Serena Says

Name: Serena Says
Brand: Harper Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Tanita S. Davis
ISBN: 9780063033726

Author: Tanita S. Davis

Narrator: Imani Parks

Unabridged: 5 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 11/03/2020

Categories: Children's Fiction, Children's Social Themes

Synopsis

Award-winning author Tanita S. Davis delivers a heartwarming and humorous middle grade tale about a young Black girl who finds her own voice through vlogging and learns to speak out. Perfect for fans for Sharon M. Draper and Lisa Greenwald.JC shines like a 4th of July sparkler. She has the best ideas, the biggest, funniest laugh, and the party starts when she arrives. Serena St. John is proud to be known as her best friend.Everything changes when JC returns from the hospital with a new kidney—and a new best friend. Out of the spotlight of JC’s friendship, suddenly things aren’t quite so sparkly in Serena’s world.Lonely Serena works on perfecting her vlogs, hoping to earn a shot at becoming a classroom reporter. If she can be smart and funny on video, why can’t she manage that in real life? If only she could always pause, edit, or delete conversations. It would be so much easier to say the right thing at the right time . . . instead of not saying what she should, or, even worse, blurting out a secret that wasn’t hers to share.Life doesn’t have a pause button—but as Serena discovers her voice through vlogging, she learns that she’s not just there to reflect JC’s light—she’s fully capable of shining on her own.

About Tanita S. Davis

Tanita S. Davis is the award-winning author of several novels for middle grade and young adult readers, including Serena Says, Peas and Carrots, Happy Families, and Mare’s War, which was a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and earned her a nomination for the NAACP Image Award. She grew up in California and was so chatty as a kid that her mother begged her to “just write it down.” Now she’s back in California, doing her best to keep writing it all down. Visit her at tanitasdavis.com.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Colleen on December 16, 2020

My son actually laughed at me for checking out a Middle Grade book at the library. Hysterically! Because I’ll be honest that’s not my normal genre and I even contemplated if this was to young for me, Queen of the YA reads. But something about this book was calling to me.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Serena has a best friend......more

Goodreads review by D.T. on January 02, 2021

I liked that this story tackled serious health issues, some physical and others mental, while still remaining light-hearted. The main character is also an aspiring YouTuber.......more

Goodreads review by Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) on March 03, 2021

Serena Says is a relatable, enjoyable middle-grade book about evolving friendships, sisterhood, and gaining confidence in oneself. With nods to ethnic diversity and mental illness awareness, this slice-of-life middle-grade book is fun to read, and features a cast of memorable characters in a middle......more

Goodreads review by PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps on November 05, 2020

Serena’s usually in her BFF JC’s shadow. The JC gets a kidney transplant and makes a new friend, causing Serena to feel hurt and left behind. SERENA SAYS is a sweet story about a tween who learns to find her voice and share her friends through vlogging and working with groups in school. Younger middl......more

Goodreads review by Emily on August 23, 2021

This book has the sheen of a "clean read," including some Christian undertones and some fairly heavy-handed anti-drug messaging--I didn't know "Red Ribbon Week" was still a thing in elementary school, but apparently it is! That combo wouldn't normally be my thing, but I was won over by the wonderful......more