Tracing Stars by Erin E. Moulton

Another 2015-2016 Indian Paintbrush Nominee, Tracing Stars by Erin E. Moulton (Lexile: 740; Interest Level: Grades 3-6) is a story about Indie Lee Chickory, a girl who just doesn't seem to fit in anymore.  Indie and her sister Bebe used to be very close, but now Bebe wants to fit in with the popular crowd and always seems to be embarrassed by Indie.  As much as Indie tries, she just doesn't care much about clothes or drama, and she causes a scene when she accidentally takes her pet lobster to school on the last day. 

Indie gets a job working on the set of the summer play, hoping that will make Bebe proud of her, but Bebe is afraid she will make things even worse and insists on giving her a makeover and controlling who she is friends with.  Indie makes some interesting friends in the scene shop who are teaching her to be herself, which is often at odd with what Bebe says.

This is a good story about trying to stay close to your family while trying to grow up on your own.  Being true to yourself is not always easy, and there are often different paths to understanding. (256 p.)

---