Myra’s home is about to get busier and noisier. Her mum and dad have gone to the hospital to have their new baby. Myra and her big sister
are excited to meet the new baby and learn whether they have a new baby brother or sister. It’s a boy!
New baby Zeeshan is demanding, crying a lot and taking all of mum and dad’s attention. The family routine is all messed up and Myra isn’t quite sure where she fits in the family. She’s not the youngest any longer and wonders if she will be forgotten.
What makes things worse is her teacher at school keeps getting her name wrong. Myra wants to say something, but just shrugs and answers to another name… for a while.
At least Mum and Dad and Muthashi (grandma) are interested in her football trials coming up. But then Myra gets put on the team as a mid-fielder. No one cheers for people who don’t score goals or save them.
Feeling less and less seen by everyone around her, Myra feels worse and worse. Will she just disappear?
A charming story about a tween’s place in her home after a new baby joins the family. Becoming a middle child is confusing for Myra, and she struggles with a perceived whole change of identity.
With the help of her wise Muthashi, and parents who make sure Myra knows she is loved, Myra in the Middle is really special.
Large print and line spacing make Myra in the Middle a great book for young readers moving from junior novels up to longer chapter books. Myra loves maths and uses it to sort day to day problems, showing readers that Maths is present in everyday life, not just the classroom.
I did enjoy the way Myra stood up for herself and her name, and the fact that she was worried about her baby brother’s new name. Names from different cultures from a country’s own, are often shortened, nick named or pronounced incorrectly. This book will gently point out that that can often be hurtful and confusing.
Author – Seetha Dodd
Illustrator – Peter Cheong
Age – 7+
(2026, University of Queensland Press, Australia, Family, Love, Friendship, Growing up, Indian Malaysian Culture, New Baby, Middle Child, Identity, Football, Soccer, Mid fielder, School, Names)