Jules Machias is quickly becoming one of my favorite middle grade authors. Their debut, Both Can be True, was great, and this one is basically just as good. I would probably classify it as upper middle grade, because it deals with a lot of heavy issues. Specifically surrounding school shooting drills. There isn't specifically a school shooting in this book, but the school conducts a drill that simulates the sounds, etc. of a real school shooting, which traumatizes the students. For good reason.

Avery and Sarah were both great characters in this, each with strong voices and each on their own journeys to self-discovery. I especially loved Sarah's chapters because they were all illustrated with doodles and they were gorgeous. Both are struggling with different issues, Sarah with severe anxiety and Avery with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. I loved the way they helped each other, and their budding romance was adorable.

All in all, if you're looking for a middle grade that isn't afraid to delve into the difficult stuff, I'd definitely recommend picking up this one!