Zoe Washington, along with her newly exonerated birth father, returns in this upper-middle-grade novel about balancing your passions, finding your voice, and overcoming prejudice. When Marcus mentions his dream of opening a BBQ restaurant, idea girl Zoe is off to the races. But getting a loan isn't easy for someone with no credit score or work history due to incarceration. Zoe and Marcus must find a way to make their dreams come true en if they have to change l while Zoe learns that while not everyone who was incarcerated is innocent, they still deserve a second chance. This is a novel of family and a timely discussion of justice issues, also interwoven with middle-school-friendship changes, a ton of sweet baking, and a lovely podcast element that will get readers excited about sharing their own passions with the world. Marks captures the exuberance and energy of early teens in her prose and delicately balances Zoe as a likable protagonist e with room to broaden her horizons.

Gr 4–6— Now that Zoe has seen her biological father, Marcus, exonerated and released from prison, she is determined to get to know him better. Balancing her job as a cashier at a cupcake shop with the changing status of her two best friends, Maya and Trevor, isn't easy. Once Zoe learns about Marcus's dream to open his own restaurant, she is committed to helping him make it happen. Starting her own podcast to spread the word about people who've served in the prison system seems like a good way to inform people about how individuals can change and the challenges they face once released. She also hopes that her podcast will raise some much-needed funds to help Marcus realize his dream. It's a delicate balance for Zoe and she struggles to find exactly her place in so many important people's lives. VERDICT A delightful and inspiring read.