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pucksandpaperbacks's review against another edition
medium-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? N/A
Content warnings for miscarriages, depression, pregnancy and mentions of pregnancy complications, minor homophobia and bullying.
Thank you to the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a #gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
Nicole Melleby is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’re looking to add more middle grade to your summer hopefuls, I highly recommend her newest book, Winnie Nash is NOT Your Sunshine.
Down by the Jersey Shore, Winnie Nash is stuck at the clubhouse with her grandma, who she is living with for the summer while her mom is pregnant. But little does she know, this summer she will finally tell people she likes girls, join a book club, go to Pride, and make some great friends along the way.
I love how Melleby writes kid-lit with messy queer kids and through Winnie, we learn that she is a frustrated and angry little girl. She’s been hiding her smiles to save for her mom because that’s what her Dad told her to do. Plus, she’s also been advised to not tell her grandma that she’s gay because her mom wanted to protect her.
Winnie is put through a lot, all for the comfort of the adults in her life. But some bright spots in Winne’s gloomy life are meeting two girls her age, Louisa and Pippa; who she may have a crush on. I loved seeing Winnie have a little sunshine in her life especially when she would get butterflies whenever she encountered Pippa.
At the beginning of the book, she signs up for a book club hosted at the clubhouse. The clubhouse is a place where the elderly folks in the neighborhood go to mingle or in Winnie’s grandmother’s case, play canasta. Little does Winnie know that she’s met a queer elder in the process. I loved the way queer adults showed up for Winnie even if it wasn’t perfect. This is exactly what kids need! It warmed my heart when we met Jeanne and she started to casually give Winnie queer romances to read.
Content warnings for miscarriages, depression, pregnancy and mentions of pregnancy complications, minor homophobia and bullying.
If you’re still building your June hopefuls and want to read some queer kid-lit for Pride Month, this is my recommendation. Winnie attends Asbury Park Pride in Asbury Park, NJ - which is a Very Queer place that I’ve been to! - and she sneaks off to New York Pride to get her sunshine back.
Thank you to the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a #gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
Nicole Melleby is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’re looking to add more middle grade to your summer hopefuls, I highly recommend her newest book, Winnie Nash is NOT Your Sunshine.
Down by the Jersey Shore, Winnie Nash is stuck at the clubhouse with her grandma, who she is living with for the summer while her mom is pregnant. But little does she know, this summer she will finally tell people she likes girls, join a book club, go to Pride, and make some great friends along the way.
I love how Melleby writes kid-lit with messy queer kids and through Winnie, we learn that she is a frustrated and angry little girl. She’s been hiding her smiles to save for her mom because that’s what her Dad told her to do. Plus, she’s also been advised to not tell her grandma that she’s gay because her mom wanted to protect her.
Winnie is put through a lot, all for the comfort of the adults in her life. But some bright spots in Winne’s gloomy life are meeting two girls her age, Louisa and Pippa; who she may have a crush on. I loved seeing Winnie have a little sunshine in her life especially when she would get butterflies whenever she encountered Pippa.
At the beginning of the book, she signs up for a book club hosted at the clubhouse. The clubhouse is a place where the elderly folks in the neighborhood go to mingle or in Winnie’s grandmother’s case, play canasta. Little does Winnie know that she’s met a queer elder in the process. I loved the way queer adults showed up for Winnie even if it wasn’t perfect. This is exactly what kids need! It warmed my heart when we met Jeanne and she started to casually give Winnie queer romances to read.
Content warnings for miscarriages, depression, pregnancy and mentions of pregnancy complications, minor homophobia and bullying.
If you’re still building your June hopefuls and want to read some queer kid-lit for Pride Month, this is my recommendation. Winnie attends Asbury Park Pride in Asbury Park, NJ - which is a Very Queer place that I’ve been to! - and she sneaks off to New York Pride to get her sunshine back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Medical content
Moderate: Miscarriage and Mental illness
Minor: Homophobia
cassiesnextchapter's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
Gorgeous.
This one hit so hard. I’ll be back to review after I compose my thoughts <3
This one hit so hard. I’ll be back to review after I compose my thoughts <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
teeclecticreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Even though this is a story that was told from the perspective of a 12-year-old, I feel like anyone from any age can learn so much from this beautifully honest novel. I was so moved throughout the whole book to see how Winnie as struggling to cope with her mom’s current pregnancy given that she had depression from her previous miscarriage. Not being able to talk about this with her grandma who she was staying with for the summer, along with her queer identity was so much to bottle up (as it would be for anyone).
I couldn’t help but tear up because I was filled with all the emotions that Winnie was feeling – the anxiety, the worry, the anger, the feeling of abandonment, and the desperation to hold on to the good. However, the friendship, support, and community she did experience was just as touching to experience with her. I’m so grateful that I was able to read this arc And I hope that it touches everyone who is able to read it just as it touched me.
I couldn’t help but tear up because I was filled with all the emotions that Winnie was feeling – the anxiety, the worry, the anger, the feeling of abandonment, and the desperation to hold on to the good. However, the friendship, support, and community she did experience was just as touching to experience with her. I’m so grateful that I was able to read this arc And I hope that it touches everyone who is able to read it just as it touched me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Abandonment, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Grief
aprestia310's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title**
In this sweet middle-grade reader, Winnie Nash is working through her sexuality, her relationship with her parents, her mother's pregnancy (and past miscarriages), and attempting to make friends while living in her grandmother's retirement community for the summer. It's a lot to say the least. Melleby manages to weave these dramatic themes together in a digestible way for younger readers and proudly demonstrates a heroine who wants nothing more than to be her best self.
In this sweet middle-grade reader, Winnie Nash is working through her sexuality, her relationship with her parents, her mother's pregnancy (and past miscarriages), and attempting to make friends while living in her grandmother's retirement community for the summer. It's a lot to say the least. Melleby manages to weave these dramatic themes together in a digestible way for younger readers and proudly demonstrates a heroine who wants nothing more than to be her best self.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
tofugal's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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? Yes
4.0
I was excited to find another sapphic MG book. This one definitely fell into the coming of age category and dealt with some difficult topics like miscarriages, depression, neglect, and homophobia.
I loved the voice. Winnie was very relatable, and I just wanted to give the girl a big hug and assure her she mattered and that everything would be okay. Maria, Winnie’s godmother, unofficial aunt, and the best friend of Winnie’s mother, was wonderful and the clear MVP of the story. I wish that every LGBTQ+ kid had a Maria to take them to their first Pride and offer them unconditional love and support. I also liked Winnie’s new friends, Pippa and Lucía, and the elderly Jeanne from book club who clearly was doing her best to help out a queer kid in a bad situation. Even Grandma grew on me when her true colors were finally shown.
Fair warning: Winnie’s parents were infuriating, since their obsession with trying to have a second child completely blinded them to the needs of the child they already had. The turmoil they put Winnie through was heartbreaking. While I can understand Winnie’s mother struggling to be present while dealing with depression, miscarriages, and a high risk pregnancy, Winnie’s father had no valid excuse to not pick up the slack and be there for Winnie. Forcing their lesbian daughter into the closet so they could send her to live with a grandmother they believed to be homophobic for the summer was unforgivable in my eyes. Not only was traumatic for Winnie, it could have put her safety at risk. The story also never explained why Winnie couldn’t stay with friends or Maria, go to summer school or summer camp, or even stay home alone some of the time since she was twelve.
Things do turn out mostly all right in the end. Winnie ends up forging strong relationships with her new friends and grandmother. There’s also the promise of more openness from Winnie’s parents along with possible family therapy, but I felt that was too little, too late considering everything they put Winnie through.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Homophobia
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