Reviews

Be My Love by Kit Pearson

lilisbookshelf's review against another edition

2.5

incest is not ok
neither is dating people 5 years older than you 

raix's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this historical fiction that felt grounded in the time period and yet touched on issues that are still relevant today (mental health, identity, faith). Kit Pearson also does a great job of mentioning pieces of Canadian history that aren't necessarily part of the main story but still inform the setting, such as the mentions of Japanese internment during WWII at the start of the book. It's a coming of age story that is a good portrayal of that awkward time when friends might be growing up faster than you and leaving you behind, but also a good portrayal of that "intense relationship between two girls that you don't really have words for"... and then it gives us the word. I like that Maisie had adults she could speak to while going through her dilemmas, and I thought the sub plot with her father's PTSD/depression was handled with a sensitive nuance which took into consideration her feelings as a child, as well as the realities of mental health. Overall I thought the book was very successful at telling its story, and maybe giving curious young readers further historical topics to look into on their own.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and War

dried_mangoes's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jasmineehare's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Kit Pearson’s books always feel like a balm for my soul. I don’t think this one is as rich as some of her others, but it was still so tender and beautiful.

sapphire_mayo's review against another edition

5.0

Kit Pearson makes me cry EVERY TIME. Her books are always so sweet and yearnful, I cannot think of any other author who has managed to completely encapsulate everything I've ever felt; especially when I was a child. This book deals with depression, jealousy, and unrequited tween-age love with such innocence and care. I recommend this book to everyone, but especially my queer gals. It will speak to your soul. I promise. I was also so into this book that I literally read the whole thing in one night: started at 6:10 and finished at 10:20. I don't think I've ever done that in my life, even with shorter books.

stringbeanbooks's review against another edition

i think i’m officially Too Old for pearson’s writing but she still remains my favourite author. the explicit queer characters in this book are exactly what 10 year old me needed to see :’)

taketwolu's review against another edition

4.0

This is a great middle grade read! It’s a bit old school --set during the early 1950s, following the war. Even so, this book is a great coming of age read that tackles larger topics like depression, body image, family, friendship, love, growing distant / growing up, LGBTQ+, and so much more! Despite old values and beliefs, Pearson framed these topics in a way that was understandable, realistic, and treated them with care and acceptance.

It was interesting to see Maisie navigate her friendship with Una and later, her relationship with her father. Things weren’t perfect and some parts were off putting but a lot can be learned, especially for someone in the middle grade / preteen range. Overall, it’s an average read but packed with a lot of lessons.

sapphire_m's review against another edition

5.0

Kit Pearson makes me cry EVERY TIME. Her books are always so sweet and yearnful, I cannot think of any other author who has managed to completely encapsulate everything I've ever felt; especially when I was a child. This book deals with depression, jealousy, and unrequited tween-age love with such innocence and care. I recommend this book to everyone, but especially my queer gals. It will speak to your soul. I promise. I was also so into this book that I literally read the whole thing in one night: started at 6:10 and finished at 10:20. I don't think I've ever done that in my life, even with shorter books.

delirium23's review against another edition

4.0

I have been trying to find more LGBTQ junior fiction for my daughter and she adores Kit Pearson so this felt like a great choice. Unfortunately, I read it after her and realized this is geared more towards 12 year olds than 9 year olds. There is more talk about sex than I would have preferred for her age and I found out later that it made her a tad uncomfortable. Other than that, I feel like if she was the targeted age, it would have been perfect. We did have some good discussion about the book though and that is always nice.

cweichel's review against another edition

4.0

This coming of age historical novel is set in the 1950's in the years after the second world war. Fourteen year old Maisie heads off to spend the summer with her grandparents on one of the gulf islands off the coast of British Columbia. Life has been hard as her father is dealing with PTSD after his stint as a chaplain in WW2. She wants a summer with her cousin Una just like they have always had. But Una is changing and growing up. At times their relationship is just like always, but then a boy who Una admires shows up. Maisie does something she comes to regret before finally coming to terms with who she is and what is important to her.
Having been born a few years later than Maisie, I appreciated the authenticity of the characters, their attitudes, and their interactions. I'm impressed with Kit Pearson writing this own voices novel.