Myra in the middle by Seetha Dodd. Illus. by Peter Cheong

Seven-year-old Myra likes maths, football and things staying the same.  So, her world is flipped upside down when her family welcomes a new baby.  Myra was happy living with her mum, dad, grandma and big sister but now she is the middle child, and everyone knows the middle child is always getting forgotten.  Not only is she a middle child at home but when she tries out for the soccer team her coach puts her in midfield, how can she stand out and be memorable when nothing ever happens in midfield that will allow her to shine.

This is a beautifully written story that perfectly reflects the feelings of being the forgotten middle child without falling into cliches and negativity.  I loved the discussion of Myra's feelings with friends and her family and the ways that she felt unseen or forgotten.  I also really enjoyed reading about her plans to fix the problem, with limited success.

Myra is a positive character who is portrayed with an authenticity that is endearing.  I absolutely can see this becoming a favourite on home and school library shelves as it would be a great book to open the door to discussions about bigger families and the way that sometimes people can feel unseen. 

This book is perfectly suited to an emerging independent reader or a class read aloud.  I really enjoyed reading this book and would love to read more about Myra's adventures.

Themes: Friendship, Families, Sport, School, Siblings.

Mhairi Alcorn