When a genderfluid 13-year-old attempts to handle a health crisis by creating a "new normal" routine for themself, things don't go according to plan.Shai Stern, who is white and experiences sound sensitivity, started picking at the hair on their arms during the pandemic after their mom lost her job, and the two moved in with family friends to save money. To keep their picking a secret, they've been wearing fashionable arm sleeves designed and sewn by best friend and housemate Moose, who's Kanien'Kehá:ka, and they believe that switching from home schooling to public school will help them manage and resolve the picking issue on their own before anyone notices. But this change in education carries unanticipated stressors, including Shai's being identified as gifted and moved up a grade, grappling over coming out at school, and navigating changing relationships with loved ones new and old. When a class assignment gives Shai an opportunity to deepen their understanding of their Jewish heritage and family history, even more questions and uncertainties arise, and the pressure builds. A hopeful but not-too-tidy resolution depicts Shai addressing their challenges and relying on a support network of caring and well-developed secondary characters. The Wisconsin setting is authentically portrayed, and Shai's tenderhearted first-person voice will keep readers rooting for them until the book's final pages.Moving and memorable. (author's note, resources) (Fiction. 8-14)

After reading online that having a routine can help alleviate anxiety, nonbinary 13-year-old Shai Stern is determined to implement their “new-normal plan” to get their life under control in this luminous read. Forgoing homeschool and starting in-person eighth grade is the first step in their strategy. But entering public school means big life changes, including Shai’s leaving behind their Indigenous best friend Moose to remote learning, realizing that they’re being placed in ninth grade classes, and reckoning with the fact that cute lesbian Edie—their student guide—assumes that Shai is a girl. Suddenly, nothing is going to plan: their massive crush on Edie, an important school project about Shai’s Jewish ancestry, and the growing distance between Shai and Moose triggers Shai’s anxiety, and the painful urge to pick at their arms. Via sensitive depictions of Shai’s skin picking, as well as sincere prose that yields richly developed characters, relationships, and interactions, Sass (Ellen Outside the Lines) captures the tension and dread of grappling with a hidden illness during a tumultuous transition. Shai’s learning to manage their own challenges is palpably wrought, as is their burgeoning understanding that they’re not the only one with burdens—and that their presence is a balm for those experiencing troubles of their own. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jordan Hamessley, JABberwocky Literary Agency. (Jan.)

Gr 4 Up— Thirteen-year-old Shai has a plan to create a new normal; come out as nonbinary, get a haircut that expresses who they are, attend public school, and stop picking at their arms. Ever since their mom lost her job during the pandemic, Shai has been picking the hairs on their arm and wearing arm sleeves to cover the scars it leaves behind. They believe that going from homeschooling to public school will provide the distraction they need to stop picking. As Shai makes new friends and their relationship with an old one evolves, they learn that no matter how strong you are, sometimes you need support. Shai's struggles sharing their identity with friends, and the growing pains experienced as relationships change will resonate with readers. Shai has a strong support system of adults who care for them, including their mom, mom's best friend, and grandparents. A class project also leads Shai to investigate their family's roots in Judaism and why their mom no longer practices the religion. The potential for romance with a classmate who identifies as a lesbian brings up further conversations on the relationship between gender and sexuality. VERDICT Shai's struggles with identity, anxiety, first love, and faith will resonate with middle grade and young adult readers. A recommended purchase for all secondary school collections.— Ashley Leffel