MMGM (2/6/2017): My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald

For MMGM, I am recommending My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald.

Here's the publisher's description:

Twelve-year-old Lucy Desberg is a natural problem-solver. At her family’s struggling pharmacy, she has a line of makeover customers for every school dance and bat mitzvah. But all the makeup tips in the world won’t help save the business. If only she could find a way to make it the center of town again—a place where people want to spend time, like in the old days. Lucy dreams up a solution that could resuscitate the family business and help the environment, too. But will Lucy’s family stop fighting long enough to listen to a seventh-grader?

Sometimes you just need a book that has substance, but isn't depressing. This is one of them! The main character, Lucy, lives with her mother and grandmother, who run a dying pharmacy. One of the themes in the book (and its sequels) is how adults often treat kids as being unable to do much. In the book, Lucy figures out a solution and tries to make it possible, with only the help of her college-age sister. Other themes in the book include the use of makeup to gain confidence and the importance of keeping the earth healthy. Although this book may seem to have many loose ends, they are tied together masterfully. The main character, Lucy, is very likable, being kind, motivated, and realistic. To distract from the main conflict, Lucy also has to deal with her friends and a new crush. This book is a great read that anyone will enjoy!