#KEEP IT TOGETHER DRIVER#

Ro’s father, a fellow space buff, was killed by a drunk driver the rocket they were working on together lies unfinished in her closet. Unfolding in mid-1980s Sacramento, California, this story stars 12-year-olds Rosalind and Benjamin as first-person narrators in alternating chapters. Keiko is biracial, half Japanese American and half white Jenna is Japanese American and Audrey is white.Īn aspiring scientist and a budding artist become friends and help each other with dream projects. The highs and lows of the girls’ friendship highlight toxic relationships versus true friendship. In her middle-grade debut, Florence creates a fun, accessible story, touching on the realities of middle school, such as friendships, fallouts, misunderstandings, first crushes, and fitting in.

Keeping the peace is what Keiko does, but she must decide if it’s worth sacrificing her happiness this time. Her mom is never home because of a new job her sister is hiding something and Keiko might have a crush on a boy she shouldn’t like.

And that’s just the beginning of her troubles. Stuck in the middle of the fight, Keiko wants to make everyone happy. Keiko goes along with it, but Jenna tires of always doing things Audrey’s way. Keiko wants to experience new clubs and activities together, but Audrey has something else in mind: boyfriends. Jenna is finally back from spending the summer with her dad in Texas, and everything is perfect now that the trio is together again. Keiko Carter is ready to start seventh grade with her two best friends, Jenna Sakai and Audrey Lassiter. Keiko and her two best friends navigate the drama of seventh grade.

Keep it together