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eliza_k 's review for:
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World
by Ashley Herring Blake
I enjoyed this book but I am also conflicted.
The book itself was really good. It was an easy, light read that kept me reading the entire time and I really liked it overall! I think it taught some really important things to younger kids who might read it. I also liked how it didn't actually focus that much on romance or Ivy getting together with the person she likes.
Overall, it was a sweet middle grade book that was really enjoyable!
But.
There are parts of this book that revolve around Ivy talking with someone who leaves notes in her locker, after this same person stole her notebook. These notes mainly talked about Ivy being gay and a lot of them were 'encouraging' her to tell someone about it, whether it be her parents or her friend(s) or whoever. Even when Ivy was unsure, the notes kept insisting that she'd feel better, even telling her that this person would give her her notebook back if she told someone. That is blackmail, blackmailing someone into coming out, no less, which is NOT COOL. At all. Ivy should be able to come out when she feels like it and when she's ready and comfortable, not with someone insisting she come out right that second. Plus, this person also looked through Ivy's personal notebook when she didn't want anyone to do that?
I might have felt a little better if, once Ivy found out who it was, the issue was addressed and the person realized that they did something wrong, but they didn't.
However, it might be worth noting that the notes were not the reason that Ivy did eventually come out, I don't believe. It still doesn't make it much better.
The book itself was really good. It was an easy, light read that kept me reading the entire time and I really liked it overall! I think it taught some really important things to younger kids who might read it. I also liked how it didn't actually focus that much on romance or Ivy getting together with the person she likes.
Spoiler
Technically, it was unrequited love, but I think it was handled really well, and the plot of the story doesn't revolve around Ivy liking this person, so I actually think that the ending worked great.Overall, it was a sweet middle grade book that was really enjoyable!
But.
There are parts of this book that revolve around Ivy talking with someone who leaves notes in her locker, after this same person stole her notebook. These notes mainly talked about Ivy being gay and a lot of them were 'encouraging' her to tell someone about it, whether it be her parents or her friend(s) or whoever. Even when Ivy was unsure, the notes kept insisting that she'd feel better, even telling her that this person would give her her notebook back if she told someone. That is blackmail, blackmailing someone into coming out, no less, which is NOT COOL. At all. Ivy should be able to come out when she feels like it and when she's ready and comfortable, not with someone insisting she come out right that second. Plus, this person also looked through Ivy's personal notebook when she didn't want anyone to do that?
I might have felt a little better if, once Ivy found out who it was, the issue was addressed and the person realized that they did something wrong, but they didn't.
However, it might be worth noting that the notes were not the reason that Ivy did eventually come out, I don't believe. It still doesn't make it much better.