Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - La Carta de Ivy Aberdeen Al Mundo

You know, it's a special kind of author who can write for multiple audiences. Blake nailed the voice in this book; Ivy is struggling with her identity, struggling with figuring out her new places in her family, and now a tornado took away their home. This book is full of emotion, full of heart, and just a great message to middle grade readers to be themselves.

There are so many sweet moments throughout this book, especially as Ivy figures out how to advocate for herself. Plus, middle grade readers need to see these kinds of stories, the kinds of stories that people are trying to ban. I'm so happy that these stories exist because we need them!

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piphux's review against another edition

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3.5

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danileah07's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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enchantressreads's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a book I needed when I was younger.

Ivy Aberdeen is the middle child of her family; she has an older sister, and new twin brothers. She sometimes feels that she's left out, and turns to art for comfort. When she starts drawing herself with girls, sometimes holding hands, she's not sure what's happening, only that she wants it to happen in real life.

A tornado sweeps through her small Georgia town and demolishes her family's home, along with everything she's taken comfort in, except for her one journal. She keeps it in her pillow case as she and her family are escorted to the elementary school for shelter. Until, that is, her journal goes missing.

Ivy must then navigate the difficult process of living in a hotel with her family, being the middle child, while also now battling with her new feelings, along with her missing journal.

This book is a sad book, but it's also a feel-good book. It's all about the journey of self-exploration. It's about navigating the confusing world as a pre-teen, looking for guidance and unsure how to communicate your needs. Ivy grows in this book--not just age wise (she turns thirteen!), but emotionally. While reading Ivy losing her house was heart-wrenching, I loved seeing her turn into her true self.

I recommend this book to not only middle grade readers, but everyone in between. LGBTQIA+ readers of all ages will love this book. Parents of LGBTQIA+ kids will love this book. Any sexuality young child will love this book, because it's not only about exploring sexuality, but exploring who you are as a person in general.

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lovelyannalee's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

My hopes weren’t high for this novel in the first place, but Blake really managed to make this book completely and disappointingly … not good.

First off, it feels like Keeper was trying to blackmail Ivy into coming out and it just felt super weird that Ivy was totally fine with confessing all her feelings to this mysterious notebook thief??

Second, all the parents were terrible. Ivy’s parents are negligent, Taryn’s mom lets her play with tarot cards, and June walks all over her mother. Whatever, I know I’m an old person, but do these parents not know what discipline is?

But more than that,

Ivy’s parents literally just ship her off to Taryn’s house because she’s … what? Annoying? In the way? I don’t understand how anyone could abandon their child after such a devastating loss and think it’s totally fine??

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