The Fifth Favorite By Gale Sears: Book Review

Product Details

• Title: The Fifth Favorite
• Author: Gale Sears
• Genre: Middle Grade/Coming of Age
• Paperback: 207 pages
• Publisher: Crosslink Publishing (November 29, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1633571858
• ***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

Book Summary
Eleven-year-old Allie Whitman is dealing with stress about her sixth-grade science project, embarrassment about her chicken costume for Halloween, and fear of the Mad Woman of Tahoe Meadow. Added to this, she feels that she is her mother's fifth favorite in their family of six. She tries hard to up her status, but competing with her dad, a charming older brother, a brainy older sister, and a younger sister with autism; Allie laments that she may be stuck forever as low man on the totem pole.

The stakes escalate for Allie when her brother Paul, blackmails her into keeping a dark secret in exchange for his silence about one of her foolhardy decisions. When Paul's secret turns dangerous, Allie must decide between her mother's approval or saving her brother's life.

The Fifth Favorite is a clever story filled with lovable characters, a bit of mystery, and plenty of hope.

My Review 
I read this book the week of Thanksgiving. It was the perfect book to read during the holidays. 

Main character Allie is a sixth-grader in a family full of outgoing and complicated family members. She often feels she's sitting in the background when compared to her older brother and sister who are smart and popular and her younger sister who is autistic. Awkward is the perfect word to describe her and the reason I know this is because this novel mirrors my life so much! I was a very awkward 11-year-old with an outgoing older brother and sister and a younger brother with a disability. The characters are written so well and are brought to life in a colorful and relatable way. I remember feeling the way that Allie felt wondering where she fits in her family and what her part was in how it functioned. 

This Middle-Grade fiction book is a beautiful coming of age story where readers see the incredible growth Allie makes as she learns about true friendship, accepting others who are different, helping those in need, and loving others unconditionally. This novel made me laugh out loud at moments and cry in others. The book is set in an earlier era that makes the nostalgia come alive. This book will be enjoyed by teens and adults. The Fifth Favorite will make a wonderful Christmas present for all of your favorite reader friends and family.