Reviews

Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff

charlieschu's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

4.75

jackie_reads_314's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense 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 wish I wasn't traumatized from my own childhood growing up LGBTQ, because that would have made this read more enjoyable for me. The characters are so well written, and there is so much nuance surrounding all the hard conversations that the kids and adults had to face. Though not everything was resolved, it was a much more realistic ending than what is usually encountered in middle grade materials. I would say it is for middle school students, and would be a little cautions to give this to a 5th grader. I cannot say it was a delightful read, but it was very comforting to finish and to be able to reflect on my own experiences and how I want to educate the kids in my life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Outing

hereisenough's review

Listened to half of this and couldn't bring myself back to it. I think I'm getting irritated by the many books for kids about queer characters, told from the POV of an assumed cis, questioning character. I think this type of character has value since so many kids are questioning, but it may be more effective to simply have trans or gay main characters and call it good. I simply couldn't bring myself to finish this one.

olivegirl's review

 This was, unbeknownst to me when I first picked it up, a speed-read. It was at most 100 pages of a girl realizing that non-binary existed. I have to admit, I got quite caught up in the description and the plot: the hippie-dippie school that she went to, the allusion to her father being either transphobic or transgender himself. Anyways. No idea why it was published in its not-fully-form. 

raechsreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

As a child grows up, they learn more about the world and their family. In this book, one sixth grader discovers more about the many aspects of the LGBTQ world. There are many aspects of this story that pull on the heartstrings and make the characters feel real.

eegred's review against another edition

2.0

I think that as a concept this book is very important but I do feel that it misses the mark somewhat. Like other reviews have said, I thought this book was too long. It skimmed the surface of a lot of complex, nuanced issues without going into depth or detail, which often made the themes and ideas seem throwaway. I don’t think the subject matter is inherently too complex for middle grades, I just think this book was trying to do too much. 

I would have liked to see the relationships between key characters explored more. For example, /spoiler Annabelle’s mothers side of the story- having to hiding her queerness and be isolated from community in order for her husband to stay stealth/spoiler was mentioned briefly but never explored. She felt like a side character when I feel she, and her relationship to Annabelle, should have been just as prevalent as Annabelle’s relationship with her dad. 

libscote's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I liked but didn't love this book. Annabelle makes a new friend, Bailey, at school. Bailey is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. This causes Annabelle to learn new things about her family, and also about her school community, which may not be as welcoming as she thought. 

I think this book would be a good introduction for kids who don't already know a lot about the LGBTQIA+ community, as this book does a lot of explaining about the meanings of those terms (particularly the LGTQ parts). I had some questions about the behaviors of some people in the book, but after talking to friends who have a connection to the parts I had questions about, they seemed more realistic to me. Turns out I didn't know more than I thought! I do like that this book emphasizes that we are always learning about ourselves.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia and Homophobia

sandy_reads_books's review

 I really enjoyed this book! I was recommended this by a librarian when I was initially asking for teen LGBTQ book recommendations. I don't mind reading middle grade occasionally and if it was good enough for the librarian to strongly recommend it to me even though it wasn't what I was initially asking for I figured I'd try it. I wasn't disappointed. At a lot of points I was surprised to see topics covered that I hadn't even seen in books marketed for teens or adults. I think specifically the part where Annabelle has to confront the idea that her parents might be transphobic, because holy shit that can be a lot to have to deal with all at once especially if you are a child are forced to live with people who think so different than you. Also, I thought it was cool how the book entered some of the more unlabeled parts of queer identity, such as what do you label yourself if you are only attracted to non-binary people? It also discusses more the idea gender expression such as butch and femme which I don't see mentioned very much or explicitly. In general I just felt like this book talked a more about the less visible aspects of being queer and I really appreciated that.

I saw that some reviews did not see the writing as being well done for children which I can kind of see, but because I am an older person reading this book I did not mind it as much. It definitely felt at times that some characters were a little too ready with a witty comeback or counter argument and that felt a little unrealistic. The ending was also satisfying and clean which doesn't feel too accurate considering the topic and its realities but I recognize that this is a book for kids so I don't think that is too big of a deal. 

krtfkurnick's review

emotional hopeful 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

missmeganmann's review

funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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 was absolutely amazing. Could not recommend more. It had so much heart and discovery and love and humor and friendship and community and ugh. I just love love LOVED it. Also great for readers who want to explore the rainbow more.