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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
The Lemon Golf Diary by Christine Foster introduces readers to Rory, a neurodivergent preteen girl who is just beginning to understand how her mind differs from those around her. Told in Rory’s wonder-filled, observant first-person voice, the story blends traditional narrative with occasional diary entries that serve as snapshots of her inner life. At the heart of the story is her evolving friendship with Paige, a brilliant but domineering new classmate, whose obsession with a made-up spirit named Morgana draws Rory into a risky game of pretending and lying. Along the way, Rory tries to make sense of her father’s absence, her mother’s strained patience, and her own complicated sense of self—right down to discovering that her name isn’t short for the elegant “Aurora,” as she once believed, but simply Rory. The book gently explores themes of identity, isolation, and the yearning to feel seen and understood.
As an educator, I was struck by how well Christine Foster captures the quiet chaos of a child who experiences the world differently. Rory’s thought process—full of tangents, emotional misfires, and flashes of deep insight—feels utterly authentic. There’s a rawness in the way she observes adults, tries to decode friendship, and navigates guilt that hit me in the chest. I didn’t just read about Rory, I worried about her. I ached for her. The book is thoughtful, funny in a bittersweet way, and doesn’t feel the need to tie everything up with a bow. Instead, it offers us a glimpse into a vividly real voice trying to make sense of a world that often doesn’t make space for kids like her. The Lemon Golf Diary is a strong and sensitive work from Christine Foster, one that stays with you long after the final page.
