Anything But Okay by Sarah Darer Littman
Published by Scholastic Paperbacks on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 1338177583
Pages: 352
Goodreads

This is great for high school mature audiences. It’s also a great look into city life.

Stella and Farida are best friends  but Stella has “white girl” glasses and really doesn’t understand how hard it is for Farida to fit into American society. Farida was born here, but she is Muslim.

Stella’s brother, Rob<  came home from a tour with the US Marines in Afghanistan. He is paranoid and angry.Then his best friend from the same division killed himself. The war has the same effect as the Vietnam war, no heros and help is hard to get.

Stella thinks she can help him by getting him out of the house. She  didn’t know going to the movies and a food court would freak him out. He sees a person of color being bullied, he steps up to defend a weaker person (like he was taught in service). He breaks the bully’s nose, it was videoed and it goes viral.

Stella decides to run for class president, but everyone thinks her brother is crazy and should go to jail. They spray paint their home, and the Amvets come to help clean up the mess.

Stella’s history teacher asks, “…what do think makes a patriot?” For a school project. Both of Stella’s parents were in the Army.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray