Wires Crossed

Gr 5 Up–While 13-year-old Mia was busy getting braces, glasses, and the world’s worst haircut, her science camp bestie Tariq was busy glowing up. When Tariq’s mom’s job is transferred to Mia’s town, she rejoices at the idea of attending school with Tariq, especially since her school best friend Addy has been exploring new friendships this year. Even though Tariq juggles commitments with the popular soccer clique, he still joins a team with Mia and some other friends to build a robot to compete in the Science Olympics. Fantaskey expertly crafts a coming-of-age story that tackles friendship, jealousy, and self-love. Readers will be charmed by Mia’s quirky family, especially her wild little brother and genius live-in grandmother. The relatable scenarios and relationships will draw readers in and keep them engaged in this page-turner. Visually, Jones brings the characters to life with vibrant cartoon illustrations and dynamic panels.