Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis – Book Review

Title: Partly Cloudy Author: Tanita S. Davis Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Release Date: September 7, 2021

Over the past year, Madalyn has weathered a relentless storm of problems. From a terrible school to moving and now her father working on the other side of the country, she hopes the cloudy days are in the past. It starts with Madalyn moving in with her great-uncle, Papa Lobo, and getting a fresh start at a new school. As the only Black girl in class, though, Madalyn’s new friendships are immediately tested. Microaggressions and prejudice rear their ugly heads. On top of school conflicts, nearby wildfires threaten the community and force Madalyn and others to confront their problems head on, choosing tough conversations and the promise of clear skies over obscuring haze.

Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis is the touching story of Madalyn’s struggles adjusting to constant change and addressing the hurtful microaggressions and racism she experiences. The narrative dives into the minutia of Madalyn’s day-to-day life and the problems she faces, which is a refreshing change of pace from many stories that prioritize drama over details. Even more refreshing is Madalyn’s journey to solve her problems. It takes her time, thought, reflection, and courage as it always does for people. The novel’s pace rapidly intensifies when the wildfire threatens the community, another element that rightly captures the tone and mood this real-life challenge presents so many. Despite the narrative’s lengthy exposition, the ending may feel abrupt to some. It may leave readers with the sense that while Madalyn sees the weather as partly sunny, there are still partly cloudy days ahead.

Partly Cloudy will be a welcome addition to book clubs, counseling group sessions, and middle grade classrooms. It emphasizes the power of small choices, the power of words, and the power of speaking up. These lessons never get old for young people, and Partly Cloudy opens the door to discuss them all in a safe, sensitive, and empathetic way.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Katherine Tegen Books, for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

• Teacher Collaboration – Teach the novel with the guidance of the school counselor to address topics of bullying, microaggressions, and racism.
• Literature Circles – Use novel for small groups or choice reading with a variety of books that focus on microaggressions and how to respond to them.
• Book Club or Book Exchange – Share the novel with students that enjoy reading realistic fiction.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

• Microaggressions
• California Wildfires

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with Partly Cloudy. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

• Front Desk by Kelly Yang (Character Connections, Themes)
• From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks (Character Connections, Themes)
• Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)

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