Starred review from October 28, 2024
Twelve-year-old, white-cued Freya struggles to relate to her peers, who are
put off by her uninhibited enthusiasm. Following a humiliating defeat in the race for class president, Freya vows to keep her views to herself. Then, while researching for a school project, she learns of the sexist writings of the town’s namesake Benjamin Wellstone. The seventh grader is enraged at the reverence he is afforded by her neighbors—especially when contrasted with the forgotten legacy of local suffragists. With the help of a new friend and a hip librarian, Freya unearths the efforts of women from her own town who fought for the right to vote, and plots ways to show her neighbors just how problematic their hero was. But as the burgeoning activist faces resistance, she becomes preoccupied with changing the town name and tearing down a statue of Wellstone, losing sight of her mission. “Great with opinions” Freya is a thoughtful yet impulsive and vibrantly drawn character. Dee (Unstuck) strategically and effectively weaves Freya’s nascent feminism into timely subplots involving craftivism, the unrecognized labor of women in history, and the importance of research in this smart and passionate read. Ages 9–13. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary.
December 1, 2024
Gr 4-7-Seventh grader Freya has a strong sense of right and wrong. She is also quick to judge and voices her opinions loudly, to the annoyance of her peers and the frustration of her teachers. After an unsuccessful student council bid and some pointed remarks from her friends, Freya mostly keeps her remarks to herself. However, in the course of completing a social studies assignment, Freya discovers that the celebrated founder of her hometown held negative views about women's intellect and capacity to vote. She is furious and, at first, refuses to complete the assignment. She then launches a campaign to remove the founder's statue from the town green, which is met with approbation from her activist grandmother and some friends, but with skepticism and disdain from others. Her teacher, a reference librarian, and her supportive family eventually guide Freya and her allies to a more positive, productive course of action: elevating other, lesser known figures from the town's history. Dee provides a nuanced depiction of a young person gradually learning how to engage effectively to create change. Freya and her family cue as white with an assumed diverse group of friends and classmates. VERDICT Freya is a character that readers will root for. Recommended for middle grade collections and for curriculum enrichment on primary source research and social activism.-Jennifer Costa
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 15, 2024
Seventh grader Freya Stillman creates her own brand of community activism after a school project reveals hard truths about the town's history. Named for abolitionist Benjamin Wellstone, Freya's cozy coastal town is very proud of its history. Reading some of Wellstone's letters for school, she's surprised and angered to learn that while he may have been a hero to some, he vehemently opposed women's voting rights. Irish American Freya and her new friend Callie, who presents white and has ADHD, also unearth information about local suffragist Octavia Padgett. They consider her to be more worthy of their attention. The girls publish a fiery op-ed in the town's website about Benjamin Wellstone's problematic values and their desire to see the prominent statue of him standing on Wellstone Green removed. The article divides the residents, eliciting strong opinions from the girls' friends, families, and even the mayor. After some misguided protest attempts that involve vandalizing the statue and lying to her parents, a frustrated (and grounded) Freya finds a new focus for her cause through thoughtful discussions with trusted, empathetic adults. Freya dreams up a project that will honor art protest movements, like the famous AIDS Memorial Quilt, while highlighting little-known local suffragists. The age-appropriate, relatable, and realistic lessons Freya learns are reinforced by supportive grown-ups in her life. Readers will readily root for the impassioned protagonist on her hard-fought feminist journey.(Fiction. 9-12)
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
January 1, 2025
Grades 4-8 Freya is known for asking tough questions, like why the school-assigned reading has only male main characters. After an embarrassingly unsuccessful campaign for student council president, she tries to stuff down all her big questions. But repression is rarely effective, and the new school year brings its own challenging questions; for example, why is everything in their town named after a man who didn't think women should be allowed to vote or seek education? Freya wants her community to see the harm in viewing someone only in their historical context, and pushes them to hold historical figures accountable--and to take down that man's statue. Dee expertly demonstrates how varied responses to activism on the internet can be, touching on online safety without being condescending. Relatable topics range from changing friendship dynamics to respecting others' opinions and approaches to issues to being underestimated due to age and/or gender. This empowering novel leads by example as Freya finds agency, uses her voice, and works to spark change with friends new and old.
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