Team Awkward

Gr 5–8—This second entry in the series is true to the humorous tone of the first book, albeit with slightly lowered stakes. Having been thrust into the limelight as a result of her father's marriage to a movie star, 12-year-old Anna Huntley has strengthened her wobbly self-esteem in order to make trustworthy friends, embrace her expanded family, and realize which boy she likes. However, in this sequel, Anna still faces mishaps in the public eye, including a viral video of her falling into a planter, but the catalysts for drama are a bit flimsier. Spurred by a snarky tabloid piece on useless "it" girls, Anna decides outrageous measures are necessary in order to prove her worth, both to the world at large and to her crush, Connor, who seems distracted. To that end, she becomes captain of the Puffins team for her school's sports day, despite being extremely unathletic and a little shy. As in many rom-coms, most of the problems Anna encounters could be cleared up through better communication—but that's not how high jinks are made. The relatively slight plot is bolstered by breezy pacing and genuinely funny dialogue. Jess, Anna's best friend, is a little on the undermining side, but Anna's unconventional family is portrayed with warmth and specificity. As in the last book, emails, notes, and lists are interspersed throughout; their use may not square with how middle schoolers communicate now, but it does make for easy reading. Anna's process of growing into herself is realistically bumpy, with relatable ups and downs as she develops new capacities and interests.