Everything Sucks, Especially This Book about Thanksgiving

By C.R. Hale

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about gratitude.

You know-the smiling families, the cozy sweaters, and the perfectly golden turkey shining in the center of the table like it's auditioning for a magazine cover.

But 13-year-old Jada?

She's not buying it.

In her world, Thanksgiving is less "Hallmark moment" and more "emotional rollercoaster wrapped in aluminum foil."

There's dry turkey that could crack a tooth, sweet potatoes drowning in marshmallows, relatives who can't stop talking about politics, and one aunt who insists on hugging too long while commenting on how tall you've gotten.

For Jada, this so-called day of gratitude feels more like an endurance test-a marathon of small talk, awkward compliments, and way too many food-related expectations.

Smart, sarcastic, and over it.

She's the kind of girl who finishes her homework early just to complain about how pointless it was. The kind who doesn't mean to roll her eyes-but does. A lot.

And this year, she's convinced that Thanksgiving officially sucks.

When the story begins, Jada is already counting down the hours until she can escape the chaos. The decorations are corny, the family playlist is weirdly upbeat, and her mom is on a mission to make everyone "feel the spirit of gratitude." That would be easier if the turkey didn't look like it had been cooked in the desert and if the mashed potatoes didn't look like they'd lost a fight with a blender.

Her uncle keeps talking about football.

Her grandma keeps saying "Amen" after every sentence.

And Jada? She's just trying to survive.

But here's the twist.

Somewhere between dodging side dishes and texting her best friend Zuri for moral support, Jada starts noticing things she hadn't before.

Her mom's laugh-the real one that sneaks out between her forced smiles.

Her grandma's tiny hands kneading dough, humming the same gospel tune every year.

Her dad's bad jokes that somehow make everyone groan and laugh at the same time.

Even her little cousin Micah, who keeps poking the jiggly cranberry sauce like it's a science experiment, makes her crack a grin.

It's not perfect.

It's not neat.

But it's hers.

And that realization hits Jada like a gentle surprise-kind of like finding the one piece of pie that hasn't been stepped on by chaos.

Maybe Thanksgiving isn't supposed to be perfect.

Maybe it's just supposed to be real.

• Kids ages 9-13 who love realistic comedy.
• Teachers and librarians looking for fresh, diverse holiday stories.
• Parents who appreciate humor that brings the family together.
• Anyone who's ever sighed through a family dinner and thought, "This could've been an email."