Marks, Janae. On Air with Zoe Washington. Zoe Washington Series; bk. 2. Katherine Tegen, 02/2023. 304pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 7. $19.99. 978-0-06-321231-2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
African American Zoe, now fourteen, is moving from strength to strength. She won both her dream job at Ari’s Cakes and her father’s freedom from prison in From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Katherine Tegen Books, 2020). Now, with a podcast, she’s taking on raising awareness about the difficulty parolees have restarting their lives, and is determined to open a restaurant with her father, Marcus. While the voice can seem overly expository, and Zoe’s tasks are daunting, her determination and ability to break down and think through seemingly insurmountable challenges is both compelling and inspiring. Happily the wish-fulfillment never becomes absurd, and Zoe’s ability to recalibrate in the face of setbacks is impressive. Marks includes more typical fourteen-year-old concerns, such as how to navigate the feelings about a romantic relationship between best friends. Fans of the first book will be happy there is still plenty of time for baking, as Zoe works on coming up with a signature dessert and puts together mouth-watering meals. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired