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It's Not Easy Being Mimi


It's Not Easy Being Mimi
Written and Illustrated by Linda Davick
Beach Lane Books, 2018. J Intermediate, 165 pages.

When Mimi learns that a new kid is moving into the Periwinkle Tower she secretly hopes it will be someone just like her, a long lost identical twin sister, even! But Boris isn't quite the new friend Mimi was hoping for and conflicts arise. Mimi is a lovable, chaotic character and her story clips along in a speedy succession of funny adventures, from a really bad haircut to the off-kilter class Christmas program. Every episode is illustrated with Linda Davick's perfectly expressive cartoon style. There's also some fun wish fulfillment going on in this little chapter book. For instance, Mimi and her friends each live alone on their own floors in an apartment building and drive their own cars around town. These are the kinds of details that will amuse imaginative kids. It's Not Easy Being Mimi is a quirky, silly book that reminds young readers that building friendships requires recognizing similarities and appreciating differences.

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