This was such a beautiful story about the struggles of figuring out who you are. I think it is great for showing that even though you know yourself best sometimes it can be so easy to not allow yourself the labels because you don't fit a box perfectly. I love that this book is available for young kids these days. I wish I had books like this when I was a kid. So important for visibility. 

“but we all loved each other, and there’s nothing that you can’t do if you love someone.”

THIS BOOK 😭😭😭😭

it took me a sec to get into, it was a little slow moving in the beginning, but then it so quickly turned around and so many things were happening and my heart was so full and it was emotional and warmfuzzy and beautiful 😭

as Kyle says at the back of the book, when someone asks how to describe it, it’s about a kid being haunted by the ghost of their dead uncle into figuring out something important! which is a fabulous way to describe it.

seeing Bug so uncertain made my heart ache but then seeing Bug start to figure things out about life and identity and self expression and love and family made my heart SOAR. i was actually talking out loud to the book as Bug was making different discoveries and i teared up and was giggling and kicking my feet and it was just perfect.

such a heartwarming, beautiful, emotional, vulnerable story 🤍🤍🤍

 Most people tend to have a moment, a person, an experience…something that helped them on their journey of discovering their identity as a queer/trans* person. Sometimes it’s lots of individual pieces that eventually come together and reveal something to you that you hadn’t seen before. Sometimes it’s more of a light bulb moment when everything just suddenly makes sense in a way it hadn’t before. In Bug’s case, that help came in the most unexpected of ways - through the paranormal. 

Bug’s house had always been haunted. But suddenly, following the death of Bug’s beloved uncle, new things begin happening. And they all seem focused on Bug. And while Bug’s best friend Moira is focused on preparing for middle school, make-up, shopping, boys, and other things that Bug has no interest in…Bug is focused on figuring out what message Uncle Roderick is trying to send. I don’t want to say a lot about the story details because it’s hard not to do it without spoilers. I want other readers to be able to experience the journey alongside Bug, so I’ll keep my review to general thoughts and my reaction/feelings.

There are two main themes woven through this story - grief and identity. The loss of Roderick hit hard on their family. Especially Bug’s mom, but also on Bug. Throughout the story you get little snippets of the past and you learn more about Roderick and Bug’s relationship. And as Bug begins to put together all the pieces of the past with all the coded messages from Roderick’s ghost, new questions arise that send Bug on two distinct yet connected journeys: to find out what Roderick is trying to tell them and to figure out who the real Bug is. It’s a story about friendship, growing up, and finding yourself with a fun cozy mystery/paranormal twist that ultimately leads to a beautiful story about trans* joy. And it’s a reminder that even when you grow up in a supportive and progressive family, it can still be hard to find the answers you need and share your truth. Because being vulnerable like that is always a little scary, even when there aren’t ghosts involved.

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Trans MC, Gay uncle (SC)

📝Genre/Themes: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Paranormal, Coming of Age, Coming Out, Small Town Vermont, Single Parent, Friendship