“Magic Mel” feels like everything is crumbling around her, on the soccer field and in her friend group. Tory McNally is trying to not feel hurt by her mom being more interested in her new husband than in Tory. When, unknowingly for them, they connect anonymously online, secrets are shared and their feelings for each other grow. This debut book is an action-packed soccer tale of first romance, exploring queer identities, and learning to be brave, even when it’s scary. I really enjoyed the way in which this book tenderly looks at relationships, platonic and romantic. The author writes compelling, complicated conversations about how friendships change over time, and she recognizes that this can be messy and challenging, but she also supports this with compassion and empathy. This novel is relevant and relatable for junior high readers.