‘A heartwarming and relatable story exploring change, following your instincts and finding your voice in a loud world.’
Fifth grader Martha Mayfield has a cooler than cool Grandma who, like other very cool women, goes by just one name. Stella. She also has a shy but crazily talented-at-dressmaking mum, and a gothic, European-soccer-loving sister.
And Martha herself? Well, Martha has good ideas. Great
ideas. Tremendous ideas. But, she’s also known as the apple that didn’t fall
far from the tree in that she inherited her mums shyness.
Every kid at school knows, or is, a Martha Mayfield: that child in the classroom who has a small group of friends and might be known for being smart, or capable, or quirky, but who never answers a question in front of the group.
In this book, the reader sees the inner workings of
Martha’s mind.
There are loads of people to get to know and to love (or
not!) through the story. They are each beautifully drawn in the sort of detail
that ensures we care about them and find something to relate to in each.
The Making Of Martha Mayfield is marvellous for so many reasons. For its capacity to
get inside the head of an anxious fifth grader, for its realistic and relatable
depth of character, for its exploration of relationships, self-expression and
leadership, and for its many hilarious moments.
The pace is perfect, leading to a dramatic climax that is surprising and very satisfying to read. I’ll be looking out for a sequel, for sure!
A must-read.
Title: The Making Of Martha MayfieldAuthor: Jo Dabrowski
Publisher: Affirm Press, $17.99
Publication Date: 26 August 2025
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781923022928
For Ages: 9 - 12
Type: Middle Grade
