Description

Dumplin' meets the small-town drama of Gilmore Girls in this sparkling debut from Erin Moonyeen Haley.

Twelve-year-old Savvy’s only ambition is to be chosen as Miss Liberty in her town’s glittertastic Fourth of July parade. In her mind, being Miss Liberty is key to getting everything you want for the rest of your life. And Savvy’s anxious mind needs to know what’s going to happen for the rest of her life, just like she needs to know what the weather is going to be like every single day. Unfortunately, Savvy is only a dancer in the kick line, while her older sister, Levi, is the glamorous Miss Liberty for the third year in a row.

But this year, Levi seems committed to taking down the parade and crushing Savvy’s future dreams, for reasons that neither Savvy nor the town can understand.

Only one thing is for sure: It’s up to Savvy to bring the glitter back to her beloved parade, her town, and her sister.


What happens when saving the town’s biggest tradition means standing up to the one person she’s always looked up to?


  • Sisters at Odds: Savvy dreams of becoming the next Miss Liberty, but her older sister Levi—the reigning queen—seems determined to ruin everything.
  • Small Town Drama: In a town where the Fourth of July parade is everything, choosing a side could mean losing friends, family, and the future you thought you wanted.
  • Anxiety and Ambition: For a girl whose anxious mind needs a predictable future, discovering her own path is both terrifying and thrilling.
  • Tradition vs. Progress: A heartfelt story that asks what’s more important: honoring the past or fighting for a better future?

About the author(s)

Erin Moonyeen Haley has been, by turns, an educator, a dancer, a dance instructor, and a bookseller. After graduating with a degree in writing for film and television from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Erin spent time in Hollywood working at A-list talent agencies and production companies. Today, she’s a librarian who also teaches English, history, and art history at a Philadelphia-area school for gifted students. 

Reviews

"With relatable characters, humor, and compelling stakes, Miss Liberty is a fun and engaging story about the struggle to honor traditions while fighting for a better future. Savvy will dance her way into readers’ hearts as she perseveres when plans fall apart and finds the strength to stand up for what’s right." - Lynne Kelly, author of Song For a Whale and The Secret Language of Birds

“A fierce, sparkly debut that shows the importance of taking a stand and being yourself.” - Kirkus Reviews

“In this heartfelt debut, Haley sensitively portrays a character who’s struggling to hold on to the comfort of the familiar while contending with fear regarding an uncertain future. Savvy’s personal ambitions collide with her desire to support her sister’s efforts making for engaging, relatable familial and internal drama.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An intense, interior drama for community and historically minded middle grade readers.” - School Library Journal

More by Erin Moonyeen Haley

More Adolescence & Coming of Age

More Social Themes

More Juvenile Fiction

More Patriotic Holidays

More Holidays & Celebrations

More Siblings

More Family

More Politics & Government

More Emotions & Feelings

More Dance

More Performing Arts

More Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance

More Lifestyles / City & Town Life

More Friendship

More Girls & Women