Common Sense Media Review
By Kya Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Young girl finds her voice in sweet chapter book.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE MIGHTY MACY, 8-year-old Macy Johnson has two priorities: prepare for her upcoming violin recital, and finish her favorite book, The Mighty Zora. Although she drags through her music lessons, she flies through her book and can't wait to read the next installment. However, when she goes to check out the next book in the series from her school's library, she learns that it's closing due to a lack of funding. Macy and her friends decide that something must be done to save the library and she's just the person to represent them in front of the school board. There's one problem, though: Macy doesn't know what to do or say, and with her Dad out of town for work and unable to help her, she's worried she's going to disappoint everyone. Will Macy be able to find a solution, or will she run out of time?
Is It Any Good?
This inspiring chapter book will help young children to learn the power of their voice to create change. The Mighty Macy is a cute story that presents an age-appropriate approach to navigating injustices in our communities. Kwame Alexander's use of free verse and Kitt Thomas' adorable illustrations in this novel work in tandem to add a layer of levity to Macy's journey of self-empowerment. Additionally, the intentional threading of music and Black culture throughout this timeless tale truly brings Macy's world to life, and readers and parents alike will root for Macy's success along the way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way courage is shown in The Mighty Macy. Macy wants to save her school library from closing, but she's nervous that she won't be able to make a difference. When was a time you wanted to achieve a goal but you were worried that you wouldn't be able to succeed?
Macy writes a poem to communicate to the school board how important the school library is in the community. How have you used your voice to advocate for something you believed in?
After finishing the first book of The Mighty Zora series, Macy is excited to read the second book to see what happens next. What book have you read recently that sparked your curiosity?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Kitt Thomas
- Genre : Poetry
- Topics : Activism ( Civic engagement ) , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Family Stories ( Dads , Moms , Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Elementary School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little Brown and Company
- Publication date : February 3, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 10
- Number of pages : 144
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : February 24, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate