This is comfort food for anxious middle schoolers. Booki Vivat nails the internal monologue of a kid who's always catastrophizing, and the heavily illustrated format makes it feel like you're inside Abbie's frantic brain.
It's not going to teach your kid mindfulness techniques or give them a five-step plan for managing stress. But it will make them laugh and feel seen, which honestly might be more valuable. The Chinese American representation is done naturally—Abbie's identity is part of who she is without being The Point of the book.
If your kid loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid but you wished it had a girl protagonist and slightly more heart, this is it. If they're dreading middle school, hand them this. If they're already in middle school and constantly spiraling, this might be the 'oh thank god I'm not the only one' they need.






