It's been a while since I read a middle-grade prose novel, and I'm so happy I picked NOT MY FEATHER by Amelia Venjoy! I love it when MG books have a cast of characters, with their POV taking the story forward, and that's exactly what this book does.

The importance of friendship at that age is portrayed so well. We all remember how far we'd go for our friends when we were younger, which made this story relatable to me! It was wonderful to have multiple POVs shown because I could find something or another that made me relate to almost all the characters in this story. I loved reading this!

I really liked how characters are shown being courageous, making mistakes, eventually owning up to them, taking responsibilities, being kids and becoming friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The beloved mascot has gone missing, and a group of children are put into after-school detention until the case is solved. The story unfolds from different perspectives, and the students work together to try to solve who took the mascot.

The children learn to use their voices, to see beyond their impressions of each other to who each of them really are, and eventually solve the mystery.

What I liked:
1. It reminded me of the breakfast club.
2. The children realized there is more to each other than what they've seen on the surface and what they've assumed.
3. The children found their voices and advocated for themselves.

As an educator, it really bothers me when adults punish a group of kids because they think one of the children may have done something. There's usually no apology or restitution for the harm done to those punished when the person responsible is caught. That's part of the message of the book, and I hope that adults learn from reading this book alongside children.

This is like an amazing combo of Breakfast Club and Gossip Girl but for the pre-teen age. I loved all the kids (though Sophie cried too much), and Cole was my favorite. I did not guess the twist at all. I am not the target audience for this but I could not put it down! It read like a TV show. Highly suggest for the pre-teens in your life!