Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Wow. I’m surprised I’ve not heard more about this book. 13-year-old Flint has been nicknamed “Squint” due to a degenerative eye disease that keeps him from seeing clearly. He’s an artist who loves drawing and is feverishly working to finish his comic book for an upcoming competition. Accustomed to being rejected by the popular crow, Flint is surprised when a new girl named McKell strikes up a conversation and asks for Flint’s help with a project. Can he trust her not to abandon the friendship once she has what she needs? Awww. I just loved Flint’s (AKA “Squint”) voice, the things he learned, and the relationships he developed. Such a touching story including accepting challenges, facing terminal illness, and dealing with painful loss. It’s also worth noting this was co-written by husband/wife team — and they’ve written other novels together (including Mustaches for Maddie, which is now going on my TBR list as it’s based on their own real -life daughter’s experience with a brain tumor).
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
Flint has a vision disorder that can't be totally corrected with glasses, causing his classmates to give him the nickname Squint. He loves to draw and so he gives his superhero superpowers as well as his nickname. He gets bullied at school and when one of the girls who was part of the group tries to befriend him, he isn't sure if it is a trick or not.
Good read alike for fans of Wonder and Out of My Mind
Good read alike for fans of Wonder and Out of My Mind
Excellent MG novel, easily as good as ‘Wonder’. This story, about a boy who loves to draw comics, but who is steadily going blind, is filled with warmth, humour, and pathos. Highly recommended.
This is what middle-grade contemporary is all about. My favorite element of this book is that it pushes just past the "I'm going to stand up to the bullies because they're mean and I'm nice" and into the "Wow, we're all actually people and there are ways my actions contribute to the meanness of middle school, too" without giving mean characters a pass for their actions. It does wrap up really neatly/optimistically at the end in terms of Flint's disability, which could be a little disappointing for kids with visual impairment who see themselves in Flint.