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fallingletters's review
4.0
Review originally published 6 November 2022 at Falling Letters.
Different Kinds of Fruit explores generational differences among queer folks – in particular, two distinct experiences of being trans. The book’s a little more didactic than I something I would usually enjoy. But I think it’s an incredibly valuable story, especially as a mirror book, for kids who might find themselves in Annabelle or Bailey.
Two key characters – Annabelle’s new friend Bailey, who is nonbinary, and Annabelle’s father, who is trans – may be considered truly fictional characters, IE not realistic. I agree with that sentiment, but I also don’t take much issue with it. While Bailey plays a key role in the story as a sort of model, middle class, white queer kid, educating Annabelle, they do have a fully realized personality and experiences of their own. (I do take issue with anyone saying Bailey is too perfect – no spoilers, but Bailey makes mistakes, too.) I’m okay with this instance of a character in a middle grade fiction novel serving as an aspirational role model, for the most part.
As for Anabelle’s dad, he experiences some rapid character growth that does seem unlikely given his personal history. But again – this is middle grade fiction and his growth gives the story a hopeful arc and I might even argue that kids read and appreciate this book are also smart enough to recognize that for themselves.
Let’s talk about Annabelle’s dad some more. I’ve always said I love adult characters in middle grade… Annabelle’s dad has to be the most complex parent figure I’ve read about! He has a lot of queer trauma from his past, as Annabelle comes to learn over the course of the novel. His experience and Bailey’s experiences are in many ways radically different.
It’s Annabelle’s dad who makes this story a pretty intense read. I had not at all guessed he would be antagonistic. The story has way more tension than I anticipated, dealing with some big, nuanced concepts that haven’t been spotlighted in middle grade yet. There were moments reading this book where I felt my stomach do back flips. Annabelle and her dad’s relationship goes through a lot of painful growth.
Annabelle and Bailey go to an alternative school, where one entitled kid, Dixon, is super concerned with the idea of ‘fairness’. Fairness, in the way that makes him ask, “So, if I wanted to invite a group of straight people to talk about being heterosexual […] that would be okay too, right?”? I wondered how many Dixon-type kids you’d find if the story was set at a public school… but even Dixon goes through his own wee bit of development. It was actually a little heartbreaking as we see more of Dixon’s parents and realize where he gets his ideas from, and a little encouraging how we see Dixon’s POV change over the story. He wants fairness for everyone, and eventually learns that equality is different from equity.
The last little thing I want to note is I thought Annabelle’s crushes were kind of adorable and super realistic for this age.
Different Kinds of Fruit explores generational differences among queer folks – in particular, two distinct experiences of being trans. The book’s a little more didactic than I something I would usually enjoy. But I think it’s an incredibly valuable story, especially as a mirror book, for kids who might find themselves in Annabelle or Bailey.
Two key characters – Annabelle’s new friend Bailey, who is nonbinary, and Annabelle’s father, who is trans – may be considered truly fictional characters, IE not realistic. I agree with that sentiment, but I also don’t take much issue with it. While Bailey plays a key role in the story as a sort of model, middle class, white queer kid, educating Annabelle, they do have a fully realized personality and experiences of their own. (I do take issue with anyone saying Bailey is too perfect – no spoilers, but Bailey makes mistakes, too.) I’m okay with this instance of a character in a middle grade fiction novel serving as an aspirational role model, for the most part.
As for Anabelle’s dad, he experiences some rapid character growth that does seem unlikely given his personal history. But again – this is middle grade fiction and his growth gives the story a hopeful arc and I might even argue that kids read and appreciate this book are also smart enough to recognize that for themselves.
Let’s talk about Annabelle’s dad some more. I’ve always said I love adult characters in middle grade… Annabelle’s dad has to be the most complex parent figure I’ve read about! He has a lot of queer trauma from his past, as Annabelle comes to learn over the course of the novel. His experience and Bailey’s experiences are in many ways radically different.
It’s Annabelle’s dad who makes this story a pretty intense read. I had not at all guessed he would be antagonistic. The story has way more tension than I anticipated, dealing with some big, nuanced concepts that haven’t been spotlighted in middle grade yet. There were moments reading this book where I felt my stomach do back flips. Annabelle and her dad’s relationship goes through a lot of painful growth.
Annabelle and Bailey go to an alternative school, where one entitled kid, Dixon, is super concerned with the idea of ‘fairness’. Fairness, in the way that makes him ask, “So, if I wanted to invite a group of straight people to talk about being heterosexual […] that would be okay too, right?”? I wondered how many Dixon-type kids you’d find if the story was set at a public school… but even Dixon goes through his own wee bit of development. It was actually a little heartbreaking as we see more of Dixon’s parents and realize where he gets his ideas from, and a little encouraging how we see Dixon’s POV change over the story. He wants fairness for everyone, and eventually learns that equality is different from equity.
The last little thing I want to note is I thought Annabelle’s crushes were kind of adorable and super realistic for this age.
jlbailey831's review
4.0
This felt a little overly explain-y to me. Would it feel that way to someone who was less familiar with the trans and non-binary communities? Maybe not. I’m really glad this book exists though and it was otherwise lovely and thoughtful and complex.
genderqueer_hiker's review
3.0
While an interesting concept, I didn't appreciate the execution. As others have noted, the voice in the story is quite changeable, the characters painfully simplistic and stereotyped, and most importantly - it doesn't read as a middle reader. It leaned towards me, a queer and trans adult; I enjoyed much of it, but a LOT of it wouldn't make any sense to a middle schooler.
ajnsmiths's review
emotional
hopeful
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
Wonderfully written YA book that addresses the topics of inclusiveness and acceptance and the real-life challenges that queer and trans humans face. It is written through the eyes of a 6th grader who is just discovering the LGBTQ+ community and what it means for her, her family, and her school. A great book for middle-schoolers who don’t identify as cis to feel seen and justified.
liviaelle's review
5.0
I’ll be honest when I say I wasn’t expecting to like this book. I tend not to read LGBTQIA books written for younger audiences, but this one was incredibly well-written and did a wonderful job explaining gender identities and sexuality in an age-appropriate and easy to understand manner.
This book is a great example of how subtle homophobia and transphobia can affect how a young person views their identity. It also does a good job at introducing a variety of characters that hold different beliefs and identities.
It’s important to have books like these that showcase how difficult it can be to interact with gender and sexuality without a supportive community surrounding you.
If you’ve got a young person in your life who has a lot of questions and enjoys learning via fiction then I highly recommend this book. My CAWPILE score is 9.29/10 or 5/5 stars.
This book is a great example of how subtle homophobia and transphobia can affect how a young person views their identity. It also does a good job at introducing a variety of characters that hold different beliefs and identities.
It’s important to have books like these that showcase how difficult it can be to interact with gender and sexuality without a supportive community surrounding you.
If you’ve got a young person in your life who has a lot of questions and enjoys learning via fiction then I highly recommend this book. My CAWPILE score is 9.29/10 or 5/5 stars.
mindfullibrarian's review
4.0
Such mixed feelings. 5 stars for bringing up ALL the conversations about queer culture possible in one book, 3 stars for being more an issue book than an actual story
sometimes_i_write_things's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
3.0
zinelib's review
emotional
funny
informative
medium-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 sweet middle-grades not-love story centers on Annabelle (one of two in her sixth grade class of twelve students) and her new best friend, Bailey. Bailey has just moved to the suburbs from Seattle and is the first kid in their small, private school to use they/them pronouns. Most of the kids are cool with it, and Annabelle is entranced, but there's always (at least) one douchebag. Dixon Brewster is That Guy--the one who asks "what about white history" and "what about heterosexuality pride."
Dixon didn't come by his shitty opinions entirely on his own. His mother surveils the class, reports to the principal, and generally stops everything good the rest of the class has planned. And speaking of parents, when Annabelle brings Bailey home to play, her parents are surprisingly rude to Bailey. Annabelle's dad, who is much shorter than Annabelle's mom, says that Bailey needs to figure out which gender he/she is and be that. A classmate, Patrick, calls Dixon out brilliantly,
Dixon didn't come by his shitty opinions entirely on his own. His mother surveils the class, reports to the principal, and generally stops everything good the rest of the class has planned. And speaking of parents, when Annabelle brings Bailey home to play, her parents are surprisingly rude to Bailey. Annabelle's dad, who is much shorter than Annabelle's mom, says that Bailey needs to figure out which gender he/she is and be that. A classmate, Patrick, calls Dixon out brilliantly,
I want to get solar panels on the roof, are you worried that fossil fuels are going to complain about being left out?
In addition to being a good book with a message, Fruit is a good book, and Annabelle's introspective narration will probably be familiar and poignant to adults who were certain kinds of kids.
And now I'm like, "Wow, middle school students are so big and old," but I bet that once I get to middle school I'll have the soul of that same kindergartner. Does that ever go away? Will I get to college and still eat my broccoli pretending that I'm a dinosaur eating trees? Or is there some magic point where you become an adult and stop felling like a kid inside?
Author Kyle Lukoff was a school librarian before he went pro as a writer, and you can read that into Annabelle observations like
It's a reminder that a lot of the categories people have come up with are fake.
Bailey really nails how schools handle difference
But I get you a million dollars they they did id in the worst way possible. that kid probably didn't want to make a big deal of it, but they were bullied so bad that the school was forced to make a decision, and instead of making their school a better place, they decided to get rid of the "problem."
It's still middle grades though, so Annabelle finishes the above paragraph,
I didn't know fake air quotes culd be violent until Bailey clawed at the word "problem."
"Clawed" with fake air quotes! I love that so much.
The ending is genuinely heartwarming as secrets are revealed and healed. I want more of Annabelle and Bailey's story!
bunny_boy's review
hopeful
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? No
4.25