Alexis vs. Summer Vacation — Sarah Jamila Stevenson

The summer before high school is supposed to be a time to reinvent yourself, but fourteen-year-old Alexis isn't sure who she wants to be. It doesn't help that she hasn't mustered up the courage to talk to Hayley, that cute junior lifeguard at the local pool, or that she doesn't know what liking a girl means for her identity. When she meets Luke and Jason, she discovers she isn't the only person who hasn't figured life out. Alexis devises a plan for the three of them to level up by taking charge and changing their situations for the better. She soon discovers that being assertive isn't as easy as rolling the die in her fantasy role-playing game. Alexis must learn to navigate how to be a good friend and speak up for herself or risk failing at the game called life. This book addresses the following social and emotional learning skills: acknowledging multiple points of view for most situations; honoring differences in opinion; showing respectful interest in others; being receptive to different viewpoints and experiences; proactively including others; and working equally well with others who are similar or different.