Emma Emmets, Playground Matchmaker

Emma Emmets hopes to make a name for herself in fourth grade, and on the first day of school, she discovers a talent she didn’t know she had: matchmaking. When she paired up two friends to be leapfrog partners at day camp over the summer, she unknowingly created a perfect couple, Annie and Henry, who sing Emma’s praises. Though that first match was a fluke, Emma quickly decides to launch EmMatchmaking from atop the new school jungle gym. After giving it some thought and creating a few quizzes, Emma discovers she does indeed have a flair for making matches “that... made people happier. Slowmances! Friendships! Whatever!” Though challenges arise, such as finding a match for her rival Isla and run-ins with new student Daniel, Emma comes out on top. With lively characters, a realistic portrayal of school life, and a main character with sharp observations and a natural effervescence, DeVillers’s (the Liberty Porter First Daughter series) story should be a winning match for readers just starting to think about crushes, boyfriends, and dates. Ages 7–12. Agent: Mel Berger, William Morris Endeavor. (June)