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Review: Unstuck

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By Barbara Dee
New York: Aladdin, 2024. Fiction. 272 pages.

12-year-old Lyla Benjamin is used to being overshadowed by her basically perfect older sister, Dahlia. Lyla feels like the town-wide writing contest is finally her time to shine -- Dahlia may be better at school, but Lyla is definitely a better fantasy writer. After all, she's been planning her epic fantasy novel for basically ever. There's just one hiccup, she hasn't actually written anything yet. The more desperate Lyla is to prove herself as a writer, the more paralyzed she gets by writer's block. It doesn't help that her best friend, Rania, now goes to a different middle school and is surrounded by a new group of friends who don't seem to like Lyla. Bogged down at home by family drama, and at school by new friend drama, Lyla isn't sure she'll ever get unstuck.

This novel is a heartfelt and character-driven story for any reader who has ever felt trapped by big expectations and their own great ideas. Lyla's voice is realistic, filled with all the earnestness and anxiety of a tween girl figuring out her way through big changes. Side characters complete the story, including Lyla's Language Arts teacher who helps her find ways through her quagmire. A note that the back matter includes a list of "Twenty-Five Ways to Get Unstuck" that will appeal to aspiring young authors. 

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