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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.
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.
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.
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.