Eden (white) is struggling to find her middle school social footing after an injury ended the gymnastics career that once consumed her life. Although Eden is proud of her mom’s rags-to-riches story as the founder and CEO of a menstrual products company, she’s dismayed when her mom is invited to give a talk on Career Day and humiliated by the predictable period jokes and teasing that ensues. After a hallway altercation with a bully, Eden finds herself in the principal’s office along with Mirabel (Guatemalan American), a classmate who came to her defense. Suspended for accidentally injuring the boy, the girls end up spending time together at Casa Esperanza, a food bank/community resource center run by Mirabel’s mother, Silvia. While there, Eden’s eyes are opened to the issues of poverty, homelessness, and Seattle city dynamics related to corporate growth. Eden’s insights further coalesce after discovering firsthand the importance of menstrual product accessibility. Her budding friendship with Mirabel quickly expands to include Mirabel’s sisters, friends, and community activists. Motivated to make a difference, Eden becomes involved in sewing fabric menstrual pads and a political campaign to tax corporations so that free period products can be made available in schools while hiding these activities from her increasingly disapproving mother, from whom she feels more and more disconnected. This poignant, passionate novel explores friendship, family, activism, self-discovery, and the challenge of being true to oneself. (Ages 10-13)

In the spirit of Judy Blume, this “character-driven, thought-provoking, often funny, and, above all, timely” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade novel celebrates finding yourself, making new friends, and standing up for what’s right as a girl becomes involved in menstrual activism.

Ever since a career-ending injury, former elite gymnast Eden has been feeling lost. To add insult to actual injury, her mom has been invited to present at her middle school’s career day, which would be fine except Mom’s company produces period products like pads and tampons. Having the whole school hear about it is total humiliation. And when Eden gets into a fight with a boy who won’t stop mocking her for it, she and her classmate Maribel both end up getting suspended.

Mom’s corporate executive job means she doesn’t have time to look after Eden while she’s suspended, so Eden is sent to volunteer at the food bank Maribel’s mom runs. There, she meets new friends who open her eyes to period poverty, the struggle that low-income people with periods have trying to afford menstrual products. Eden even meets a boy who gets periods. Witnessing how people fight for fair treatment inspires Eden to join the advocacy work.

But sewing pads to donate and pushing for free access to period products puts Eden at odds with her mom. Even so, Eden’s determined to hold onto the one thing that’s ignited her passion and drive since gymnastics. Can she stand her ground and make a real difference?