Reviews

Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff

bookish001's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

feelinggreen's review

funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.75

sara_hudson's review

4.0

Kyle Lukoff does a nice job of crafting a book that is widely inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community while also being an engaging and spritely paced story. Annabelle and Bailey are delightful, well-drawn characters. The book is told through Annabelle's voice, which is fresh and funny with turns of pitch-perfect sixth grade furor. Annabelle feels all the things and expresses them with flair.

With each passing year, middle grade literature is widening the scope of kids and families reflected, and we are all better for these stories.

books_xoxo's review

hopeful

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

smalltownbookmom's review against another edition

5.0

This was an incredibly beautiful and powerful #ownvoices middle grade novel about queer families, trans parents, learning about pronouns and that there are many ways of being. I absolutely loved every second of this books and I wish I could put it in the hands of every middle grader.

The author does such a great job describing what being nonbinary, trans and on the queer spectrum is like. Perfect for fans of Alex Gino or Ellen outside the lines by AJ Sass. Great on audio too narrated by Cassandra Morris, with an author's note included at the end read by the author. This book blew me away and I can't recommend it enough!! It will for sure be at the top of my favorite books of 2022 list this year.

daenknight's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

This is a book that is not only a good read for kids, but one for queer adults as well. There's a lot of stuff that encourage you to keep an open mind for people and to stand up for others when it is necessary... It also shows the clashes between older and younger people in the LGBT community. This book is wonderful with showing how the LGBT community has evolved and grown over the years, and how important it is to support others in the community and those outside of it. A lovely book to read, and one I would recommend to all ages looking to see how much the LGBT community has evolved over the years since Stonewall. 

chickchick22's review

3.0

Okay so this book is really good. But Annabelle (not the other Annabelle, who in the epilogue came out as Julian!!!) was kinda mean to neurodivergent kids. “It made me uncomfortable to talk to her…” yeah. It was mean. Also, mike. He is great—kind supportive dad but so so so mean about Bailey. Like seriously. Even at the end I think he was supposed to seem supportive of all of the LGBTQIAP+ community but it felt like he was only accepting because Annabelle was friends with them. Idk just a lot of parts felt odd and off. I can just imagine LGBTQIAP+ kids picking up this book and reading it and thinking (especially non-binary kids) “wait I’m a fake trans person? But…I’m not a girl or boy!” And getting super sad. So yeah.

vii's review

hopeful 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? Yes

3.5

katymaryreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Thoroughly enjoyable and informative. Maybe even too informative - although the explanations given by the non-binary character to her clueless but well-meaning friend rang true to the situation they were in. Lovable, believable, infuriating, flawed characters. A good quick read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia

Moderate: Racism

jshettel's review

3.0

3.5 stars. Wasn’t sure how I felt about this book, but I can’t stop thinking about it so I guess that’s a good thing. It’s interesting how people like to put people (and things) into boxes.