CANDACE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING

A 13-year-old Black girl’s locker find leads her into an unlikely intergenerational friendship that widens her horizons.

Candace Wells is beginning eighth grade with a friendship crisis. Her Filipino American best friend, Deen, has been spending more time with Candace’s “next best friend,” Becca, who’s Black and biracial, leaving Candace feeling like the odd one out. When Candace opens her new locker, a bird shoots out. Deen and Becca walk away arm in arm, leaving her to clean up. As she disinfects her locker, Candace discovers a purple composition notebook with handwritten notes. The friendship advice feels especially relevant: “These People Are Not Your Friends.” The next chapter transports readers to 1988, where Black eighth grader Tracey Auburn is arguing with her best friend, olive-skinned Dia Andres, when a bird flies into her school locker. Her purple notebook and pen go missing from her locker—only to reappear with a drawing of the bird and the signature “Candace.” Candace tracks down Tracey, who’s a professor at a local college, and the two eventually locate Loretta Spencer, the Black woman who had the locker back in 1948 and who studied physics. The trio, connected by the mysterious locker, bird, and notebook, examine the strange phenomena. Smith offers nuanced portrayals of the well-rounded characters and their relationships, combined with enjoyable fantasy elements. Each lead character’s storyline offers accessible connection points, keeping readers engaged.

A heartwarming adventure that explores courage, self-belief, and dreams.