much broader appeal than saying it is a book about menstrual equity. It is a book about people.
February 26, 2024
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. After anticipating it for months, it didn't disappoint. It touches on so many important topics: not only girls menstuate, lack of menstrual products being donated to food banks, schools being required to make products available but not being given the funding from local governments to make that actually happen.
I fear this book might be a touch too old for the grade I teach but this is a fantastic book for any middle school classroom/library.
I fear this book might be a touch too old for the grade I teach but this is a fantastic book for any middle school classroom/library.
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