Lisa Springer's second novel, The Other Side of Imani (after There's No Way I'd Die First), is an endearing stagger through new experiences as depicted by a Black tween who must stand up for herself and the truth.
Thirteen-year-old Imani's Barbadian father and Ghanian mother moved the entire family from California to Brooklyn, N.Y., so her dad could pursue his love of cooking Afro-Caribbean fare. Although Imani is nervous about going to a new school, she has "always dreamed about living in the Big Apple" because "it is the fashion capital of the world." So when she meets a fellow student who loves fashion and design as much as she does, she's thrilled. Popular girl Harlee is "a bona fide fashion industry insider" whose mother was a model and now works in the industry. Imani and Harlee bond over Imani's design ideas and sketches and are both delighted to enter a fashion competition with a scholarship to the prestigious Dekalb Art and Design High School as first prize. But Imani is accused of plagiarism when she hands in her work--her submission is evidently too similar to Harlee's. The other girl refuses to confess, and Imani cannot enter the competition as herself. What choice does Imani have other than to create another persona?
The Other Side of Imani is a gratifying novel that is broken up into invitingly short chapters with accessible language for middle-grade readers. Imani is a relatable protagonist, and her journey will likely resonate with readers navigating their own creative and sometimes difficult paths; a great read-alike for Renée Watson's middle-grade novels or Kelly Yang's Front Desk. --Natasha Harris, freelance reviewer