Description: Life is like a yo-yo for fourteen-year-old Bloom Howard. It has ups and downs, and it goes all around. With her parents' constant arguing, her little brother's illness, pressure to keep her grades up, and now a plagiarism accusation on a state writing test, Bloom's anxiety and depression rise and fall quicker than her beloved yo-yo. That's precisely when Bloom's life takes a turn. Through writing poetry, meeting an otherworldly muse, revisiting a friend from an ancient text, and connecting with writers both young and old, Bloom risks sharing her voice with the world. Along the way, she may just find that truth still exists, even in a world of deceit.
Brief description: Nancy Lee Bethea is Director of Creative Writing at LaVilla School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida, a public magnet school. This is her first novel-in-verse.
Review Quotes: "The Yo-Yo Diaries by Nancy Lee Bethea is a relevant, powerful, and heartfelt novel in verse about fourteen-year-old Bloom who navigates an accusation of plagiarism on her state writing test, her 6-year-old brother's diagnosis of leukemia, and her parents' busy lives. Through poetry, journal writing, and an opportunity for community service with Gran, Bloom discovers not only her inner voice but the power of storytelling as a connection between generations and finding one's truth. The intergenerational connections suggest that truth and identity are discovered through relationship and shared stories. An inspirational and perfect read for middle and high school students to explore how creative writing, self-reflection, and connection can inform identity and foster development of authentic voice."
--Mary Wrenn, Professional School Counselor, Florida