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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
Middle grade GLBT FTW!
At its heart, this is a story of an eighth grade girl dealing with first crushes and playing a role in the class play. It just so happens that one of those crushes is on a girl, Gemma the new student from England who is cast as Juliet in the class production of Romeo and Juliet. This is confusing for Mattie - does she like Gemma just a lot as a friend or is it more than that? Could Gemma feel the same way? What will her classmates and friends think? Does this mean Mattie's a lesbian? Can she still like boys, too?
All of these questions are explored in a middle-school-appropriate way. No action except a couple of kisses in the play, but Dee still manages to craft a swoony love story (remember how those middle school crushes felt?!). Mattie's friends and family are all supportive and positive as she starts to reveal her feelings, and there's a scene where Mattie's teacher calls out a kid for using "gay" as an insult, so it's a supportive class environment, too. This is maybe idealistic, but I was fine with that. Let's give kids and teachers some ideals to aspire to. And the story is not at all about Mattie dealing with fallout from coming out or anything, but a much more introspective look at having a first same-sex crush, which again felt realistic for the age of the characters.
I appreciated Dee's choice of having the class play be Romeo and Juliet - there are a lot of parallels here between Mattie's feelings and Romeo's feelings, which he thinks he can't share because of his family's rivalry. There are secrets and layers of trust in both stories.
Hand this to tweens who like reading love stories and/or tweens interested in theater.
At its heart, this is a story of an eighth grade girl dealing with first crushes and playing a role in the class play. It just so happens that one of those crushes is on a girl, Gemma the new student from England who is cast as Juliet in the class production of Romeo and Juliet. This is confusing for Mattie - does she like Gemma just a lot as a friend or is it more than that? Could Gemma feel the same way? What will her classmates and friends think? Does this mean Mattie's a lesbian? Can she still like boys, too?
All of these questions are explored in a middle-school-appropriate way. No action except a couple of kisses in the play, but Dee still manages to craft a swoony love story (remember how those middle school crushes felt?!). Mattie's friends and family are all supportive and positive as she starts to reveal her feelings, and there's a scene where Mattie's teacher calls out a kid for using "gay" as an insult, so it's a supportive class environment, too. This is maybe idealistic, but I was fine with that. Let's give kids and teachers some ideals to aspire to. And the story is not at all about Mattie dealing with fallout from coming out or anything, but a much more introspective look at having a first same-sex crush, which again felt realistic for the age of the characters.
I appreciated Dee's choice of having the class play be Romeo and Juliet - there are a lot of parallels here between Mattie's feelings and Romeo's feelings, which he thinks he can't share because of his family's rivalry. There are secrets and layers of trust in both stories.
Hand this to tweens who like reading love stories and/or tweens interested in theater.
Eighth-grader Matilda, who goes by Mattie, is not used to being in the spotlight. She is perfectly happy playing the side character of Paris in her middle-school’s production of Romeo and Juliet. However, she finds herself becoming more and more interested in the language of Shakespeare, as well as the cute new girl from England. But when the lead playing Romeo drops out, she is asked to step in to replace him. The only problem is, her crush Gemma Braithwaite is playing Juliet!
A very sweet story with characters I believed to be 13. I wish this had been published ten years ago, when I was 13 myself, and needed a book like this, but I'm happy for the kids of today.
Eighth-grader Mattie is cast in the school production of Romeo and Juliet and discovers she has a crush on a girl.
Pretty cute and obviously written by an English teacher. A lot of the dialogue is just about the characters understanding what's going on in the play. The same-sex crush is handled nicely, and if you can get past a lot of 13-year-old-driven plot, the story is quite nice.
Pretty cute and obviously written by an English teacher. A lot of the dialogue is just about the characters understanding what's going on in the play. The same-sex crush is handled nicely, and if you can get past a lot of 13-year-old-driven plot, the story is quite nice.
This is a cute light read about a middle school girl, 8th grade, getting a crush on a girl. She has had a crush on a boy before. It's made clear she still could like another boy, but right now her crush just happens to be a girl and she's trying to come to terms with that. For the most part it's a good book. It's sort of a retelling of Romeo and Juliet but there is no tragedy. No one dies. It's a middle grade book to show that being inclusive of all sexualities is a good and necessary thing, in a light fun read.
Let's get what I didn't like so much out of the way first. I am bisexual, I heard it's a book about a bisexual girl figuring out she is bisexual in 8th grade...exactly the time I did. Yes I knew I am bisexual in middle school and i'm 28 now...i'm still bisexual. I thought this could've been a book I could've really needed/used back when I was that age. I really wanted to love this book and I really tried.
Bisexual or even just Bi is never used, not once, to the point that it's awkwardly omitted. Here is one passage from the book "And if it did-not that I was saying it was a crush, just saying IF-would it mean that you were gay, or a lesbian, or whatever word you were supposed to call it, if you liked only one particular girl?" It's her first crush on a girl (and she does later admit it's a crush, she really likes her and it's written in an obvious and cute way). And later when one of her friends finally learns about her crush she says "Mattie, at theater camp I knew a bunch of kids who are gay. Like my good friend Henry, for example! You think I'm incapable of respecting privacy?" Just instances like that, especially the first one, that had me rather annoyed. It would have been so easy, a few times, to add "bi" in there (and would have actually made it less words for that matter, rather than tip toeing around the word as it were).
I know this wasn't the point of the book, that it ment to be inclusive and for middle schoolers (need I say again I knew in middle school that I am bisexual and could've really used a book back then to show me it was ok, not evil or wrong and that I didn't need to pick a side like I was constantly told?) but I felt like it was saying "it's ok to be gay, but not bisexual" again I know it wasn't trying to say that at all, but with the awkward wording at times to avoid saying the word bi I couldn't help but feel that way. I can see now it didn't mean to say that but I doubt 13 year old me, the age this book is aimed at, would have seen that. I would've just saw "Gay is ok, not bi, we don't say bi, PICK A SIDE!" I worry I would've missed that that wasn't the point due to the tip toeing on eggshells to avoid saying the word that, to me, made it sound awkward at times. Gay and lesbian were said multiple times...not a single time was bi said. So gay and lesbian are ok to say to middle schoolers but don't dare say Bi? WHY? Why does it seem authors are so scared of the word bi? I can not wrap my head around it. And I worry how 13 year old me would have re-acted to this book.
On a brighter note I enjoyed the characters and the story-line for the most part. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments. The characters are nice and believable middle schoolers. Annoying at times exactly like a real 8th grader would be, but good kids. I don't know of any middle schoolers that actually like Shakespeare or crocheting but that could just be me, everyone is different.
The crush was very cute, and the feelings were well described and relate-able. It was a rather accepting book, which is a good thing as I have heard people say "It's unrealistic to have people be so accepting of LGBT+ people in a book! It isn't right!" well for one there are plenty of accepting people out there, but yes there are jerks too. However, personally, I think stories like this that show acceptance are important too. LGBT+ people and relationships need to be normalized, and books like this can help that.
I thought the ending was a bit vague but again, that could just be me.
The parents are there and believable as well. The way Mattie feels about her parents also felt real. They are good parent relationships and Mattie does get annoyed with them just like teens do. I remember those feels.
There are plenty of good messages through-out the book. Friendships, acceptance, being yourself, the problematic aspects of Romeo and Juliet get called out by the kids, etc. There are many reasons to love this book.
From all the laughter, good feels, cute F/F crush, and nice messages I couldn't give this book a bad rating, but from being let down so much (personally) I couldn't exactly give it a high rating either. So I went with 3 stars. Maybe i'm over-reacting. Maybe it's just me. I have no idea, these are nothing more than my own thoughts and feelings. I do still believe this book is a step in the right direction. A book like this never would have been published (that I know of or at least not become well known) back 15 years ago. I hope this book does help some kid out there or to help some kids learn acceptance of people different than them.
Let's get what I didn't like so much out of the way first. I am bisexual, I heard it's a book about a bisexual girl figuring out she is bisexual in 8th grade...exactly the time I did. Yes I knew I am bisexual in middle school and i'm 28 now...i'm still bisexual. I thought this could've been a book I could've really needed/used back when I was that age. I really wanted to love this book and I really tried.
Bisexual or even just Bi is never used, not once, to the point that it's awkwardly omitted. Here is one passage from the book "And if it did-not that I was saying it was a crush, just saying IF-would it mean that you were gay, or a lesbian, or whatever word you were supposed to call it, if you liked only one particular girl?" It's her first crush on a girl (and she does later admit it's a crush, she really likes her and it's written in an obvious and cute way). And later when one of her friends finally learns about her crush she says "Mattie, at theater camp I knew a bunch of kids who are gay. Like my good friend Henry, for example! You think I'm incapable of respecting privacy?" Just instances like that, especially the first one, that had me rather annoyed. It would have been so easy, a few times, to add "bi" in there (and would have actually made it less words for that matter, rather than tip toeing around the word as it were).
I know this wasn't the point of the book, that it ment to be inclusive and for middle schoolers (need I say again I knew in middle school that I am bisexual and could've really used a book back then to show me it was ok, not evil or wrong and that I didn't need to pick a side like I was constantly told?) but I felt like it was saying "it's ok to be gay, but not bisexual" again I know it wasn't trying to say that at all, but with the awkward wording at times to avoid saying the word bi I couldn't help but feel that way. I can see now it didn't mean to say that but I doubt 13 year old me, the age this book is aimed at, would have seen that. I would've just saw "Gay is ok, not bi, we don't say bi, PICK A SIDE!" I worry I would've missed that that wasn't the point due to the tip toeing on eggshells to avoid saying the word that, to me, made it sound awkward at times. Gay and lesbian were said multiple times...not a single time was bi said. So gay and lesbian are ok to say to middle schoolers but don't dare say Bi? WHY? Why does it seem authors are so scared of the word bi? I can not wrap my head around it. And I worry how 13 year old me would have re-acted to this book.
On a brighter note I enjoyed the characters and the story-line for the most part. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments. The characters are nice and believable middle schoolers. Annoying at times exactly like a real 8th grader would be, but good kids. I don't know of any middle schoolers that actually like Shakespeare or crocheting but that could just be me, everyone is different.
The crush was very cute, and the feelings were well described and relate-able. It was a rather accepting book, which is a good thing as I have heard people say "It's unrealistic to have people be so accepting of LGBT+ people in a book! It isn't right!" well for one there are plenty of accepting people out there, but yes there are jerks too. However, personally, I think stories like this that show acceptance are important too. LGBT+ people and relationships need to be normalized, and books like this can help that.
I thought the ending was a bit vague but again, that could just be me.
The parents are there and believable as well. The way Mattie feels about her parents also felt real. They are good parent relationships and Mattie does get annoyed with them just like teens do. I remember those feels.
There are plenty of good messages through-out the book. Friendships, acceptance, being yourself, the problematic aspects of Romeo and Juliet get called out by the kids, etc. There are many reasons to love this book.
From all the laughter, good feels, cute F/F crush, and nice messages I couldn't give this book a bad rating, but from being let down so much (personally) I couldn't exactly give it a high rating either. So I went with 3 stars. Maybe i'm over-reacting. Maybe it's just me. I have no idea, these are nothing more than my own thoughts and feelings. I do still believe this book is a step in the right direction. A book like this never would have been published (that I know of or at least not become well known) back 15 years ago. I hope this book does help some kid out there or to help some kids learn acceptance of people different than them.
This book is everything a middle-grade coming out story should be. It's cute, it's sweet, it has an accepting family, and a well-respected teacher who calls out a kid for using "gay" as an insult.
The storyline has very explicit messages for young girls who like other girls. To sum up, "It's okay to have these feelings. It's good to talk about them. You can talk to friends and adults you trust, but it's okay to wait until you're ready." Perfect.
The storyline has very explicit messages for young girls who like other girls. To sum up, "It's okay to have these feelings. It's good to talk about them. You can talk to friends and adults you trust, but it's okay to wait until you're ready." Perfect.
Dee has done a great job of mixing contemporary relationship topics with just enough of the classic play. This was cleverly plotted, blending plot elements from Romeo & Juliet into the story--even starting with a balcony scene (and the girls were later banished from "Verona's" fro-yo shop). There was even a classic Shakespearean mismatch re: the Valentine's Day dance--everyone ended up with the wrong person.
I don't generally like these kind of intense girl friendship books, but since Mattie herself finds her besties a little oppressive at times, it was bearable. Mattie's struggle to keep something secret from them (until she thinks it through herself) rang very true, and I found the description of her developing crush on Gemma fresh and real. (Actually, who would't have a crush on Gemma? Her only flaw is being late to rehearsal.) The tween cliquey-ness was unfortunately realistic.
However, I wonder if the eventual easy acceptance of her friends and teacher are a bit rosy, her sister maybe less so; and the parents aren't dealt with, so that isn't covered. It was convenient/lucky that men often played women's parts in Shakespeare's plays, so the idea of a gender swap went over more easily (not that there wasn't some resistance, mainly from the evil Willow--I wish there could have been some mellowing of her character, but Gemma explains her as just liking to always be the leader--another reason to like Gemma--so reasonable!). The story ends before Mattie's wider circle of classmates gets involved, and even before we get a solid reaction from Gemma, although she does mention a "date", so that's encouraging. And I guess if your closest friends are behind you, you can weather a lot.
So maybe the author dodged some of the possible negative fallout (although at one point a bunch of people chastise a kid for using the word "gay" in a negative way...) but I guess it's nice to have a fun, positive portrayal of someone working out their feelings and not have it get too angsty.
Liam brings up some good questions about the play, that could make for some interesting discussions with any classes that might be reading both. For example: is Romeo fickle? I liked that Liam doesn't turn out to be dumb, just overscheduled and in over his head, maybe embarrassed to play such a romantic role.
Theater geeks and emo girls will enjoy. And girls wondering about crushes will be reassured.
I don't generally like these kind of intense girl friendship books, but since Mattie herself finds her besties a little oppressive at times, it was bearable. Mattie's struggle to keep something secret from them (until she thinks it through herself) rang very true, and I found the description of her developing crush on Gemma fresh and real. (Actually, who would't have a crush on Gemma? Her only flaw is being late to rehearsal.) The tween cliquey-ness was unfortunately realistic.
However, I wonder if the eventual easy acceptance of her friends and teacher are a bit rosy, her sister maybe less so; and the parents aren't dealt with, so that isn't covered. It was convenient/lucky that men often played women's parts in Shakespeare's plays, so the idea of a gender swap went over more easily (not that there wasn't some resistance, mainly from the evil Willow--I wish there could have been some mellowing of her character, but Gemma explains her as just liking to always be the leader--another reason to like Gemma--so reasonable!). The story ends before Mattie's wider circle of classmates gets involved, and even before we get a solid reaction from Gemma, although she does mention a "date", so that's encouraging. And I guess if your closest friends are behind you, you can weather a lot.
So maybe the author dodged some of the possible negative fallout (although at one point a bunch of people chastise a kid for using the word "gay" in a negative way...) but I guess it's nice to have a fun, positive portrayal of someone working out their feelings and not have it get too angsty.
Liam brings up some good questions about the play, that could make for some interesting discussions with any classes that might be reading both. For example: is Romeo fickle? I liked that Liam doesn't turn out to be dumb, just overscheduled and in over his head, maybe embarrassed to play such a romantic role.
Theater geeks and emo girls will enjoy. And girls wondering about crushes will be reassured.
While I loved the premise of this books and firmly believe we need more LGBTQ books for middle grade readers, ultimately I didn’t think this storyline seemed all that plausible to me.