Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson is the ultimate example of what middle grade fiction should be. The book has found just the right balance between the believable and the ridiculous. Let me explain:
Priscilla is your fairly typical 12 year old. She is starting to get interested in boys (giggle) she argues yells at her twin brothers who like to torment her, and she has a tendency to throw a 'Prissy Fit' when she doesn't get her way, and, she's started going through puberty. But, it turns out, now that puberty has started, she has turned into a human torch, and she now has the ability to shot fire from her fingers, as well as a few other powers here and there. Really?! As if puberty wasn't bad enough by itself, Priscilla now has to worry about spontaneous combustion.
I loved Priscilla. I would definitely be her friend, if I was 10 years younger. Even though she is only 12, she already has a very defined personality and sense of self. She's scared by what's happening to her, so she doesn't talk about it. She's worried about how her parents will react, and what is really going on with her, and she's starting to think that her parents are hiding things from her. So, she confides in her best friend, Tai, and later, her older brother Josh, who is really one of my favorite characters. He is such the perfect older brother.
I never once doubted that Priscilla was 12. There are some MG books you read and forget they are supposed to be 12, because they seem much older. But you never forget Priscilla's age. In fact, the only character in the entire book was me to believe, because I had a little time believing that Tai was as smart as she is. It's possible, but it was a little... far stretch. But, Priscilla was very dramatic, she thinks nothing is wrong with throwing a fit to get what she wants or as a tool to distract people from what's really important, and she definitely thinks that everything important in life is about her. Sound familiar? Ya, we've all been there.:)
But, when it really matters, Priscilla is able to come together and take care of what she needs. And she believes in herself. I think that this is something that adults often forget. May of the things that people think we are capable of is because they no longer believe in themselves. Priscilla handles an awful lot, and a lot of it is something that she probably couldn't have been able to handle. But, she doesn't think it that way. She has complete faith in herself, and even when she knows she's afraid, she knows what people are counting on her when it's important. So, she doesn't even consider failure, and she manages to just fine.
Priscilla the Great is a great book, one that completely enjoying. I cannot wait to wait to see what else can happen will happen to Priscilla. Seriously. If you enjoy awesome MG books, especially ones the end up having to do with people becoming superheros (win!) you are missing out if you read this book as soon possible!