Author: Nicole D. Collier
Publisher: Versify
Publication Date: January 24, 2023
Genres: Middle Grade Contemporary
Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository| Indigo | IndieBound
Thank you TBR 7 Beyond tours and Versify Books for the review copy and the opportunity to be on this blog tour!
Synopsis
In this lyrical novel that will appeal to fans of Meg Medina, Maya turns to her trusty “wheel of fortunes” for guidance on the toughest questions–like why her best friend suddenly feels far away, or when her Daddy will move back home. But can Maya find the courage to write her own fortune?
Maya J. Jenkins is bursting with questions:
Will she get the MVP award at this year’s soccer banquet?Who will win the big grill off between Daddy and Uncle J?When will she pass the swim test and get a green bracelet?For answers and a dose of good luck, 12-year-old Maya turns to her Wheel of Fortunes, a cardboard circle covered with the small slips of wisdom she’s collected from fortune cookies.
But can the fortunes answer her deep-down questions? The ones she’s too scared to ask out loud? Like, where did Mama’s smile go, the real one that lit up everything around her? When will Daddy move back home? And most of all, does she have enough courage to truly listen to the voice in her heart?
Review
The Many Fortunes of Maya is a good coming of age story about Maya/MJ, a middle schooler who envisions the perfect summer but faces a different reality. This story focused on friendship. family and self-discovery.
Maya vision’s of a perfect summer means winning the MVP award, going to an awesome soccer summer camp and her parents getting along. When Maya’s friends gets MVP and Maya’s parents start a trial separation, Maya has to figure out who and what she wants to be. She loves her flute and wants to play it more, can she do that? Is soccer the thing she wants to mainly focus on, or can she take a break without letting her dad down? Maya goes on a journey of really discovering herself and wants she wants to focus on. Along this journey she has her parents a, uncle and to support her.
I really enjoyed how the author was intentional in developing each character well. Whether a main or supporting character, each one felt crucial to the story. Along with being developed, each character is likable in their own right which makes the overall plot a very pleasant read. It is a good middle grade read with a great message.
About the Author
Nicole D. Collier, Ph.D., was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has spent the past two decades in education. First as a fourth grade teacher, then teacher coach, and now as a partner at Personality Matters, Inc., an executive training, coaching and consulting firm.
Nicole writes for all ages, but her first love is middle grade contemporary fiction. Young people are trying to discern who they are vs. who they want to be, and how to bridge the gap between the two. Nicole’s stories are in that gap. In particular, she writes about the interior lives of Black girls as they seek their authentic selves.
A self-proclaimed ever-victorious woman, Nicole has been known to run, dance, and turn cartwheels on sunny days. The Georgia peach has recently relocated to Tampa Bay, Florida.
Her forthcoming novel, The Many Fortunes of Maya (HarperCollins/Versify, Jan ’23) has earned two starred reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly) and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
Tour Schedule
Direct Link: https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2023/01/16/tour-schedule-the-many-fortunes-of-maya-by-nicole-d-collier/
A Bronx Latina Reads 