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betweentheshelves's review
emotional
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
Finally got around to this middle grade graphic novel that was one of the 2024 Rainbow List selections from ALA, and it's such a delight! This book captures the difficulty that is 7th grade, while also discovering that you might be different from everyone else. It captures that feeling of middle school so perfectly.
The art in this is also just lovely! Dåsnes captures feelings so well through color and expressions. I can definitely see why this book got so much praise!
The art in this is also just lovely! Dåsnes captures feelings so well through color and expressions. I can definitely see why this book got so much praise!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
obscurepages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.75
If you saw me shedding a tear by the end of this book, NO YOU DID NOT 😂
I looooveeee the simplicity and profoundness of this book. Yes, it's cute and it's written in a diary/journal format and the MC is a silly, naive little girl. But so much of the story speaks of childhood, girlhood, gender stereotypes, and navigating one's sexuality. Tuva is a young girl who is almost a teenager, and here comes all the "teenage" things and "maturity", and now she (and the reader) starts seeing how young girls are expected to do all of this grownup stuff and fall into harmful and confusing gender stereotypes. Apart from that, there's also the matter of her "falling in love". Young love is so sweet and innocent, but young queer love is also a little bit different and scary, and we see it when Tuva starts to contemplate what it means to be in love and what will happen if she is in fact a lesbian.
Above all, I just also love the friendship and the supportive dad elements in this story. Friends are so special, even when you fight and make up. And seeing a supportive dad in Tuva's dad? I love that 😭
Also yes I really like the diary format illustrations and storytelling! Though sometimes it can be confusing where to read first.
"I wonder... Can you be in love with a girl and still like BTS?"
Exact rating: 4.75 ⭐️ (Might post a detailed review on the blog!)
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Outing
drtx_bwt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Homophobia
Minor: Bullying and Panic attacks/disorders
queerafictionado's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Outing and Homophobia
ninahuynh's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This is my first Norwegian novel and graphic novel and it was a joy to read. The art is absolutely beautiful and feels just like a hand-written diary by a seventh grader! I like the use of modern and oldies pop culture, and addressing school bullying and outing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Outing, and Homophobia
parasihir's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.5
It's an easy to read book about Tuva, who wants to be more mature as a teenager that just started her seventh grade! I understand her point, though. I was like her, but more wild and untamed. I did have the vision that being in love make me uncool and it's cringe and it's disgusting and make up is awful and bra is weird and romance is ass. But it is not like that. Tuva wondered whether a teen can be in love and still stan BTS at the same time and the answer is, we can!
I'm glad Tuva finds the answer little by little after going through so much with her friends, her crush, and her father. Good God, I love her father! Kudos to you, big man!
Anyway, for young readers (maybe if you are in junior high school or at the later stage of elementary school), please give this book a try! Maybe it can help you a lot, who knows. And please know that, you are cool! Be yourself, darls.
I'm glad Tuva finds the answer little by little after going through so much with her friends, her crush, and her father. Good God, I love her father! Kudos to you, big man!
Anyway, for young readers (maybe if you are in junior high school or at the later stage of elementary school), please give this book a try! Maybe it can help you a lot, who knows. And please know that, you are cool! Be yourself, darls.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
streberkatze's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book orised me! I had no idea how relatable I would find the story, even decades after experiencing seventh grade myself. The art is mindblowingly beautiful, and the story brought back memories and made me reflect on things I hadn't thought about in years.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
watershine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Homophobia
katiemack's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sweet-yet-sincere take on what it's like to have one's first real crush. Nora Dåsnes really captures the feeling of being a twelve-year-old girl caught between childhood and teendom (teenhood? teenage-years?) in all of its tentative, awkward glory. I also love how whimsical yet detailed the illustrations are.
This is a sweet-yet-sincere take on what it's like to have one's first real crush. Nora Dåsnes really captures the feeling of being a twelve-year-old girl caught between childhood and teendom (teenhood? teenage-years?) in all of its tentative, awkward glory. I also love how whimsical yet detailed the illustrations are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing and Bullying
Minor: Homophobia