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adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
It's so amazing and I cried and I love it
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is a beautiful little book. At the outset it felt a bit like a lot of awards-fodder middle grade: an adult story cosplaying as a children's book, essentially. But Kyle Lukoff's experience working with kids, and his respect for them, definitely shines through. I thought the ghost story was a little less successful, though. I'll put my reasoning under a spoiler cut at the end.
Overall, I think this book would be totally embraced by a lot of kids in the older elementary school set, and the adult interactions are really great models for adult readers.
Overall, I think this book would be totally embraced by a lot of kids in the older elementary school set, and the adult interactions are really great models for adult readers.
Spoiler
I'm fine living in the grey area between "actual haunting" and "Bug processing his grief via fantasy" but I didn't love the idea of a relative (even a ghost one) pushing a kid to make declarations about their identity in a particular timeframe, and I definitely did not love the forced-ghost-haircut situation. I think it would have been perfectly reasonable for Bug to have a dream about cutting his hair with his uncle, and then doing it. That being said, a lot of the ghosty moments are really beautiful writing!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was truly a book of two halves for me. I really did not like the first half. There was a lack of plot or character direction that left me feeling bored and confused. But I was completely WON OVER by the second half. Bug's character development was what made it. They're coming to terms with their uncle's death, the gap this leaves in their home, and how to live this new life they have without them. At the same time Bug is trying to understand why they don't feel right in their own skin and struggling to do so because they lack the words and knowledge to describe it. All this is happening against the backdrop of Bug trying to figure out why a ghosts is interfering with their life and home, which propelled the narrative forward.
This book is so emotional and sad, centred on the incredibly moving concept of someone trying their hardest to reassure and encourage somebody they love. But it is also filled with trans joy and hope, which I adored. Instead of being focussed on transphobia (which is obviously still important to do, just not in ALL trans stories), the story is about love, self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-celebration.
This book is so emotional and sad, centred on the incredibly moving concept of someone trying their hardest to reassure and encourage somebody they love. But it is also filled with trans joy and hope, which I adored. Instead of being focussed on transphobia (which is obviously still important to do, just not in ALL trans stories), the story is about love, self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-celebration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Homophobia, Transphobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Major: loss of a loved one
Minor: pandemic, menstruation
dark
emotional
medium-paced
This was really good! I loved the layers of storytelling and genre here. It's not your average ghost story nor does it read like a typical middle grade coming-of-age.
Interesting perspective of parenting a trans kid and gender role enforcement of role models. I also love the re of kids who don't always know what's going on with their gender (not everyone knows from the moment they're conscious that they're trans/queer, sometimes it takes soul searching and education).
I really liked the narrator of this so I especially recommend it in that format if you like audiobooks.
Interesting perspective of parenting a trans kid and gender role enforcement of role models. I also love the re of kids who don't always know what's going on with their gender (not everyone knows from the moment they're conscious that they're trans/queer, sometimes it takes soul searching and education).
I really liked the narrator of this so I especially recommend it in that format if you like audiobooks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Dysphoria
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Deadnaming, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia, Blood, Car accident
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well, I initially checked this out because it was on a list of realistic fiction, but it felt like it was more paranormal (Idk if a book can be both?). I enjoyed the book, but at times the writing style was a bit dull. It was a nice story, and I'm sure it will help lots of people who are going through similar struggles of losing a loved one or realizing their transgender. I just wish parts of it had been written better (this is the third book I've read recently to mention From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler--do author's not read any other classical children's lit? because it is starting to feel like a cliche to mention it).