All About Mia

June 26, 2017
Being the middle sister is tough, especially for 16-year-old Irish-Jamaican Mia, whose older sister is academically perfect and whose younger one is a potential Olympian. When Grace the genius comes home pregnant, Mia can’t help thinking how differently her parents would react if she were in the same situation—they’re always on her case about drinking and staying out late, and not without reason. Mia has “the sort of curves that get grown men flustered,” and she relies on them to get attention; when she drinks, she puts herself into risky positions, though that’s not how she sees it. British author Williamson (The Art of Being Normal) effectively shows how Mia gets caught up in anger and resentment, making choices that alienate her from family and friends. Grace’s pregnancy eventually brings the sisters closer and gives Mia a chance to see that she’s more than just her looks. But Mia has been so busy carving a path of destruction that although the learning and growth that close the book come as a relief, they also feel a little unbelievable. Ages 14–up. Agent: Catherine Clarke, Felicity Bryan Associates.