content warnings: racism, mentions of cheating, bullying
representation: Black protagonist, main and side characters, Black mlm main characters, m/m main relationship, Latino side character

“I get that same tight feeling in my stomach, like when she was counting names on her fingers. I want to say that yes, I am Alberta, but part of being Alberta is being black. And I don’t blend in here in Ewing Beach.”

I haven't seen anyone talk about this book which is absolutely ridiculous because I think it might be my favourite Brandy Colbert. Or maybe I just love her more with every book I read. Either way, you all need to stop what you're doing and find a way to read this because it's incredible.

The Only Black Girls in Town is Brandy Colbert's first middle grade, and I hope she keeps writing it as well as her usual YA. This follows Alberta, a twelve year-old surfing enthusiast who is the only black girl in her grade; that is, until the B&B next door is bought by a black family with a twelve year-old daughter, Edie. Alberta and Edie begin to bond after finding a collection of journals in Edie's new bedroom from a young woman named Constance starting from the 1950s. The girls quickly become obsessed with the mystery of who Constance is and why her journals are in the B&B.

I adore middle grade and wish that more adults would get over themselves for long enough to pick up a book like this and appreciate it for what it is. Brandy Colbert, whose YA has always leaned on the older side as she explores darker topics and follows older teens, has transitioned perfectly into writing from the perspective of a twelve year-old girl, something which many authors who regularly write for this age group can't even manage. She hasn't tried to dumb down her writing or themes, just tailored them for her new age group, which is exactly the right way to do it.

Of the middle grade I've read this definitely skews towards older kids, kids who are probably the same age as Alberta. This book has a heavy focus on racism as seen through the eyes of a twelve year-old who has been raised in a town with almost no one who looks like her, certainly no one she's close to with the exception of her dads (also this book features same-sex parents and that was done really beautifully, especially the discussions of Alberta's relationship with her biological mother). The book also spends time contrasting Alberta's experiences in the small seaside town of Ewing Beach with Edie's experiences of growing up in Brooklyn, and how their perceptions of racism have been shaped because of that.

I do wish some things were explored deeper - in particular Alberta's relationship with her white best friend Laramie, and Laramie's lack of understanding of the way that Alberta's treatment by people like bully Nicolette is impacted by her race - but the book asides from that was so good I couldn't be too disappointed by things not explored. The mystery aspect as the two girls try to discover who Constance is was also so fun, and the reveal is both obvious and satisfying in a way I didn't expect.

If you've enjoyed any of Brandy Colbert's previous books then I would definitely recommend you check this out because the odds of you enjoying it is incredibly high. And if you've never read a Brandy Colbert book before, what are you doing? Go read one! This one specifically!