A review by katymul
Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-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

Part of me wants to write about what an important book this is. How it walks the reader through big issues in a safe but informative way and, even more importantly, how it depicts families, friends, and classmates having difficult and necessary conversations and conflicts in ultimately healthy ways. I am terrified, however, of implying that this book is no fun. It's tremendous fun!

You will fall in love with the characters quickly and then watch them deal with complicated realities. You'll watch them act out and give one another grace and force themselves into new shapes to help one another. But you'll also just love being around them.

I found it specifically triggering not for any of the most important storylines but for the depiction of an Outwardly Progressive school folding immediately under parental pressure when asked to actually stick their neck out for their students. That part was so honestly rendered that I processed a lot of things from my time working at a private school. Mine was more outwardly conservative but the same rhetoric and situations played out in heartbreaking ways on my campus, and I wish I had had this book then to help me see it and give words to much of it. I appreciate that the resolution was not tidy or Hollywood-happy.

I believe many different communities and identities will have a similar relationship with this book -- the entertaining yet gentle way that the various situations are portrayed leaves so much room for healing without sacrificing the dire realities the book reflects.