The Other Side of Perfect

January 22, 2024
Dual perspectives illuminate cultural and class differences in this thought-provoking novel by Cree and Scottish author Florence (Legends of Funland) and Scrimger (Weerdest Day Ever!). Cody, who is white, lives with his physically abusive and racist father who’s struggling to make ends meet; Cree classmate Autumn, meanwhile, runs with the popular crowd and enjoys a comfortable and stable household. The two Toronto middle schoolers’ paths cross when Cody runs away from home and Autumn literally stumbles across him, finding him bruised and dirty near her house. She sneaks him into her family’s backyard studio, and though his status as a secret stowaway doesn’t last long, Autumn’s parents promise to keep Cody safe after learning of his circumstances, especially once they realize his father has been evicted from their apartment. Tensions run high between Cody and Autumn, however, when Cody unknowingly parrots his father’s racist language, and the tweens’ new relationship threatens Autumn’s place in the social hierarchy. While explanations of relevant social topics feel underdeveloped, accessible prose and recognizable middle school archetypes make this an approachable worlds-collide story. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from February 15, 2024
A gripping story, told in two voices, about the need to belong. Cody Stouffer, who's white, is growing up in an unpredictable environment with an absent mother and an abusive father. He craves safety and security. Thirteen-year-old Autumn Bird, who's Cree, lives in a wealthy Toronto neighborhood with her parents, a doctor and an artist, and she hangs with the cool group at school. One night, she finds Cody lying semiconscious on the ground near her home, unwashed and physically battered. Although she's ignored him at school, Autumn is moved by Cody's plight. He's terrified of being sent back to his father, so she sneaks him into her father's art studio. When Autumn's parents inevitably discover his presence, they model empathy and compassion, even though Cody's been influenced by his father's racist attitudes toward Indigenous people and makes deeply insensitive comments, angering Autumn. As Cody tries to navigate his confusing new life, he's unsure of whom to trust. Autumn, relying on her own instincts, is on a path to figuring out her authentic place among her friends. Florence (Cree and Scottish) and Scrimger layer their characters' alternating voices with insightful descriptions and metaphors. Both young people display a degree of confidence and grow over the course of the book as they learn to better discern their circumstances while dealing with subtle acts of exclusion. An evocative narrative about identity, community, and the power of nurturing relationships. (Fiction. 9-13)

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April 1, 2024

Gr 4 Up-Previously published in 2022 in Canada as Autumn Bird and the Runaway, this middle grade novel is the heartrending and hope-filled story of Cody, a victim of domestic abuse by his alcoholic father, and Autumn, the victim of bullying by her wealthy and popular friends. Coauthors Florence and Scrimger unfold the hidden stories of both tweens after their lives intersect one fateful evening. Autumn Bird, whose family is of Cree descent, has been raised by her physician mother and artist father to honor their heritage and to help others through community service. White Cody Stouffer, whose mother is incarcerated and whose father is an abusive, racist alcoholic, has been raised to humiliate others and think only of himself. Cody decides to run away after experiencing more physical abuse from his father. On her way to meet a friend, Autumn stumbles across someone who has collapsed and realizes it is her classmate Cody. Autumn brings Cody home and hides him for the night. Their unlikely friendship grows as Autumn's parents take Cody in and help him flourish in a safe and encouraging family environment. Both children struggle to fit in and sometimes lose themselves in the process, but they ultimately find their true selves. Through this poignant coming-of-age story, readers will rally behind Autumn and Cody as they stand up for themselves, open their hearts, and share them with the world. VERDICT This realistic fiction novel touches on tough topics with aplomb; a worthy addition to middle grade library collections.-Melissa King

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 9, 2024
Grades 5-8 Two dissimilar tweens are thrust together when an act of violence leaves one of them sleeping in a bush in this didactic tale with a heart of gold. Autumn Bird is popular and lives in a nice part of town, which is where Cody ends up after his dad's physical violence against him spurs Cody to run away. Even though she's late for a party, Autumn decides to sneak Cody into her dad's art studio to stay the night. Autumn's act of kindness--and her family's response when they discover Cody--highlights the dichotomy between their two lives. As Cody and Autumn learn about each other and themselves, the community center prepares for an anniversary celebration that will crash the story to a close. While the dual-authored POVs allow the reader to get a better look at each character's life as it unfolds--including Autumn's experiences as an Indigenous person--the prose is a bit too tight for eighth graders, and the moral of the story drives the novel rather than the plot.

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