Awakening on the morning after a very bad day, a day in which nothing seemed to go right, Melena finds that she has a song in her heart, and that her Gramma and mother have forgiven her for the mistakes she made yesterday. Inspired by her mother's statement that today is a new day and a fresh start, she does things a little differently. She refrains from taking revenge on her brother, for a prior argument, and she doesn't press her friend Gavin for the money he owes her. She behaves as if it were a personal Jubilee...

Inspired by the African-American Day of Jubilee, commemorating the time when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, freeing (most of) the slaves in the United States, author Zetta Elliott spins a tale about new beginnings, and starting out fresh, with no mistakes. She translates a historical and cultural concept quite ably into a personal story, creating an engaging, thought-provoking tale featuring a believably flawed, but nevertheless lovable young heroine. Her words are paired with bright, colorful artwork from illustrator Aaron Boyd, and the result is an engaging picture-book. The author's afterword gives more information about the Day of Jubilee, and offers suggestions for how young people can embody its spirit. Recommended to older picture-book readers looking for stories about starting fresh and doing better, or featuring the idea of the Day of Jubilee. ( )