Keeping It Real

by Paula Chase

Overview

“Fun and juicy.”—New York Times

“A solid story of summer growth and exploration.”—Kirkus Reviews

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062965691
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	10/19/2021
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	1,143,258
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Paula Chase is the cofounder of The Brown Bookshelf, a site designed to increase awareness of African American voices writing for young readers. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland. Her novels include the acclaimed So Done and its companion, Dough Boys. www.paulachasehyman.com

Editorial Reviews

09/20/2021

Socioeconomically, fashion design–sketching Black teen Marigold Johnson is like most of the privileged white students who attend Flowered Arms Academy—that is, her parents are “ballers.” As the only Black girl in her grade, however, Mari has found solace for the past two years in her best friendship with Justice, a basketball scholarship student and one of two other Black students in their year. After Justice reveals that he got into a highly competitive summer fashion program for Black rising ninth graders “from some of DC’s poorest neighborhoods” at Flexx Unlimited—the “hip-hop lifestyle and media company” run by Mari’s parents—Mari decides to join. But when Mari meets the two other selected trainees, she steps into a space in which her background makes her “the same but different,” especially as one teen makes her dislike known and Justice seems to ignore Mari entirely. With interspersed text messages and an accessible voice, Chase (Turning Point) delivers a contemporary narrative on the complexities of race, class privilege, and interpersonal relationships, exploring being “Black enough” through a flawed but resonant cast navigating empathy, friendship, and family. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jennifer Carlson, Carlson Dunow & Lerner Literary. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

12/01/2021

Gr 5 Up—Fourteen-year-old Marigold is the heiress apparent to a thriving hip-hop and clothing empire, Flexx Unlimited, owned by her adoring parents. She and her best friend (and secret crush) Justice are two of the only Black students at an elite private school in DC; Marigold attends because her parents are wealthy, and Justice because he has an athletic scholarship. When Justice announces that he is planning on pursuing a summer internship with her parents' company through a special fashion program designed to help young people from some of DC's poorest backgrounds, Mari decides to join the program as well. Because she is the bosses' daughter and comes from privilege, she feels excluded from the other interns, including Justice. One of the interns in particular seems to have a mysterious grudge against her, the origin of which is revealed in the 12th hour of the novel. The book reads a bit like an after-school special. Mari's relationship with her parents seems a little too easy, even when she discovers they've lied to her, and the resolution of the story arrives abruptly and is slightly on the saccharine side. Nevertheless, the book does a refreshing job exploring friendship, socioeconomic classes, and race without being too didactic or heavy. VERDICT Although an unrealistic resolution and speedy ending hamper the novel, middle grade readers who enjoy stories about fashion and friendship, rooted in real-world issues, will enjoy.—Jennifer Knight, Coos Bay P.L., OR

School Library Journal

2021-07-27
The fish-out-of-water class divide tale in reverse.

Having enrolled in their fancy private school a few years before him, Marigold has always been her best friend Justice’s social interpreter. She might be the only Black girl in their grade, but Mari fits in with the moneyed students, and Justice is a scholarship kid. But this summer, things are going to flip: He’s just been accepted into Style High, a summer program designed to boost Black kids who are interested in careers in fashion design and styling. It’s hosted by preeminent hip-hop media company Flexx Unlimited—which is owned by Mari’s parents. Justice wanted to get in on his own merit and not ask for special treatment, but then Mari does exactly that—she asks her parents to let her take part. She’s genuinely interested in fashion, but even she knows her spot was not earned the same way it was by others. And they know it too. Mari’s in for an awakening ruder than she expected, one that will make her question what she knows about her family and background. The socio-economic and racial dynamics of this story add a compelling dimension to a story that fits squarely into the lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-famous genre of realistic fiction that is just a touch fantastic with all its glitz and glamour. Text messages can be hard to follow, but the prose has a strong teen voice.

A solid story of summer growth and exploration. (Fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

[At] Style High, a summer program designed to boost Black kids who are interested in careers in fashion design and styling . . . Mari’s in for an awakening ruder than she expected, one that will make her question what she knows about her family and background. The socio-economic and racial dynamics of this story add a compelling dimension . . . fits squarely into the lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-famous genre of realistic fiction that is just a touch fantastic with all its glitz and glamour. . . . A solid story of summer growth and exploration." — Kirkus Reviews

“Fourteen-year-old Marigold Johnson is an aspiring fashion designer . . . Marigold’s summer only becomes more complicated when she uncovers a secret that turns her world completely upside down. Chase explores the strength and power of familial bonds and friendships when faced with hardships. The book also delves into the topics of conformity and identity and the weight that they hold on an adolescent’s sense of belonging. This will resonate with tweens and teens who are gaining an understanding of who they are and where they fit in.” — Booklist

“Chase delivers a contemporary narrative on the complexities of race, class privilege, and interpersonal relationships, exploring being ‘Black enough’ through a flawed but resonant cast navigating empathy, friendship, and family.” — Publishers Weekly

“Marigold Johnson fears she’s drifting apart from her best friend . . . So when Justice lands a fashion internship the summer after their eighth grade, she decides to join him. . . . Marigold’s blindness to her privilege and her effect on the other kids is painfully believable, and the revelation of the family secret is a real twist . . . Marigold’s emotional, often un-self-aware narration makes her story especially ripe for discussion about perspectives and relationship dynamics.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Marigold ‘Mari’ Johnson is used to straddling two worlds. . . In an unexpected revelation, Mari is forced to rethink what privilege truly means, and how to handle it responsibly. . . . Chase turns her full attention to themes of classism within the Black community.” — Horn Book Magazine

“The book does a refreshing job exploring friendship, socioeconomic classes, and race. . . . Middle grade readers who enjoy stories about fashion and friendship, rooted in real-world issues, will enjoy.” — School Library Journal

"Fun and juicy." — New York Times

From the Publisher

Marigold ‘Mari’ Johnson is used to straddling two worlds. . . In an unexpected revelation, Mari is forced to rethink what privilege truly means, and how to handle it responsibly. . . . Chase turns her full attention to themes of classism within the Black community.

Horn Book Magazine

Marigold Johnson fears she’s drifting apart from her best friend . . . So when Justice lands a fashion internship the summer after their eighth grade, she decides to join him. . . . Marigold’s blindness to her privilege and her effect on the other kids is painfully believable, and the revelation of the family secret is a real twist . . . Marigold’s emotional, often un-self-aware narration makes her story especially ripe for discussion about perspectives and relationship dynamics.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Fun and juicy."

New York Times

Fourteen-year-old Marigold Johnson is an aspiring fashion designer . . . Marigold’s summer only becomes more complicated when she uncovers a secret that turns her world completely upside down. Chase explores the strength and power of familial bonds and friendships when faced with hardships. The book also delves into the topics of conformity and identity and the weight that they hold on an adolescent’s sense of belonging. This will resonate with tweens and teens who are gaining an understanding of who they are and where they fit in.

Booklist

Fourteen-year-old Marigold Johnson is an aspiring fashion designer . . . Marigold’s summer only becomes more complicated when she uncovers a secret that turns her world completely upside down. Chase explores the strength and power of familial bonds and friendships when faced with hardships. The book also delves into the topics of conformity and identity and the weight that they hold on an adolescent’s sense of belonging. This will resonate with tweens and teens who are gaining an understanding of who they are and where they fit in.

Booklist