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236girls's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
SOOO good i wish i was as half as cool and informed as annabelle and bailey when i was in sixth grade!!! actually learned a lot about fruit from this + bunch of random fun facts. very fun and wholesome i loved everyone so much and how much they progressed in this book! kyle lukoff u r a gift to modern middle grade literature god bless
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
lydarlo's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
- 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
I loved this book as an out Trans 25 year old. Had I had this book growing up it would have been life altering in the best way. The transmedicalism views expressed at the beginning of the book enraged me but this book displays some of the best character development I have read. ♥️
bickie's review
I loved the nuances of Annabelle's family's experience, her experiences with Bailey, and her own questioning and wondering. I also appreciated the exploration of school administrators' talking about inclusion and safe spaces while making decisions that do the opposite. The students' activism provided some models for how to take action, and with the exception of Dixon, the kids all seemed to be pretty respectful and caring toward one another.
I think this book will appeal to several of my students if they can get past the slow start. I almost DNF due to the voice of the narrator, who is starting 6th grade but sometimes sounds a bit off. I didn't find that this book had the easy flowing grace of Too Bright to See.
I was also a little uncomfortable with Annabelle's following in her mom's footsteps and her mom's saying that some of her "fabulousness" definitely rubbed off on Annabelle. It felt like it played into the anti-LGBTQ+ narrative that LGBTQ+ adoptive parents will turn their children gay.
I think this book will appeal to several of my students if they can get past the slow start. I almost DNF due to the voice of the narrator, who is starting 6th grade but sometimes sounds a bit off. I didn't find that this book had the easy flowing grace of Too Bright to See.
Spoiler
Although it is included to show how Annabelle learns and overcomes prejudice/old opinions, I found myself cringing at her description of the other Annabelle early on in the book. I imagined some of my students reading that and seeing themselves in the other Annabelle and being hurt by it. While the other Annabelle ends up being pretty cool, it takes a while, and I wish the description had been a little less hurtful.I was also a little uncomfortable with Annabelle's following in her mom's footsteps and her mom's saying that some of her "fabulousness" definitely rubbed off on Annabelle. It felt like it played into the anti-LGBTQ+ narrative that LGBTQ+ adoptive parents will turn their children gay.
chiron_00's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
madmollyann's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
books4all_chlidren's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
LGBTQ+; nonbinary; trans; family; acceptance
lisawhelpley's review
3.0
Sixth graders do not talk or act like this. If this had been a class of gifted eighth graders, it would have been easier to enjoy.
standardgoose's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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 cried several times during this book because it made me so happy to see such young characters grappling with identities in a way I could never have imagined. I have never been so excited to keep reading a book!