The Swifts is definitely a family I would love to be a part of! 

This is a middle grade story that I was apprehensive but hopeful about. A trusted BookTuber had posted it and while I didn't know much about it, my Goodreads search revealed this line: 
"On the day they are born, every Swift child is brought before the sacred family dictionary. They are given a name and a definition, one it's assumed they will grow up to match. Unfortunately, Shenanigan Swift doesn't much like being told what to do." The rest was history, I needed to have it. Then, Sam bought it for me as a surprise and I opened it without finishing what I was currently working on. 

In this book, we're following Shenanigan Swift on her quest to solve a mystery during the Swift family reunion. In this cozy mystery, chaos ensues in the best possible way and I love everything that this book stands for. It's a fast-paced and easy read that you don't realize is a Middle Grade when you're reading it. It also discusses some 'big' topics that put it in a simplistic and easy way to understand. If you have Middle Grade readers and are a decent human being, this might help you start or engage in some conversations that are necessary. 

One of the biggest conversations is surrounding gender and pronouns. For example, Erf, one of the Swift cousins that is similar in age to Shenanigan is non-binary and has changed their name. After Shenanigan sees Erf in some distress about the name tag that her Grandmother had given them, this was their conversation:

"Why don't you want to wear your name badge?"
Erf looked warily at Shenanigan, as if they were expecting an argument. "Because Gran calls me by my Dictionary name, but I'd rather be Erf."
"Is 'Erf' like a nickname?"
"Not really. It's just my name. I picked it."
"Oh." Shenanigan hadn't known you were allowed to do that. "I also wanted to ask if you were a boy or a girl earlier, but I wasn't sure if that was a rude question. Is it a rude question? I've never met anyone new before, so I'm not really sure how to do it."
"It's okay. Meeting new people is hard for me too. And, um, I'm not a boy or a girl."
Shenanigan hadn't know you were allowed to do that, either. "Well then, hi, Erf. We're cousins!"

*THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT.*  Throughout the book, Beth Lincoln continues to us they/them pronouns when referring to Erf. Yes, it's really that simple.

Later in the story, Erf has a conversation with another older cousin, Fauna who I believe is transgender. It's a heartwarming conversation, but most important are these two quotes.

1. When Erf is asking Fauna if it was hard getting people to listen to her.."Sometimes." Fauna sipped her tea. "There will always be people who think they know you better than you know yourself. But I quickly learned that they don't matter; the people who love you are the people who listen..."

2. When confronting the idea of Erf telling their Gran.."I just don't know if Gran will let me."
[Fauna replies] "Your gran doesn't get a say in who you are. No one in the world makes that decision but you."

Throughout the book there are also a lot of other mentions of found family and guardians that are not necessarily parents. It shows the unique love between siblings. It shows that being you is enough. Always. And in between all of this is a cozy mystery! 

So, so good! I highly, highly recommend it for YOU and your Middle Grade readers!