Not If I Can Help It, written by Carolyn Mackler, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Willa resists change on every level. She has strong preferences in her choice of food and clothing. She splits time between her divorced parents. Her life is stable and happy. Just before school starts, Willa learns her dad’s secret. Her dad and her best friend’s mom have been dating for the past year and they are madly in love. Willa likes Ruby’s mom but has concerns about the changes that are inevitable. Ruby buzzes with excitement about the possibility of becoming sisters with Willa. Willa worries that Ruby will find out about her private self-described "weird" behavior. Willa has sensory processing disorder and has trouble with ordinary things like socks and the texture of certain foods. Before she was diagnosed and receiving treatment, Willa experienced bullying at school. Willa likes her life the way it is. She fears Ruby won't like the "real" her. When Ruby confesses she's not as perfect as Willa thinks she is, Willa realizes she's not the only one keeping secrets. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Not If I Can Help It is a great story about blended families and learning to accept yourself, quirks and all. Willa is witty and relatable. Ruby is sweet, outgoing and a perfect balance to Willa’s reticence. There are signs that Willa is not the only family member who is different. Her younger brother Benji constantly rattles off facts about Geography. He spends time reading the world atlas and encyclopedias. Mackler does a fantastic job of describing Willa’s visits to her therapist and the goals of her therapy without slowing down the story. The pacing is quick and the writing pops off the page. Students will relate to Ruby’s frequent trips to the bathroom and nervousness about graduation. The themes of friendship and acceptance are reminiscent of Wonder. Not If I Can Help It would make an excellent choice for a read aloud book in the classroom. It can also be used for lessons about acceptance and learning about Sensory Processing Disorder. I highly recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school students, especially fans of Wonder.