Lola Levine Is Not Mean!

This engaging chapter book introduces Lola Levine, a vibrant second grader who is passionate about soccer and proud of her Peruvian-Jewish heritage. The story centers on a common childhood experience: being misunderstood. After an accidental injury during a competitive soccer game, Lola is unfairly branded "Mean Lola Levine" by her peers. The narrative beautifully explores Lola's feelings of guilt and frustration, and her journey to make amends and reclaim her true identity. With support from her loving family and best friend, Lola uses her creativity and resilience to navigate this social challenge. It's an excellent read for children learning about empathy, self-advocacy, and the importance of being true to oneself.

Lola Levine likes writing in her diario, sipping her mom's cafe con leche, eating her dad's matzo ball soup, and playing soccer with her team, the Orange Smoothies. So what if she doesn't always fit in? Lola is fierce on the field, but when a soccer game during recess gets too competitive, she accidentally hurts her classmate Juan Gomez. Now everyone is calling her Mean Lola Levine! Lola feels terrible, but with the help of her family, her super best friend, Josh Blot, and a little "pencil power," she just might be able to turn it all around. In this first book in a series, young readers will be inspired by Lola's big heart and creative spirit as she learns to navigate the second grade in true Lola style!