Red Flags and Butterflies - Sheryl Azzam

“A tender, heartfelt, and intelligent coming-of-age story that celebrates quiet strength and trusting your instincts.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Straight A student, swim team star, talented painter — tenth-grader Lexie has worked hard to become the perfect applicant for Sunridge High’s prestigious fine art program. She’s even got a shot at a swimming scholarship. Everyone she loves is supportive of her application.

Everyone, that is, except her dad.

Lexie’s dad doesn’t see the point of some overpriced art school. He wants Lexie and her brother, Jonah, at home to help launch his new renovation business. The work will cut into Lexie’s already overloaded schedule, but the idea of refusing her dad makes her stomach churn with anxiety. So she agrees to help, just for a little while. If she supports his plan, then he’ll have to support hers, right? It’s only fair.

But Lexie and her dad have different definitions of fair. Soon, Lexie must make an impossible choice between being who her dad wants her to be, and being true to herself.