Let's Pretend We Never Met

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 6, 2018

Review

Over school break, sixth-grader Mattie Markham has moved with her family from a small town in North Carolina to an apartment building in Philadelphia because her grandmother needs help as her memory fails. Mattie makes an instant friendship connection with smart, creative and quirky Agnes who lives next door. Agnes is in the same class at school, but when school starts up, Agnes reputation at school and her anxiety-driven quirkiness, OCD or autism spectrum behaviors, make Mattie feel unsure of how to have friends at school and keep a friendship with Agnes at the same time. Mattie navigates first boyfriends, first kisses and eventually bridges gaps between friends. Walker provides 5-8 grade readers a model of how to open themselves up to those who may be different and thoughtful ways to balance conflicting friendships. Mattie's voice is authentic and the layers of issues are handled in age-appropriate way.

Overall Book Score: good