Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.

This is a terrific middle-grade read that explores writer’s block, how friendships aren’t linear in their growth, and family expectations. By seeing it all through the eyes of seventh grader Lyla, readers get an authentic view of young writers trying to work through these struggles so they will enjoy it and possibly be inspired by it as young authors and middle schoolers. The story follows Lyla, who is excited when her English teacher gives her a daily creative writing assignment. While she spent the last year mentally building an elaborate fantasy novel, this is now her chance to put her story on paper. While trying to work through writer’s block, Lyla also deals with changing dynamics with her best friend, Rania, and the buildup of pressure to do well in a town writing contest. Dee captures that sensation of middle school – the bittersweetness of shifting friendships, the burden of academic (and personal) expectations – perfectly. Lyla’s internal conflicts about perfectionism and self-doubt, in addition to the practical writing advice embedded into the narrative itself, offers useful lessons to young authors dealing with such obstacles. This novel is ideal for fans of   Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary and Front Desk by Kelly Yang. All in all, Unstuck is a tender, comical meditation on making your way through life as a young writer on and off the page. Barbara Dee is a fabulous storyteller, and the lessons in this book empower readers to feel comfortable expressing their creative passions, while also dealing with adolescent trials with empathy and resilience. This novel is a welcome addition to middle grade literature.