Emily Posts

November 6, 2023
Light humor and erudite insight meld in this socially conscious novel by Kyi (Me and Banksy) that centers middle school activism. White-cued eighth grader Emily Laurence hopes that leading her school’s podcast club “through the lens of environmental change” will secure her future as an eco-minded tastemaker and influencer journalist. Jealousy over a magnetic new classmate and frustrations with her newly blended family and her mother’s rigid social media rules prompt Emily to distract herself by scripting a podcast story about an upcoming climate march. But when school administration forces the podcast club to cut the story to protect corporate sponsorships, Emily counters with bold action that jeopardizes her friendships and aspirations. As Emily makes amends, bonds with an autistic-cued classmate, and cares for her stepbrother and his wheelchair-using friend, she finds inspiration to develop her online blog Emily Posts, in which she distills her experiences into punchy, clickbait-y articles (“How my life was ruined by my rabid pseudo-sibling”). Kyi scratches the surface of wide-ranging topics such
as capitalistic overreliance and greed, cultural appropriation, environmentalism, Indigenous peoples’ rights, social media influence, and veganism via convenient plotting that culminates in a rosy resolution. Relevant themes, comedic family antics, and Emily’s witty, intimate first-person narration make this a smart and timely read. Ages 10–up.

January 1, 2024
An aspiring social media influencer navigates friendship woes while advocating for climate change. Inspired by her idol, Emily Post, 13-year-old Emily Laurence has a precise plan for her rise to social media influencer fame--guided by proper etiquette, of course. Unfortunately, things aren't going according to plan. For starters, she's acquired an infuriating new stepfamily. Emily's mom also confiscated her phone when she violated her social media restrictions, and she needs it back in time for the local climate march. The school principal is punishing her for posting an unauthorized episode of the podcast she hosts with best friend Simone Ahn, which means likely losing out on meeting Asha Jamil, her social media influencer idol, when she comes to their middle school. And now the annoyingly alluring (and vegan!) new girl, Amelie Cattaneo, is co-hosting the podcast with Simone. Written from Emily's first-person perspective, this story neatly lines up plot points, and the friendship dynamics are handled deftly, but quick resolutions and interrupted conversations prevent authentic, age-appropriate explorations of relevant topics. There's a clear message that climate change is a problem, but ways to have a meaningful impact are explored on a surface level. At times, Emily's narration seems oblivious to her own affluent privilege. Emily reads white; contextual clues point to some ethnic diversity in the supporting cast. Useful as a starting point for more nuanced conversations about internet safety and climate change. (Fiction. 10-14)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2024

Gr 4-8-Kyi tells the story of Emily, who is an average eighth grader with dreams of becoming an influencer. She runs a school podcast called Cedarview Speaks with three other students. Usually it's a quiet podcast, but the news of influencer Asha Jamil's visit to Cedarview Middle School has everyone excited. Emily does all she can to stay up to date with what is happening around her, including a climate march one of the high schoolers is planning. The excitement of the climate march and Asha Jamil's appearance is quickly extinguished when Emily realizes they are on the same day; the principal, Mr. Lau, purposely scheduled them for the same day so students wouldn't go to the march and mess up the school's corporate sponsorship. Emily is navigating all this plus new family members and her new friends interrupting old friendships. Kyi's writing brings all these elements together for a very crafty and exciting ending. This realistic fiction title is truly a middle grade read. Nothing in the content suggests anything too mature, with the exception of one reference to sexting. The story's complicated nature is pieced together by the end and the relationships between the characters are very well done. The ending is somewhat rushed and glances over plot holes, but things ultimately reach an intriguing and satisfying conclusion. Subtle plot elements like the bullying of a friend are handled quietly but efficiently. VERDICT Recommended for any ambitious middle schoolers who feel as if they are struggling to find their way.-Natalie Wallace

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2024
Eighth grader Emily Laurence aspires to be a social media influencer, if only her mom would let her post pictures of herself on her YouHappy account. For now, she'll have to settle for producing the Cedarview Middle School podcast. Before she can gain internet fame, Emily has a lot to juggle in the real world. She and her mom have moved in with Mom's new boyfriend and his obnoxious eight-year-old son; and a new classmate, Amelie, adds an unwelcome dynamic to Emily's friendships. Emily channels her frustrations into producing a podcast story about an upcoming climate march, but the principal thinks the topic isn't appropriate for middle school students and cancels the episode. When a school visit from (fictional) social media influencer (and Emily's idol) Asha Jamil is rescheduled for the same day as the climate march, Emily can't keep quiet about her suspicions of censorship. She tries to emulate her namesake, Emily Post -- whom our protagonist sees as one of the world's first influencers -- to help her manage with tact and courtesy. With a relatable and thoughtful main character, the story offers timely reflections on social media, complicated friendships, climate activism, and what it really means to have influence. Grace McKinney Beermann

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
Eighth grader Emily Laurence aspires to be a social media influencer, if only her mom would let her post pictures of herself on her YouHappy account. For now, she'll have to settle for producing the Cedarview Middle School podcast. Before she can gain internet fame, Emily has a lot to juggle in the real world. She and her mom have moved in with Mom's new boyfriend and his obnoxious eight-year-old son; and a new classmate, Amelie, adds an unwelcome dynamic to Emily's friendships. Emily channels her frustrations into producing a podcast story about an upcoming climate march, but the principal thinks the topic isn't appropriate for middle school students and cancels the episode. When a school visit from (fictional) social media influencer (and Emily's idol) Asha Jamil is rescheduled for the same day as the climate march, Emily can't keep quiet about her suspicions of censorship. She tries to emulate her namesake, Emily Post -- whom our protagonist sees as one of the world's first influencers -- to help her manage with tact and courtesy. With a relatable and thoughtful main character, the story offers timely reflections on social media, complicated friendships, climate activism, and what it really means to have influence.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)