SOLVED. Middle grade. Set in Hawaii I think. One specific scene where the main characters friend has to drink from a fountain that's labelled for coloured people. [s]

[viltz]

Read circa 2008. Main character was a girl, this was possibly a middle grade since I'm sure she was very young, nine years old maybe. She either lived in Hawaii or had to move there for school. Set during segregation of races, for some reason the only thing I really remember about this book is finding out about racism for the first time, where there is a scene where the main character asks why a drinking fountain is labelled "coloured". Also for some reason when I try to remember what this book looked like physically I think of a whale. I remember a blue cover, might have had an illustrated whale on the cover or the world "whale" in the title, or it could have just been any fish

[SamSpayedPI]

It sounds a little like Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself, only she moved to Miami FL, not Hawaii.

[viltz]

SamSpayedPI wrote: "It sounds a little like Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself, only she moved to Miami FL, not Hawaii."

I had to read it myself to make sure but you got it! I'm really surprised someone actually knew what I was talking about

[SamSpayedPI]

Glad you found your book, maru!