Yes No Maybe So
Series: None
Author: Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed
Published February 4th 2020 by Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Goodreads Synopsis
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state candidate - as long as he’s behind the scenes. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.

Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is cancelled, her parents are separating and now her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing - with some awkward guy she hardly knows ...

Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer - and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural crush of the century is another thing entirely.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

When the election comes up for a state representative, both Jamie Goldberg and Maya Rehman are volunteered, by their mam's, to work on canvassing and getting the message out there for the Democratic nominee. They used to be friendly when they were kids, but have grown apart, and their different family lives, religions, and experiences, have changed them. But, after getting over a few hiccups, they rediscover the bond between them, and soon find themselves enjoying being involved in the political process, but especially doing it together. Can being on a political circuit lead to love?

This was a book I didn't know what to expect. I've read one of Becky's previous books, but none of Aisha's, and being British, wasn't sure how much I would understand about the American political system. I am very interested in politics, and followed the 2020 US election, but other than a presidential election, I don't really know the voting system or process - it is quite different to how we elect MPs. I really enjoyed learning about the process, and seeing how teens can be involved in politics, even before they are eligible to vote. Also, the way both of the main character's religions and backgrounds were explored was really good. Because of when the election was scheduled, it's during Ramadan, and when the Goldbergs are planning Sophie's Bat Mitzvah. The world has changed a lot recently, especially since the 2016 election, and a lot of hard hitting topics were discussed in this book. I think it's a fantastic way for teens to start addressing the racism and prejudice they might face in real life, and see that there are small actions they can take to push back.

Dates Read:
August 16-21, 2021

Rating
4 Stars