PLEASED TO MEET ME

A paradigmatically average middle school student discovers a portal through the multiverse and confronts variations of himself from alternate Earths.

Meade Macon, an unaccomplished white boy, pretty much stinks at everything except origami. He dreads the impending Student Showcase, which will highlight all his failures. When Meade receives a series of mysterious origami invitations, he finds himself attending Me Con, an event hosted by and for the versions of himself from 99 different dimensions. At Me Con, every Meade receives a nickname based on an identifying characteristic; protagonist Meade is labeled “Average Me.” One of the first other selves the protagonist meets, Motor Me, is fat and uses a mobility cart. Motor Me is quick to give up and treated like a joke by other characters. His use of a mobility aid is depicted as an indulgent, bad habit. Other Meades get their personalities from extremes (Sensitive Me, Meticulous Me) and cultural appropriation (Kabuki Theater Me). Resist Me is an angry, opinionated transgender girl from a world that hates her, and Monk Me spouts platitudes about peace. The cast is overwhelmingly white, a context that makes Resist’s assertion that Me Con should solve problems like “racism and discrimination” feel hollow. Use of the modern-day dog whistle “Don’t Tread on Me” as a chapter title adds a further sour taste. Overall, the narrative requires a heaping dose of suspended disbelief, but it feels like a minor flaw to swallow compared to the other elements of the story.

Calling this book “average” would give it too much credit.