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emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Excellent. Deserving of the Newbery and Stonewall honor. Loved how spooky it was with the haunting and how relatable and real the journey of the protagonist was. Honest and thought provoking.
Excellent. Deserving of the Newbery and Stonewall honor. Loved how spooky it was with the haunting and how relatable and real the journey of the protagonist was. Honest and thought provoking.
I am obviously not the book's target audience, but I appreciated it nonetheless. It does a good job of holding the (mostly young) hand of the reader and guiding them toward a more compassionate view of trans and gay people. It doesn't transcend into PSA territory, but the plot is not incredibly structured or visible. It is a little experimental with the motif of ghosts but is mostly just a sweet, simple kids book.
This was the most accurate coming of age story for a tween/teen I have ever read. Believe it or not I picked it up for the ghost story but I’m so glad I did. Where I can’t exactly say I love been in Bug’s shoes, I can say I remember that feeling. Middle school is a wild time and can be scary, but then you layer everything else Bug is dealing with and just wow. This is one of those books I think everyone should read. We will either know kids like Bug, have kids like Bug, or once we’re kids like Bug.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
"It's hard to be yourself before you know who that is."
"Too Bright to See" by Kyle Lukoff is about a kid transitioning between elementary and middle school who's being haunted by the ghost of their dead uncle into figuring out something important about themselves.
Without giving too much of the plot away I'll just say, Lukoff tackles sensitive topics with grace and great consideration. His exploration of identity, grief, and the complexities of human relationships is handled with such care that is perfect for upper elementary and middle grade readers (and those of us who are older as well).
I absolutely adored the MC, Bug, and the journey of discovery that occurs over the course of this story. Preparing for middle school is a daunting time in every child's life, but Bug has an incredible mom, friends (both old and new), and a recently-deceased "ghostly" uncle showing unending support and love.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated