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lilworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
yapha's review against another edition
3.0
Sweet and heartfelt, this book is a little slow on action but will be essential to the right child.
ARC provided by publisher
ARC provided by publisher
pucksandpaperbacks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
CW: Anxiety and intrusive thoughts
Told in verse, this book is tied up so neatly and exemplifies the feeling of developing your first crush. As eleven-year-old Stevie starts to experience fuzzy feelings for her friend, Chloe. The Deepest Breath is a book all children and queer people should read. It's a book I wish I had as a kid when I started developing feelings for girls and didn't have the words to match what I was feeling nor any adults to guide me and tell me it was okay. This is such a positive read and I loved the adult figures. Stevie also experiences anxiety. I loved being in her head as she thinks the worst of her social interactions by trying to predict what happens next and worries about her mother. It's such a real portrayal of being in the mind of an anxious person. Fortunately, her mother reassures her and lets her inquisitive daughter ask any questions she may have.
Told in verse, this book is tied up so neatly and exemplifies the feeling of developing your first crush. As eleven-year-old Stevie starts to experience fuzzy feelings for her friend, Chloe. The Deepest Breath is a book all children and queer people should read. It's a book I wish I had as a kid when I started developing feelings for girls and didn't have the words to match what I was feeling nor any adults to guide me and tell me it was okay. This is such a positive read and I loved the adult figures. Stevie also experiences anxiety. I loved being in her head as she thinks the worst of her social interactions by trying to predict what happens next and worries about her mother. It's such a real portrayal of being in the mind of an anxious person. Fortunately, her mother reassures her and lets her inquisitive daughter ask any questions she may have.
tynathereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is such a short little audiobook, but such a sweet exploration of who Stevie is and is not attracted to. Stevie also deals quite a bit with anxiety. She has to know all the things, to be prepared for all the worst-case scenarios. While I think Stevie may benefit from therapy, right now her mom seems to be a very supportive person who is able to help her keep her anxiety under control. (Not me talking like these characters are real because they feel so real.)
I think what really made this book earn my prestigious Favorites Tag (only around 10% of the books I read earn that tag) was the librarian, Susan, and how the library was a safehaven for Stevie. When Stevie felt like she couldn't go to her mom, like her mom wouldn't understand, she went to the library: the place where she could learn all the things. Then Librarian Susan found her way in over her head in the history section, looking for the answers as to WHY she feels so fizzy and light around Chloe, and Susan helps her.
For me, it's the way Susan helps her that has me feeling so warm and fizzy myself. Susan realized Stevie was at the library without her mom knowing where she was. But Stevie obviously didn't want her mom to know. So, Susan had Stevie sit with her at her desk, gave her some tea, and gave Stevie the space to talk about why she was at the library without her mom's permission. When Stevie opened up to Susan about her confusion and worries, Susan did not shame her. She didn't tell Stevie she was wrong or bad for what she did. Susan came up with a plan to help. She did call Stevie's mom, but she also helped Stevie find the books she needed to help her realize that yes! Girls can like girls and she's a girl that likes girls! I think Susan handled the entire situation beautifully and Stevie ended up benefitting from Susan's help. Susan is the kind of librarian I aspire to be.
I think what really made this book earn my prestigious Favorites Tag (only around 10% of the books I read earn that tag) was the librarian, Susan, and how the library was a safehaven for Stevie. When Stevie felt like she couldn't go to her mom, like her mom wouldn't understand, she went to the library: the place where she could learn all the things. Then Librarian Susan found her way in over her head in the history section, looking for the answers as to WHY she feels so fizzy and light around Chloe, and Susan helps her.
For me, it's the way Susan helps her that has me feeling so warm and fizzy myself. Susan realized Stevie was at the library without her mom knowing where she was. But Stevie obviously didn't want her mom to know. So, Susan had Stevie sit with her at her desk, gave her some tea, and gave Stevie the space to talk about why she was at the library without her mom's permission. When Stevie opened up to Susan about her confusion and worries, Susan did not shame her. She didn't tell Stevie she was wrong or bad for what she did. Susan came up with a plan to help. She did call Stevie's mom, but she also helped Stevie find the books she needed to help her realize that yes! Girls can like girls and she's a girl that likes girls! I think Susan handled the entire situation beautifully and Stevie ended up benefitting from Susan's help. Susan is the kind of librarian I aspire to be.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
leenaww's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
therealsouls's review against another edition
3.0
The book "The Deepest Breath" by Meg Grehan is a story about a girl named Stevie and her trying to find out what this weird feeling is inside her tummy (she thinks she might have a crush).
I loved a lot of the stanzas, I think they were very creative and descriptive! Despite it being a short book, I still liked it.
Unfortunately, the thing I did not like about this book is the speed of the plot and some parts don't exactly make sense to me; maybe because it was written in the form of poetry.
I give this book 3 stars, I think other people might rate it higher than that if you're into LGBTQ+ books or just like short books/poetry.
I loved a lot of the stanzas, I think they were very creative and descriptive! Despite it being a short book, I still liked it.
Unfortunately, the thing I did not like about this book is the speed of the plot and some parts don't exactly make sense to me; maybe because it was written in the form of poetry.
I give this book 3 stars, I think other people might rate it higher than that if you're into LGBTQ+ books or just like short books/poetry.
eloise_bradbooks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ~Very sweet short book about a girl coming to terms with her crush on another girl.
Wasn't quite sure why it was written in verse. It felt like it wanted to be told in regular book narration but.. Nah.
Anyways, Stevie is adorable and of course the message is the best.
I hope young readers will be pulled towards it. To discover verse and to discover all kinds of crushes.
Wasn't quite sure why it was written in verse. It felt like it wanted to be told in regular book narration but.. Nah.
Anyways, Stevie is adorable and of course the message is the best.
I hope young readers will be pulled towards it. To discover verse and to discover all kinds of crushes.
ezwolf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I will never stop being surprised at the way that middle grade books can bring me to tears so quickly. Not because they're middle grade, but because the child I was is now getting the representation I didn't have and as an adult who knows how important these books will be and are to kids now means so much.
Stevie's story and feelings show perfectly why representation in media is so important and also being vocal about supporting marginalized communities. Deep down Stevie knows how she feels and she knows her mom has told her that boys can like boys and girls can like girls, but she's never thought about it applying to her. I think that is just as important or more than seeing representation because the uncertainty of how the people closest to you will react when it's you is so nerve wrecking.
I hope that The Deepest Breath will be one of those books that a kid finds at the library that helps them understand themselves better, just like Stevie did.
Stevie's story and feelings show perfectly why representation in media is so important and also being vocal about supporting marginalized communities. Deep down Stevie knows how she feels and she knows her mom has told her that boys can like boys and girls can like girls, but she's never thought about it applying to her. I think that is just as important or more than seeing representation because the uncertainty of how the people closest to you will react when it's you is so nerve wrecking.
I hope that The Deepest Breath will be one of those books that a kid finds at the library that helps them understand themselves better, just like Stevie did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders