Growing up does not always mean growing louder. Sometimes it means growing truer.
Seventh grade brings new energy, new expectations, and new pressure for Cree Daniels.
Suddenly, ponytails feel childish, hoodies feel invisible, and everyone seems to be racing toward a version of themselves Cree is not sure she wants to be yet. When her best friend Zoe dives headfirst into glow ups and older crowds, and her longtime crush Malik starts noticing the changes around him, Cree begins to wonder if being herself is enough anymore.
Trying to fit in means trying new looks, new attention, and new versions of who she could be. But as Cree experiments with change, she discovers something unexpected. Being noticed does not always feel good, and attention does not always mean connection.
With the steady support of her grounded best friend Lola, honest insight from her brother Marcus, and the quiet truth she finds in her journal, Cree learns that growing up does not have to be rushed, performed, or loud. It can happen slowly. It can happen privately. And it can happen without losing yourself along the way.
The In Between is a heartfelt middle-grade novel about identity, friendship shifts, first feelings, and the courage it takes to choose yourself in a world that keeps trying to choose for you.
Perfect for readers ages 9-13, this story speaks to anyone who has ever felt caught between who they are and who they are expected to be.
Because growing up is not about becoming someone else.
It is about learning how to stay you.
