
Reach for this book when your child feels like their interests or identity are being stifled by your expectations, or when they feel misunderstood by the adults in their life. Set in a middle class Black family in 1970s New York, it follows eleven-year-old Emma, who wants to be a lawyer, and her brother Willie, who dreams of being a dancer. Their father, a successful attorney, disapproves of both paths: he believes Willie's dream is unmasculine and Emma's is unrealistic. This story is a powerful exploration of autonomy and the difficult realization that children must sometimes validate themselves when parents cannot. It is a sophisticated, realistic choice for kids ages 10 to 12 who are starting to assert their own independent identities.
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Sign in to write a reviewChildren lie and keep secrets from parents as a means of survival/self-expression.
The book deals directly with emotional neglect, verbal harshness, and body shaming (fat-shaming directed at Emma). The approach is secular and highly realistic. The resolution is not a magical reconciliation; it is a pragmatic, psychological shift toward self-reliance.
A middle-schooler who feels like the 'black sheep' or who is struggling with a high-achieving, rigid parent. It is for the child who is ready to hear that they are okay even if their parents disagree.
Parents should preview the scenes where Mr. Perkins speaks harshly to Emma about her weight and to Willie about his dancing. These scenes are painful and require discussion about why the father acts this way. A parent might see their child withdrawing after a critique of their hobbies or body, or hear their child say 'You just don't want me to be me.'
Younger readers (9-10) focus on the 'secret club' and the injustice of the parents. Older readers (11-12) will grasp the deeper psychological theme: the realization that parents are flawed humans who may never fully 'get' you.
Unlike most middle-grade novels that end with a parent finally 'understanding' and apologizing, Fitzhugh offers the radical truth that some families don't change, and the child's path to happiness lies in their own self-acceptance.
The story focuses on the Perkins family, an affluent Black family in New York City. Eleven-year-old Emma is brilliant and determined to become a lawyer, while her younger brother Willie is a talented dancer who dreams of the stage. Their father, Mr. Perkins, is a stern man who views Willie's dancing as a threat to his masculinity and Emma's legal ambitions as a distraction from her weight and social standing. The siblings join a secret group of children who are all pursuing dreams their parents forbid, ultimately leading Emma to a radical conclusion: she cannot change her parents, so she must change how much power she gives their opinions.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.