There was so much about this book I liked

1.) The fact that the friendship was between a boy and a girl. I like seeing that. After all, girls and boys CAN be friends ;)
2.) it encourages meeting in the middle. Both literally and figuratively. Sometimes, even with the best of friends, that is what is called upon.
3.) An excellent book about emotions and character building

But I struggled with TOO MUCH REPETITION. "Down the hills....up the hill....down the hill....up the hill." Oh good grief, I could quote it in my sleep. A few times is great but it was almost on every page. Yeah I was over it quickly. ( )

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2020. ( )

https://www.hbook.com/?detailStory=carmen-agra-deedy-talks-with-roger

"...down the hill, and up the hill, and down the hill, and up the hill" run Rita and Ralph to each other's houses. But when the best friends' game goes awry, who will be first to apologize?

This story uses repetition and pattern in the best way; a great read-aloud. Rita and Ralph are both brown-skinned and fantastically grump-faced; their houses have as much personality as they do. ( )