PIZZA MY HEART

Pizza leads a seventh grader to find the unexpected in her new neighborhood.

Maya Reynolds, who has a Black dad and Italian American mom, has been dreading the end of summer since she learned it meant leaving her Brooklyn neighborhood for suburban life in Hempstead, Pennsylvania, so her parents could expand their popular family pizza place, Soul Slice. Soon after arriving, Maya’s parents tell her she’ll be running deliveries (at least, the ones close enough to bike to), which is how she meets Justin Baker, a Black boy who is the son of Soul Slice 2.0’s interior designer—and her new enemy after he is rude when she delivers him a pizza. Justin seems to be inescapable at school, but Maya befriends Devin, a Korean American girl who shares her passion for art and convinces her to join the art club and enter their annual contest. Maya’s excitement is dashed when her parents reject the possibility because she has to work, causing her to rely on her new friends to help with her secret scheme to do the one thing that makes her happy. This first-person narrative wonderfully weaves together a budding romance with the story of a girl wanting to live her dream while being the dutiful daughter. The fast pace and realistic dialogue, sprinkled with up-to-the-minute slang, will engage readers as they come to know the intriguing cast of characters.

A charming slice of life.