Review: Sincerely Sicily

Sincerely Sicily
By Tamika Burgess
New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Fiction. 283 pages.

Sicily is a proud Black Panamanian with excellent fashion taste and even cooler braids, but her confidence is shaken when she starts sixth grade. After a rezoning of school boundaries, Sicily is forced to start the school year without the safety and familiarity of her best friends. As she deals with prejudice and questions about her heritage, both at school and at home, Sicily must decide who is she is and who she wants to become.

This is an excellent book that highlights Sicily's changing and ever-growing identity. Sicily is determined, smart, and such a fun character. The book does really well in handling more difficult topics, such as culture vs. race. The author draws upon some of her own life experiences, lending to the credibility of the story. Sincerely Sicily is an incredible read and definitely a great way to start the school year.

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