First published 2007
Lili barely speaks above a whisper in her classroom. While other kids play outside during recess, she stays indoors with Lois, the class guinea pig. Her friend Cassidy does all the talking for both of them, which means Cassidy also gets to pick the best roles when they play games together. Lili finds it simpler to let Cassidy take control of everything. But when Lois faces danger, Lili must decide whether she can find her voice to protect the guinea pig she cares about. The choice forces her to stand up for what matters, even if it means challenging her dominant friend. This story captures the struggle many children face between staying safe in silence and risking conflict to do what's right. Both quiet kids learning to assert themselves and bossy children who dominate their friends will recognize their own experiences in these characters.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, quiet-character
32 pages · Hardcover · Putnam Juvenile