After transferring to a new high school, an art-loving student faces the challenge of starting over in this collaboration between celebrated YA author Woodfolk and debut author and acclaimed actor Underwood.High school junior Jordyn Jones is eager for a new beginning. Yet, as a private school transfer student at Edgewood High, a much larger public school, she's already part of the rumor mill. The anonymous podcast Tomcat Tea, which shares school gossip, spills the news that Jordyn was actually expelled from stuffy Hartwell Academy. But this doesn't stop Jordyn, who's Black, from steadily building a rapport with others; she's eventually surrounded by a compelling circle of friends, including astute Mila and Izaiah, a high-performing soccer player whom she meets in detention. When Jordyn receives a hostile text from an unidentified sender who threatens to expose the truth about her, and Tomcat Tea takes a darker turn, she ultimately must decide if she's ready to become the person she's striving to be. This page-turner asks how people can reconcile with their pasts and begin anew. With a relatable protagonist and a diverse group of supporting characters who will have readers both laughing and giving side-eyes, this twisty, Gossip Girl–esque tale set in Washington, D.C., is full of surprises. The clean prose sparkles, especially when characters are at their most vulnerable. The dialogue is warm, funny, and even instructive at times.A rich, layered story about reconciliation and accountability with oneself and others. (Fiction. 12-18)

After transferring to a new high school, an art-loving student faces the challenge of starting over in this collaboration between celebrated YA author Woodfolk and debut author and acclaimed actor Underwood.High school junior Jordyn Jones is eager for a new beginning. Yet, as a private school transfer student at Edgewood High, a much larger public school, she's already part of the rumor mill. The anonymous podcast Tomcat Tea, which shares school gossip, spills the news that Jordyn was actually expelled from stuffy Hartwell Academy. But this doesn't stop Jordyn, who's Black, from steadily building a rapport with others; she's eventually surrounded by a compelling circle of friends, including astute Mila and Izaiah, a high-performing soccer player whom she meets in detention. When Jordyn receives a hostile text from an unidentified sender who threatens to expose the truth about her, and Tomcat Tea takes a darker turn, she ultimately must decide if she's ready to become the person she's striving to be. This page-turner asks how people can reconcile with their pasts and begin anew. With a relatable protagonist and a diverse group of supporting characters who will have readers both laughing and giving side-eyes, this twisty, Gossip Girl–esque tale set in Washington, D.C., is full of surprises. The clean prose sparkles, especially when characters are at their most vulnerable. The dialogue is warm, funny, and even instructive at times.A rich, layered story about reconciliation and accountability with oneself and others. (Fiction. 12-18)

Gr 9 Up— After being expelled from the exclusive private school she'd been attending, Jordyn Jones begins her junior year at a public high school in Washington, D.C. The difference is immediately obvious in the diversity of the students and the lax dress code. Jordyn feels she could fit in there, pursue her love of art, and make a clean start. But on day one, her past is already coming back to haunt her. A mysterious podcaster at the school releases a weekly gossip show, spilling juicy secrets that the targeted students would rather not have revealed. Jordyn's expulsion is the day's top story, but luckily, the podcaster doesn't seem to know any of the details, and she is able to make friends quickly. But trouble seems to find her even when she is trying to do the right thing. First her parents, and then even her new friends are quick to assume the worst. Jordyn never expected starting over to be easy, but wonders, if no one else is willing to give her a chance, how can she ever move beyond her past mistakes? The search for the mysterious podcaster, along with the gradual, but well-timed, reveal of Jordyn's expulsion keep the story moving in this character-driven novel. It features students of color as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. VERDICT An engaging story about self-esteem and choices that teen girls, especially, will appreciate.— Cary Frostick