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anj's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
This is such a short little audiobook, but such a sweet exploration of who Stevie is and is not attracted to. Stevie also deals quite a bit with anxiety. She has to know all the things, to be prepared for all the worst-case scenarios. While I think Stevie may benefit from therapy, right now her mom seems to be a very supportive person who is able to help her keep her anxiety under control. (Not me talking like these characters are real because they feel so real.)
I think what really made this book earn my prestigious Favorites Tag (only around 10% of the books I read earn that tag) was the librarian, Susan, and how the library was a safehaven for Stevie. When Stevie felt like she couldn't go to her mom, like her mom wouldn't understand, she went to the library: the place where she could learn all the things. Then Librarian Susan found her way in over her head in the history section, looking for the answers as to WHY she feels so fizzy and light around Chloe, and Susan helps her.
For me, it's the way Susan helps her that has me feeling so warm and fizzy myself. Susan realized Stevie was at the library without her mom knowing where she was. But Stevie obviously didn't want her mom to know. So, Susan had Stevie sit with her at her desk, gave her some tea, and gave Stevie the space to talk about why she was at the library without her mom's permission. When Stevie opened up to Susan about her confusion and worries, Susan did not shame her. She didn't tell Stevie she was wrong or bad for what she did. Susan came up with a plan to help. She did call Stevie's mom, but she also helped Stevie find the books she needed to help her realize that yes! Girls can like girls and she's a girl that likes girls! I think Susan handled the entire situation beautifully and Stevie ended up benefitting from Susan's help. Susan is the kind of librarian I aspire to be.
I think what really made this book earn my prestigious Favorites Tag (only around 10% of the books I read earn that tag) was the librarian, Susan, and how the library was a safehaven for Stevie. When Stevie felt like she couldn't go to her mom, like her mom wouldn't understand, she went to the library: the place where she could learn all the things. Then Librarian Susan found her way in over her head in the history section, looking for the answers as to WHY she feels so fizzy and light around Chloe, and Susan helps her.
For me, it's the way Susan helps her that has me feeling so warm and fizzy myself. Susan realized Stevie was at the library without her mom knowing where she was. But Stevie obviously didn't want her mom to know. So, Susan had Stevie sit with her at her desk, gave her some tea, and gave Stevie the space to talk about why she was at the library without her mom's permission. When Stevie opened up to Susan about her confusion and worries, Susan did not shame her. She didn't tell Stevie she was wrong or bad for what she did. Susan came up with a plan to help. She did call Stevie's mom, but she also helped Stevie find the books she needed to help her realize that yes! Girls can like girls and she's a girl that likes girls! I think Susan handled the entire situation beautifully and Stevie ended up benefitting from Susan's help. Susan is the kind of librarian I aspire to be.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
ezwolf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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 will never stop being surprised at the way that middle grade books can bring me to tears so quickly. Not because they're middle grade, but because the child I was is now getting the representation I didn't have and as an adult who knows how important these books will be and are to kids now means so much.
Stevie's story and feelings show perfectly why representation in media is so important and also being vocal about supporting marginalized communities. Deep down Stevie knows how she feels and she knows her mom has told her that boys can like boys and girls can like girls, but she's never thought about it applying to her. I think that is just as important or more than seeing representation because the uncertainty of how the people closest to you will react when it's you is so nerve wrecking.
I hope that The Deepest Breath will be one of those books that a kid finds at the library that helps them understand themselves better, just like Stevie did.
Stevie's story and feelings show perfectly why representation in media is so important and also being vocal about supporting marginalized communities. Deep down Stevie knows how she feels and she knows her mom has told her that boys can like boys and girls can like girls, but she's never thought about it applying to her. I think that is just as important or more than seeing representation because the uncertainty of how the people closest to you will react when it's you is so nerve wrecking.
I hope that The Deepest Breath will be one of those books that a kid finds at the library that helps them understand themselves better, just like Stevie did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
literarypenguin's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
This was such a heartwarming and lovely book and one that I wish all LGBTQ+ children would have had growing up!
This story is about a girl named Stevie and her trying to answer her question of why she is feeling certain feelings for a female friend/classmate named Chloe. The story explores Stevie finding out she is a girl that likes other girls and explores how she can tell her mother. It shows us how she finds this out about herself and her journey of wanting to tell her mother but not wanting her relationship with her to change.
This book is written in verse beautifully by the author and in a way that older kids and maybe some younger kids can understand. I think the decision to write the book in this way only made an emotional impact on the book that was more important and powerful. Meg has an amazing way of writing in verse, every anxiety, fear, and worry Stevie had could be felt in every verse. You could also feel every happy feeling too.
The portrayal of Stevie as an eleven-year-old girl is very believable, her interest in the ocean, her love for reading, and her strong relationship with her mother who she was afraid of worrying or disappointing. Stevie learning more about herself and learning how some relationships in life can change sometimes for the better. How her mother accepted and loved her daughter but had her own questions and wanted to help her daughter explore and find out more about this side of her was so sweet!
This is a book I think every LGBTQ+ child should read and I hope they can find acceptance and love not just for themselves but from others as well!
This story is about a girl named Stevie and her trying to answer her question of why she is feeling certain feelings for a female friend/classmate named Chloe. The story explores Stevie finding out she is a girl that likes other girls and explores how she can tell her mother. It shows us how she finds this out about herself and her journey of wanting to tell her mother but not wanting her relationship with her to change.
This book is written in verse beautifully by the author and in a way that older kids and maybe some younger kids can understand. I think the decision to write the book in this way only made an emotional impact on the book that was more important and powerful. Meg has an amazing way of writing in verse, every anxiety, fear, and worry Stevie had could be felt in every verse. You could also feel every happy feeling too.
The portrayal of Stevie as an eleven-year-old girl is very believable, her interest in the ocean, her love for reading, and her strong relationship with her mother who she was afraid of worrying or disappointing. Stevie learning more about herself and learning how some relationships in life can change sometimes for the better. How her mother accepted and loved her daughter but had her own questions and wanted to help her daughter explore and find out more about this side of her was so sweet!
This is a book I think every LGBTQ+ child should read and I hope they can find acceptance and love not just for themselves but from others as well!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
I had been doing some research for the bookshop I work at on queer middle grade novels, and The Deepest Breath was one of the books that came up. It sounded so cute, so I decided to give it a go. Honestly, it's just the sweetest book of a young girl discovering her sexuality and trying to find ways to talk about it.
Stevie has anxiety, and she's scared of a lot of things. So many things. But she thinks if she can learn about the things she's scared of, they won't scare her any more, or she'll have answers if things go wrong. One of the things she's scared of is the ocean and the things that live at the very bottom of the sea, so she's so happy when her mum buys her a book on ocean creatures, and is always reading it. One of the other things she's scred of is not really understanding the way she feels when she's around her friend Chloe. She doesn't feel like it around anyone else. She doesn't know what it means, or she thinks she might know what it means, but she isn't sure. And it scares her. When she tries to talk about it to her mum, she doesn't really understand. How can she find out what this feeling is, and how to talk to her mum about it?
The Deepest Breath is absolutely beautiful! It's so, so gorgeous! It's a novel in verse, so it's a very quick read. I don't know enough about poetry to comment on the verse, really, but I can say for so few words, Grehan manages to pack a right punch. Grehan really captures the voice of Stevie so brilliantly. I'm honestly in awe of how she's managed to create this young girl's voice, her confusion and her fear, and all her experiences, and tell such a beautiful story and tell it with as fewer words as possible. It's just genius.
Grehan does a fantastic job at describing Stevie's anxiety. Her cyclical thoughts, how once she's worried about something, she can't stop thinking about it. There's a moment when Stevie's mum cries at the end of a film, but Stevie doesn't realise it's to do with the film, and she spirals. What's wrong with her mum? Why is she upset? What's going to happen if her mum isn't ok? Her mum is the one who always makes things better, so what is Stevie going to do if something is wrong with her? Grehan gets a wonderful balance of what anxiety looks and feels like, and what that experience is like for a young child; Stevie has the fears and worries of someone quite young, but experiences anxiety like anyone else.
Stevie trying to figure out her first crush for another girl was just the sweetest thing, though with her confusion, I just wanted to give her the biggest hug! She doesn't have the right words yet to describe what she feels or what she wants to say, not exactly, so her mum doesn't understand at first. Stevie feels lost, because her mum always has the answers, and now she's even more confused. But she realises that what she normally doesn't when she wants to find out more about something is go to the library. Except she doesn't really know what exactly to look for or where. I have so, so much love for Susan, the librarian who helps Stevie, who manages to find out what it is Stevie is looking for, and give her a book that makes all the difference. There's this really, really beautiful moment I can't not share.
Stevie has anxiety, and she's scared of a lot of things. So many things. But she thinks if she can learn about the things she's scared of, they won't scare her any more, or she'll have answers if things go wrong. One of the things she's scared of is the ocean and the things that live at the very bottom of the sea, so she's so happy when her mum buys her a book on ocean creatures, and is always reading it. One of the other things she's scred of is not really understanding the way she feels when she's around her friend Chloe. She doesn't feel like it around anyone else. She doesn't know what it means, or she thinks she might know what it means, but she isn't sure. And it scares her. When she tries to talk about it to her mum, she doesn't really understand. How can she find out what this feeling is, and how to talk to her mum about it?
The Deepest Breath is absolutely beautiful! It's so, so gorgeous! It's a novel in verse, so it's a very quick read. I don't know enough about poetry to comment on the verse, really, but I can say for so few words, Grehan manages to pack a right punch. Grehan really captures the voice of Stevie so brilliantly. I'm honestly in awe of how she's managed to create this young girl's voice, her confusion and her fear, and all her experiences, and tell such a beautiful story and tell it with as fewer words as possible. It's just genius.
Grehan does a fantastic job at describing Stevie's anxiety. Her cyclical thoughts, how once she's worried about something, she can't stop thinking about it. There's a moment when Stevie's mum cries at the end of a film, but Stevie doesn't realise it's to do with the film, and she spirals. What's wrong with her mum? Why is she upset? What's going to happen if her mum isn't ok? Her mum is the one who always makes things better, so what is Stevie going to do if something is wrong with her? Grehan gets a wonderful balance of what anxiety looks and feels like, and what that experience is like for a young child; Stevie has the fears and worries of someone quite young, but experiences anxiety like anyone else.
Stevie trying to figure out her first crush for another girl was just the sweetest thing, though with her confusion, I just wanted to give her the biggest hug! She doesn't have the right words yet to describe what she feels or what she wants to say, not exactly, so her mum doesn't understand at first. Stevie feels lost, because her mum always has the answers, and now she's even more confused. But she realises that what she normally doesn't when she wants to find out more about something is go to the library. Except she doesn't really know what exactly to look for or where. I have so, so much love for Susan, the librarian who helps Stevie, who manages to find out what it is Stevie is looking for, and give her a book that makes all the difference. There's this really, really beautiful moment I can't not share.
'We pick out two books
I choose one about trains
And Susan picks out one
With two girls on the cover
Holding hands
And I hold it
And I stare at it
And it makes me feel
So many things
All at once
And for once
Every single thing I feel
Is good
And happy
And real
And true' (p136)
Isn't it just the most gorgeous thing you have ever read?! And if you take a closer look at the cover, you'll see two little girls, holding hands. Honestly, The Deepest Breath is the most sweetest book, and I am so, so happy very young people just figuring out their sexuality for the first time have this book; that this book could mean as much to them as the book Susan gives to Stevie means to her. It's stunning!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
cheye13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Chloe has a whole world in her
And she's so good at sharing it
This was a sweet little read. It did read younger than I expected it to – maybe for a 6-9yo audience, rather than10-12yos. I was surprised but heartwarmed at how heavily the public library featured in the story. A good read for young people with questions and curiosity.
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
descriptions of drowningbetweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
This book in verse is a testament to kids being able to see themselves in the books that they read. Stevie is starting to have feelings for her desk mate, Chloe, and she doesn't understand them. Also struggling with anxiety, Stevie struggles about how to tell her mom and how to sort out these new feelings.
There's a scene where Stevie goes to the public library, desperate for something to help her explain the feelings she's been having. Her interaction with the librarian was sweet, adorable, and I just loved it. It's probably one of my favorite things about this book. The librarian helps Stevie to see that she isn't alone, and if that isn't one of your goals as a librarian, you're probably (definitely) doing it wrong.
Anyway, this book is just so pure and a great addition to the ever growing LGBTQ+ middle grade pool of books. Honestly, the more representation you have, the better.
There's a scene where Stevie goes to the public library, desperate for something to help her explain the feelings she's been having. Her interaction with the librarian was sweet, adorable, and I just loved it. It's probably one of my favorite things about this book. The librarian helps Stevie to see that she isn't alone, and if that isn't one of your goals as a librarian, you're probably (definitely) doing it wrong.
Anyway, this book is just so pure and a great addition to the ever growing LGBTQ+ middle grade pool of books. Honestly, the more representation you have, the better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
erinsbookshelves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
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