Mean

In the weeks before her bat mitzvah, Ellen tries to understand what becoming a young woman means to her. At the same time, she must navigate difficult middle-school social life. The novel concerns Ellen’s effort to remain true to herself despite what other people may say or think. Her approaching religious coming-of-age ceremony gives this period of self-questioning a specific focus. Ellen’s experiences bring together identity, growing up, faith, and the pressures she faces among classmates.