Running, written by Natalia Sylvester, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: Mariana’s dad is running for President and things are starting to get awkward. For as long as Mari can remember, her dad has been campaigning for one office or another, and she has always been his biggest supporter. But this time around, the expectations for Mari and her family are so much higher than ever before. She is under constant pressure and scrutiny to be the best version of herself, which makes her feel more like a political strategy than a beloved daughter. Her mother seems to understand Mari's frustrations and complaints, but ultimately, she always sides with Mari’s father. Mari is trying to make sense of her family’s new drive to win at all costs, but the more time she spends thinking about the campaign, the more she realizes that she doesn’t actually know much about her father’s policies and political views. And when tabloid photos of Mari are taken out of context, even by her family members, Mari starts to wonder if she should be putting more consideration into how she would cast her vote. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Running is a fantastic story about how today’s political climate affects young people, and about how critical it is for individuals, especially youth, to stand up for their views and beliefs. Mari’s direct connection to the candidate in question (her father) drives home a poignant message about the importance of following policies and votes, not just words and promises. Mari’s family is Cuban-American, living in Miami, and Sylvester does an incredible job incorporating real-world political issues that are deeply connected to Miami, like immigration and deportation issues, coastal water health and protection, and class and racial division. A full cast of characters, including her childhood friends, her new activist friends, and even her mother and grandfather, help open Mari’s eyes to the ways that her father’s politics affect the everyday lives of people in her community. The book ends with many issues unresolved, and a few relationships hanging in the balance, but provides a satisfying conclusion to Mari’s period of awakening, closing a chapter on Mari’s youth and opening a door toward a more engaged future. This book will be an easy sell to politically aware and active teens, and provides an interesting, fast-paced story for those who are simply looking for a good coming-of-age novel.