Review: Right Back at You

Right Back At You

by Carolyn Mackler

Scholastic, 2025

Category: Middle Grade

Reviewer: Stacey Rattner

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

If time travel is the new trend in middle grade literature (think 2025 Newbery winner and Sydney Taylor honor winning books) then Right Back at You is trendy. In its own unique way, of course. It’s spring 2023. 12 year old New Yorker Mason has written a letter to Albert Einstein as part of an assignment. Instead of ending up in Einstein’s hands, it appears in baseball-loving 12 year old Talia’s closet in western Pennsylvania in 1987. And so begins a unique friendship that communicates only through letters in a wormhole that spans 36 years and 300 miles.

Single child Mason’s father has left home for a bit. Mason is dealing with multiple bullies at school and a mom who is drinking too much. Talia is navigating the relationship with her best friend, and is  the victim of antisemitism that is brushed off by her teacher and administration.

Mason and Talia support one another, cheer on the Yankees (Mason might even tell Talia scores of the game ahead of time to help Talia win bets with her brother) and share current fads (ie, The Simpsons, Nalgene bottles, Google). Two unexpected twists at the end made me smile, especially the one involving Google.

Young readers will appreciate learning about the Holocaust, antisemitism, and middle school in a relatable way. Unfortunately, bullies, friendship struggles and family matters continue to stand the test of time but fortunately, Mackler’s Right Back at You is a great way to witness it.

Talia identifies as Jewish. At school kids wonder about her nose (it’s not big). They throw coins at her and draw swastikas on their notebooks. Her teacher brushes it off as “boys will be boys.” As disturbing as it is, I wish I could say it’s all fiction. I couldn’t stop thinking about my own experiences and vividly remember kids tossing pennies at us when I was on USY on Wheels in 1984. When Talia’s mom finds out about the antisemitism, she introduces her to a Holocaust survivor who Talia brings as a guest speaker at school. Of course Talia is nervous for the assembly but then reminds herself that making a difference in just a few students will make it all worth it. And she does.

This book addresses Jewish identity, the Holocaust, and antisemitism in an appropriate and accessible manner for all of today’s youth. It will be a great stepping stone for conversations between young people and adults as a reminder to be kind, accepting humans and most importantly, never forget.

 

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Reviewer Stacey “Leaping Librarian” Rattner is an elementary school librarian in upstate New York. In addition to leaping, she loves to run, travel, hike, drink coffee, hang with family and of course, read. Stacey is also the co-host of the middle grade YouTube quiz show, Author Fan Face-off with author Steve Sheinkin. Stacey grew up in the ‘80s and, like Talia, was a big fan of Family Ties.