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Beautiful little ghost story about grief, loss, childhood, self-acceptance, self-love, and finding yourself amidst the chaos. Left me feeling very warm and seen in some way, though my experience is very different. Much of what Bug went through resonated with me deeply and I think could help people with different experiences empathize a little better.
Great story, quick read, highly recommend.
Great story, quick read, highly recommend.
Newly awarded MG book. Quick read (or listen, as was the case for me-4 hours).
What I liked: the creepy ghost aspect of the story will appeal to kids and totally engulf them right away. The way that Bug didn't recognize the person looking back at them tied into the ghost story nicely. The relationships Bug has with their mom and friends-supportive and affirming.
What I questioned: the nice, neat way in which the school and kids accepted Bug's life decision. Life and people are messy, and I have seen firsthand how a school community crumbled when this very same issue was brought forth.
Kids should have books represent them..without a doubt I believe this in every part of my fiber. I do think we do a disservice to them trying to learn about the world when we put on only rose-colored glasses and present only positive outcomes of such a challenging life decision.
What I liked: the creepy ghost aspect of the story will appeal to kids and totally engulf them right away. The way that Bug didn't recognize the person looking back at them tied into the ghost story nicely. The relationships Bug has with their mom and friends-supportive and affirming.
What I questioned: the nice, neat way in which the school and kids accepted Bug's life decision. Life and people are messy, and I have seen firsthand how a school community crumbled when this very same issue was brought forth.
Kids should have books represent them..without a doubt I believe this in every part of my fiber. I do think we do a disservice to them trying to learn about the world when we put on only rose-colored glasses and present only positive outcomes of such a challenging life decision.
This book has likeable characters and does a good job of taking readers through Bug's thought process as Bug comes to terms with his gender identity. I thought the characters were likeable and I love how accepting they were of Bug. This book covers some heavy topics with the grief that Bug and his mom feel after his uncle passes away.
2022 Popsugar reading challenge #37 A book about gender identity
2022 Popsugar reading challenge #37 A book about gender identity
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via Net Galley.
Not a boring coming of age story. Bug has grown up with mom and uncle in a house that has ghosts. Bug's uncle dies at a young age. Soon after, Bug is being haunted by a ghost. Bug's best friend Moira does not like ghosts, and Bug also does not want to worry Mom, so Bug tries to figure out who the ghost is, and what the ghost wants. This all happens the summer before middle school. While navigating the haunting and greif, Bug is also faced with the changing landscape of their friendship with Moira. Moira, increasingly more interested in dresses, boys, hair and makeup, wants to help Bug with this changing their image before school starts. However, these changes leave Bug with dread and a knotted stomach. Not a spoiler-- Bug figures out they are actually a transgender
I love the mixture of all of these elements. Kyle Lukoff did a great job of melding them all together without making the story feel messy, disjointed or overwhelming.
Not a boring coming of age story. Bug has grown up with mom and uncle in a house that has ghosts. Bug's uncle dies at a young age. Soon after, Bug is being haunted by a ghost. Bug's best friend Moira does not like ghosts, and Bug also does not want to worry Mom, so Bug tries to figure out who the ghost is, and what the ghost wants. This all happens the summer before middle school. While navigating the haunting and greif, Bug is also faced with the changing landscape of their friendship with Moira. Moira, increasingly more interested in dresses, boys, hair and makeup, wants to help Bug with this changing their image before school starts. However, these changes leave Bug with dread and a knotted stomach. Not a spoiler-- Bug figures out they are actually a transgender
I love the mixture of all of these elements. Kyle Lukoff did a great job of melding them all together without making the story feel messy, disjointed or overwhelming.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I received this free from the publisher as a banned book but with no request to review the book.
I liked this book a lot. It has the feel of a book that I would have loved reading when I was young. It is a ghost story, a story about grieving one's uncle, and about gender discovery and the stresses of moving into middle school. It's also a hopeful book which dreams of a world where kids are supported by those around them and can use the bathroom without fear of being harassed.
My grown daughter read the book and found the scene where Bug's friends try to get (them) to wear makeup to be highly accurate and found similar events in her childhood to be distressing. Surprise, both cis girls and trans boys can be irritated by the same attempts to police their gender expression. This daughter did not share other experiences, like feeling that mirrors were strange and upsetting. I feel that this is all a waste of breath as support for gender nonconforming kids typically comes up only in opposition to trans folk, and evaporates as soon as that's not being discussed.
I liked this book a lot. It has the feel of a book that I would have loved reading when I was young. It is a ghost story, a story about grieving one's uncle, and about gender discovery and the stresses of moving into middle school. It's also a hopeful book which dreams of a world where kids are supported by those around them and can use the bathroom without fear of being harassed.
My grown daughter read the book and found the scene where Bug's friends try to get (them) to wear makeup to be highly accurate and found similar events in her childhood to be distressing. Surprise, both cis girls and trans boys can be irritated by the same attempts to police their gender expression. This daughter did not share other experiences, like feeling that mirrors were strange and upsetting. I feel that this is all a waste of breath as support for gender nonconforming kids typically comes up only in opposition to trans folk, and evaporates as soon as that's not being discussed.
Understand why this has been raved about. Love that in addition to LGTBTQ+ I could easily just hand this to kids wanting a good ghost story.
I picked it up for the ghost story but.....
This is my pick for Newbery 2022. I love this book so much. The unique voice and sensitive depiction of exploring/discovery your identity and navigating transition (not physically but the more important emotionally and mentally) resonated with personal experience. A story that shows wide acceptance of queer identities in a real world, completely believable setting is refreshing, necessary, and life-saving.
This is my pick for Newbery 2022. I love this book so much. The unique voice and sensitive depiction of exploring/discovery your identity and navigating transition (not physically but the more important emotionally and mentally) resonated with personal experience. A story that shows wide acceptance of queer identities in a real world, completely believable setting is refreshing, necessary, and life-saving.
Okay okay wow the tears they are there this book is perfect my little grief struck trans self is so healed
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No