Book Review: Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign
Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign, Sara F. Shacter, Regal House Publishing/Fitzroy Books, 2025, Electronic or Print, 173 pages
Reviewed by Casie Gambrel.
Sara F. Shacter’s debut middle-grade novel, Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign, is a delightful coming-of-age story that feels fresh yet familiar. This journey of friendship is filled with drama, humor, and a powerful message about compassion.
The story follows Georgia Watson, a 6th-grade science enthusiast eager to start school with her first-ever best friend, Izzy. Georgia is curious about everything she can analyze with a scientific eye, be it insects, plants, animals, you name it.
But when one of Georgia’s science experiments accidentally reveals Izzy’s secret, their friendship falls apart. Meanwhile, Georgia’s archenemy jumps at the chance to befriend Izzy, leaving Georgia to feel lonely and isolated. In an effort to make things right, Georgia discovers a compelling scientific fact: All human beings are over 99 percent the same. With this newfound revelation, Georgia does everything in her power to make things right with her friend. Along the way, she also realizes how important it is to balance her scientific dreams and ambitions with the needs and feelings of her classmates. So it begins!Georgia launches the 99 percent campaign with the desire to bring everyone together.
Georgia is an easy hero to root for. She’s authentic, determined, and clever. Her curiosity and problem-solving skills shine through as she navigates the hostile environment that she has unwillingly created. Readers will relate to her mistakes and admire her tenacity to make amends. The supporting characters are well-developed and realistic, including the snarkiness to be expected of any middle schooler, which does wonders to bring the story to life.
The novel explores timely themes of bullying and belonging, such as when Georgia is ostracized after her science experiment backfires. The author pulls from scientific concepts like genetics and heredity to show human connection. The science thread gives Georgia the opportunity to look beyond surface differences and realize that everyone has their own side to the story. In fact, even archenemies can experience difficulties and loneliness, too. By exploring deeper aspects of friendship, compassion, and emotional intelligence, the author guides readers through the importance of celebrating differences. And, the strength that comes from embracing your own gifts will resonate strongly with middle-grade readers navigating their own struggles.
Shacter’s writing is vibrant and engaging. She uses her background as an educator to create an informative and educational experience for the reader. The use of scientific concepts about human DNA is well-explained, making them easily accessible to middle-grade readers. The pen illustrations add a beautiful touch of authenticity to the story. The plot is fast-paced and easy to read in one gulp.
Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign is an entertaining middle-grade adventure highlighting realistic situations with relatable characters. I highly recommend it to any reader who loves a solid coming-of-age story about true friendship with a side of science.
