Keeping It Real

Fourteen-year-old Marigold's family owns Flexx Unlimited, a hip-hop lifestyle company, and she attends the elite school Flowered Arms Academy, but she has never felt entirely comfortable in the mostly White school, and she prefers to hang out with Justice, relatively new to the school, but a star basketball player; so enrolling in Style High with him, a trainee program funded by Mari's family, seems like a good way to spend the summer--until she meets Kara, who obviously hates Mari and seems determined to turn Justice against her.
Marigold Johnson is looking forward to a future full of family, friends, and fashion&;but what will she do when it all explodes in her face? When she discovers that her entire life is a lie? Paula Chase, the author of So Done, Dough Boys, and Turning Point, explores betrayal, conformity, and forgiveness&;and what it means to be family&;in this stand-alone novel perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Rebecca Stead, and Renée Watson.Marigold Johnson can&;t wait to attend a special program at her family&;s business, Flexx Unlimited, for teens who love fashion. But Mari quickly realizes that she&;s out of place compared to the three other trainees&;and one girl, Kara, seems to hate her on sight.As tension builds and the stakes at the program get higher, Mari uncovers exactly why Kara&;s been so spiteful. She also discovers some hard truths about herself and her family.Paula Chase explores complex themes centering on friendships, family, and what it means to conform to fit in. Keeping It Real is also a powerful exploration of what happens when parents pick and choose what they shield their children from. Timely and memorable, Paula Chase&;s character-driven story touches on creativity, art, fashion, and music. A great choice for the upper middle grade audience.