  | Brady Mason's perfect fit Author: Melleby, Nicole | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
A queer New Jersey orphan goes to live with her glamorous birth mom in New York City.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (11/15/25)
School Library Journal (01/01/26)
Booklist (11/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 01/01/2026 Gr 5 Up—Brady Mason, 12, lives in group home. She believes her parents were killed in an accident and has spent her life being cared for by foster parents. Brady's friends hear about a famous magazine editor who is going public about giving up a baby girl for adoption 12 years ago. They reach out to Elena, the editor, and after DNA testing takes place, Brady finds out she is the woman's daughter. Brady meets and moves in with Elena and must adjust to a glamorous, affluent life with a celebrity mother. Brady loves sports and does not feel a kinship with the glamorous Elena, and they have a difficult time forging a bond. The plot of this story moves along at a fast pace and should keep young readers engaged and interested. Brady's friends are well drawn and relatable, and Brady herself is a spunky, appealing girl whose difficulties fitting in at a new school ring true. The book could be used to start a discussion about the difficulties faced by children in the foster care system. VERDICT An enjoyable, accessible read that will be a strong addition to middle grade shelves. Recommended for fans of Pam Muñoz Ryan and Liz Kessler.—Susan Cox - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 11/01/2025 Twelve-year-old Brady has only ever known foster parents and group homes. Never quite feeling like she fits in with her fashion-loving roommates, Brady would rather play sports and wear hoodies. But when her roommates become convinced she looks like the famous fashion influencer turned magazine editor Elena Lavigne, they hatch a scheme to bring attention and money to the group home. One DNA test later, their suspicions are proved correct, and Brady is suddenly trading in her New Jersey group home for an Upper East Side townhouse. Between having to navigate the social hierarchy of an elite private school, trying to build a relationship with a mother she has never known, and figuring out how to come out as queer, Brady has a lot to juggle. Melleby crafts a wonderfully spunky character in Brady, who is not afraid to back down from a challenge. This heartfelt, at times silly story of transformation will leave readers thinking about what it means to truly belong. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
