Wednesday Wilson Gets Down to Business by Bree Galbraith, Morgan Goble
Published by Kids Can Press on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 1525303279
Pages: 144
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Wednesday Wilson is a brown skinned girl with two moms. She knows she wants to be an entrepreneur, and she’s always on the lookout for the next big thing. She and her best friend Charlie have made a list of potential business ideas, but before they can really get to working on some of them, the Emmas (the class mean girls) get in the way. The Emmas threaten to reveal a secret about Wednesday unless she produces a new invention—a Secret Keeper. Will Wednesday and Charlie be able to satisfy the Emmas, or will Wednesday’s secret become public knowledge?

This book misses the mark on so many levels. First, it perpetuates the stereotype of the mean girl which furthers the girl drama stereotype. Second, the Emmas are blackmailing Wednesday—in an early chapter book targeted at second graders! The entire plot revolves around this blackmail and seems completely age inappropriate. It is never mentioned that the Emmas are doing something illegal. Third, the Secret Keeper invention involves unsanctioned destruction of school property (books). The vocabulary in this book is also very advanced (mostly business related) but does include definitions and explanations in footnotes. Not recommended for purchase.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME