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elderflower's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Miscarriage
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Vomit
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Excrement
more content warnings: mild ableist languageforeverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Can we please have more middle grade contemps like this!?
Rep: white questioning aroace female MC, MC has two moms (one white, one Black), Latine trans female side character, Asian male side character in a wheelchair, Jewish female side character, Black trans male side character (brief mention).
CWs: Bullying (mostly past mentions), grief, infertility, past miscarriages, pregnancy. Moderate: Acephobia/acemisia.
Rep: white questioning aroace female MC, MC has two moms (one white, one Black), Latine trans female side character, Asian male side character in a wheelchair, Jewish female side character, Black trans male side character (brief mention).
CWs: Bullying (mostly past mentions), grief, infertility, past miscarriages, pregnancy. Moderate: Acephobia/acemisia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia
marthe1998's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
nonbinarylibrarianwitch's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh, my word!! I cried buckets of tears as I read this book and after I finished it. But gosh, it was amazing! I absolutely love Hazel and her family and this whole book.
Hazel is pretty much your typical teenager. She’s trying to figure out how to survive her 8th-grade year at a different school from her best friend (due to redistricting) without anyone noticing her. Hazel loves animals, all kinds of animals, even the ones that most people find gross, like skunks, cockroaches, and worms. She’s read through many animal encyclopedias when she’s not hanging out with her best friend, helping out with the goats on her family’s farm, or taking care of her dog.
But there are some things that can’t be answered by reading dusty old encyclopedias like what if she experiences the same bullying at her new school that she had at her old one? What will happen to one of her moms, who is pregnant again after having two miscarriages? Why do things have to change?
Oh my Hazel! I just want to wrap her up in my arms and give her a hug. Truthfully, she reminds me of myself, holding all the emotions and feelings in until they explode out. Hazel is excited for the new baby, but she’s also deathly afraid of what may happen to the baby and her mom. She tries to act happy, yet her moms can tell she’s lying.
At Hazel’s new school, she does start keeping her head down and remaining unnoticed, but she soon finds herself two friends, Yoshi (a cis-gendered Japanese-American boy) and Carina (a Mexican American trans girl) who accept Hazel, along with all of her quirks. Yet, as she finds these two friends, she finds she is slowly drifting apart from her best friend, Becca. Becca now is friends with Hazel’s bully and has joined the cheer squad. Hazel’s unhappiness about all the change is understandable during these formidable years.
There’s so much beauty and heartbreak and love in this book, that it overflowed and made me feel all the emotions that the characters themselves were feeling. I also loved the fact that there was such diversity in the book, not only with Hazel’s two new friends but also one of her moms (the one who is pregnant) is Black. Becca and her family are practicing Jews as well. It was so great to see that in this book, as well as the foundational ideas of an asexual character in the book. Bigelow never came out and actually used the word asexual to describe Hazel. It is hinted at throughout the book that Hazel is asexual and the author spells it out at the end with her author’s note.
Even though this is listed as a book for those between the ages of 8 and 12, I definitely would recommend it to anyone of any age.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Bullying
linesiunderline's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“There are so many good ways to be in this world.”
This beautiful message encapsulates a lot of what this book is all about. I haven’t read a Middle Grade novel that offers representation in so many ways, without it seeming at all effort full or done to check boxes. This is a book that will give many young readers a feeling of being seen in literature, perhaps for the first time, and that is so important. I hope teachers, librarians and booksellers find ways to get it into the hands of kids who need it most.
I haven’t ever read a book for children where miscarriage and it’s aftermath was so much a part of the story. It is presented in a nuanced, honest way. Perhaps this will be the first time many young readers will even think about this experience, and this book would be a sensitive introduction to this difficult topic.
Loved the family dynamic here, and also the friendships Hazel cultivates. They are complex and imperfect and loving and true.
Hazel is sometimes pretty aggravating, but I suppose that makes her a typical middle schooler. I did find she seemed young for eighth grade. She struck me more as a sixth grader. This would be more of a book to put in the hands of a mature fifth or sixth grader than the average eighth grader I think.
It’s a quiet read, so not all kids will find that appealing, but no book is made for all kids.
A lovely read about how change comes to our lives, whether we are ready or not, and growing through it.
This beautiful message encapsulates a lot of what this book is all about. I haven’t read a Middle Grade novel that offers representation in so many ways, without it seeming at all effort full or done to check boxes. This is a book that will give many young readers a feeling of being seen in literature, perhaps for the first time, and that is so important. I hope teachers, librarians and booksellers find ways to get it into the hands of kids who need it most.
I haven’t ever read a book for children where miscarriage and it’s aftermath was so much a part of the story. It is presented in a nuanced, honest way. Perhaps this will be the first time many young readers will even think about this experience, and this book would be a sensitive introduction to this difficult topic.
Loved the family dynamic here, and also the friendships Hazel cultivates. They are complex and imperfect and loving and true.
Hazel is sometimes pretty aggravating, but I suppose that makes her a typical middle schooler. I did find she seemed young for eighth grade. She struck me more as a sixth grader. This would be more of a book to put in the hands of a mature fifth or sixth grader than the average eighth grader I think.
It’s a quiet read, so not all kids will find that appealing, but no book is made for all kids.
A lovely read about how change comes to our lives, whether we are ready or not, and growing through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Vomit
sweekune's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
4.5/5
A wholesome and informative book. This middle grade book would be a great resource for learning about many things in an organic and interesting way.
The Good:
- A very diverse cast of characters: LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, disability, religious views. The author did a great job of making the character so varied yet not in a forced way.
- The discussions about miscarriage and pregnancy issues were brilliant. I am a midwife and anything that breaks down taboos about this subject is brilliant. Children should be exposed to the concepts and this book does this well.
- The trials of friendship as a kid/early teen really rang home.
- Grief is a central theme of this story and different characters process it differently.
- There are some parts of this book where adults impart wisdom to Hazel and honestly, I wish an adult in my life had said those things to me as a kid.
What could have been better?:
- Occasionally Hazel's attitude to life was really grating and brought me out of the story.
A brilliant book that would make an excellent addition to an older child's bookshelf.
A wholesome and informative book. This middle grade book would be a great resource for learning about many things in an organic and interesting way.
The Good:
- A very diverse cast of characters: LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, disability, religious views. The author did a great job of making the character so varied yet not in a forced way.
- The discussions about miscarriage and pregnancy issues were brilliant. I am a midwife and anything that breaks down taboos about this subject is brilliant. Children should be exposed to the concepts and this book does this well.
- The trials of friendship as a kid/early teen really rang home.
- Grief is a central theme of this story and different characters process it differently.
- There are some parts of this book where adults impart wisdom to Hazel and honestly, I wish an adult in my life had said those things to me as a kid.
What could have been better?:
- Occasionally Hazel's attitude to life was really grating and brought me out of the story.
A brilliant book that would make an excellent addition to an older child's bookshelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Bullying and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident and Suicidal thoughts
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