Maddy and Mia: Growing Pains by Pamela Adler is a middle-grade book. It follows ten-year-old Maddy on various adventures that require her to think differently about her new life as a big sister to one-year-old twins. Maddy’s life just isn’t the same anymore, and she has a hard time getting used to the new responsibilities and less time with her parents. Alongside her is dog Mia, born with three legs, who’s gotten a new, unexpected makeover. Mia remains a source of comfort for Maddy. Throughout the book, Maddy takes a trip to the groomers, goes camping, witnesses the rescue of a cat, gets her tonsils taken out, goes on a trip to the water park, and even gets a new house! Maddy learns to communicate her needs, but also understands that she cannot control everything and everyone. Even though she cannot go back in time and undo how she’s reacted in the past, Maddy finally grasps that everything she’s experienced is simply life. And in life, there are growing pains.