Books › A Good Kind of Trouble
A Good Kind of Trouble
384 pages
A warm, relatable journey through the awkwardness of junior high and the empowering realization that some rules are meant to be broken.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping right back into the hallways of junior high, complete with the stomach-churning anxiety of shifting friend groups and the desperate desire to just fit in. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, anchored by a deeply relatable protagonist whose earnest voice makes you want to root for her instantly. It balances the heavy, real-world weight of racial identity and social justice with the everyday warmth of family dynamics and middle school crushes. The atmosphere is ultimately hopeful and empowering, wrapping the reader in a comforting yet challenging embrace. It is a perfect fit for anyone who loves big-hearted, coming-of-age stories where a quiet kid finally learns to make some noise.
- Mood
- warm
- hopeful
- empowering
- anxious
- Tone
- earnest
- relatable
- empathetic
- gentle
- humorous
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- finding your voice · shifting friendships · racial identity · everyday activism · the courage to break rules
- The writing
- The narrative voice is conversational, accessible, and rings with the authentic, slightly breathless cadence of a seventh grader figuring out the world.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from a place of anxious compliance and fear of conflict to a grounded, courageous embrace of her own voice and values.
- Who it's for
- Perfect for middle grade readers who appreciate heartfelt, character-driven stories about navigating shifting friendships and discovering the power of standing up for what is right.
Content notes
- racism
- discussions of police brutality
- microaggressions
- bullying
About the book
Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. All she wants to do is to follow the rules. (Oh, and she’d also like to make it through seventh grade with her best friendships intact, learn to run track, and have a cute boy see past her giant forehead.)
But in junior high, it’s like all the rules have changed. Now she’s suddenly questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are saying she’s not black enough. Wait, what?
Shay’s sister, Hana, is involved in Black Lives Matter, but Shay doesn't think that's for her. After experiencing a powerful protest, though, Shay decides some rules are worth breaking. She starts wearing an armband to school in support of the Black Lives movement. Soon everyone is taking sides. And she is given an ultimatum.
Shay is scared to do the wrong thing (and even more scared to do the right thing), but if she doesn't face her fear, she'll be forever tripping over the next hurdle. Now that’s trouble, for real.
Description from Open Library.
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