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christiana's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the representation in this one and loved Alex Gino being up front in the author's note about which of these communities mentioned in this book they are a part of and which ones they are not (and what they did to make sure those characters were done right on the page). Gino names that they are bringing yet another story that centers a white hearing main character and specifically says they appreciate Readers of Color and Deaf readers being patient as Gino brings a story aimed at white folks into the world.
Gino wrote this book consciously for white readers to learn about their privilege and how to support marginalized people in their lives and for that, I'm so glad this book is in the world. Ready to share this one widely! It has lots of good food for thought and I think it'd made a great discussion/book club book for kids.
Gino wrote this book consciously for white readers to learn about their privilege and how to support marginalized people in their lives and for that, I'm so glad this book is in the world. Ready to share this one widely! It has lots of good food for thought and I think it'd made a great discussion/book club book for kids.
Spoiler
I do need to know if Derek and Jilly become more than friends one day even though her crush on him kind of ends because I ship it so much but I understand that is a personal problem and not the problem of the book or the authorbickie's review against another edition
3.0
Jilly P, a white girl with cis hetero parents, learns about Deaf culture and how to be a respectful ally to both Deaf people and people of color, specifically Black people. For middle-graders who are confused about these issues and who might answer questions similar to those Jilly asks herself, this book is a nice place to start. Great to see Deaf characters drawn thoughtfully, even though by a hearing author. Some readers may be confused about what was so racist about Jilly's mom's family, even though Jilly asks her mom's sister's wife, Aunt Alicia, who is Black and has two Black children from a previous marriage. Some older readers might find the tone a bit preachy; however, the message is to be respectful and inclusive toward others, not rely on stereotypes, and realize that "you don't know everything" - ask questions and try hard.
NOTE: One group this book seems to exclude is the ever-growing group of kids who are allergic to peanuts. Getting parents to understand that sending their kids in to school with a peanut-butter sandwich can result in their classmate's deaths is a very difficult challenge for many schools; it's unfortunate that this book perpetuates the PB&J as a normal, all-American food. At least Jilly P. seems to enjoy it only at home.
NOTE: One group this book seems to exclude is the ever-growing group of kids who are allergic to peanuts. Getting parents to understand that sending their kids in to school with a peanut-butter sandwich can result in their classmate's deaths is a very difficult challenge for many schools; it's unfortunate that this book perpetuates the PB&J as a normal, all-American food. At least Jilly P. seems to enjoy it only at home.
4saradouglas's review against another edition
3.0
I stopped halfway through... It was really just bugging me. I thought George was pretty well done, but as far as I know, Alex Gino is not black or deaf, and I thought it showed. Now that we have so many #ownvoices books coming out (or at least more than we had before), I don't really want to spend my time reading books where a person tries to write as someone from a different race. I'll instead purchase and read a book written about and by a person of that race.
jnwunder's review against another edition
3.0
Too much preaching a message for the sake of it rather than the plot (but then again, that might just be middle grade). But this is the only middle grade book I've ever seen about Deafness portrayed realistically and pro-ASL so props there. I wish it focused more on Deaf characters but...
morganrondo's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really great read. I rarely say this, but I wish there had been 100 or so more pages. Some parts felt rushed, and I generally wanted more. What a great book for children and readers of all ages!
emmalen3's review against another edition
4.0
I think Alex Gino’s author’s note offers beautiful insight and context into how they wove this story. I highly recommend reading their words before getting into the book itself. As a grade 6 teacher, this book hits a sweet spot where challenging topics are discussed in a way that makes concepts approachable but still honours the impact of violence and micro-aggressions in our world. I think Jilly was a great character who owned up to her mistakes and took action in ways that felt quite honest. This has themes that feel similar to many of the stunning novels about gun violence and racism in our world, but are geared towards a younger reader.
I found some moments to be a little silly or unrealistic and am sometimes put off by such obvious descriptions of characters’ appearances (ie. She had creamy white skin and blonde hair parted down the middle- find another way to tell me this! We work on avoiding this during writing!), but those things are so small in comparison to the learning that can take place for a reader in this book.
I found some moments to be a little silly or unrealistic and am sometimes put off by such obvious descriptions of characters’ appearances (ie. She had creamy white skin and blonde hair parted down the middle- find another way to tell me this! We work on avoiding this during writing!), but those things are so small in comparison to the learning that can take place for a reader in this book.
leyendoentremontanias's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
Great middle grade, ideal for starting conversations about racism and ableism with the younger ones.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Child death, Ableism, and Racism
eggbytes's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racism, Gun violence, and Police brutality
quefelicia's review against another edition
4.0
Yes, it’s a bit preachy. No, the plot and dialogue aren’t groundbreaking. But the messages are so important, and Jilly is such a genuine character to tackle them with. I really appreciated how Gino embraced the discomfort and messy reality of confronting one’s privilege. Jilly made so many mistakes, but she owned them and learned from them. Even after apologizing and resolving conflicts, she is still left feeling “icky,” an all too real and sometimes newly familiar feeling to tweens and teens. This title will do especially well with young middle schoolers.