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A few pages into this book: Okay Bug doesn’t like girlie things and is going to learn that it’s okay to not like girlie things. Meh but I’ll finish it anyway.
After the dress scene: ARFKM no, no, no, no! Don’t dim this kid’s sparkle! Also what is up with these ghosts?
After the surprise party *crying happy tears*: that was exactly what I was expecting from pretty early on but it’s still so heartwarming to see.
My only concern is that everything goes a little too smoothly as Bug starts middle school but that’s MG fiction for you.
After the dress scene: ARFKM no, no, no, no! Don’t dim this kid’s sparkle! Also what is up with these ghosts?
After the surprise party *crying happy tears*: that was exactly what I was expecting from pretty early on but it’s still so heartwarming to see.
My only concern is that everything goes a little too smoothly as Bug starts middle school but that’s MG fiction for you.
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Too Bright To See by Kyle Lukoff is a hauntingly beautiful story about identity.
It's the summer before middle school and 11-year-old Bug's best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. But Bug isn’t worried about all that when there is a ghost haunting Bug's eerie old house in rural Vermont... and maybe haunting Bug in particular. As Bug begins to untangle the mystery of who this ghost is and what they're trying to say, an altogether different truth comes to light.
It’s hard to find the perfect words to say without giving too much away. This book is about a journey of self discovery and acceptance, and it was so beautiful being on that journey with Bug. I absolutely loved the supernatural elements and how they aided the story.
CW: grief, death of a loved one, terminal illness
It's the summer before middle school and 11-year-old Bug's best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. But Bug isn’t worried about all that when there is a ghost haunting Bug's eerie old house in rural Vermont... and maybe haunting Bug in particular. As Bug begins to untangle the mystery of who this ghost is and what they're trying to say, an altogether different truth comes to light.
It’s hard to find the perfect words to say without giving too much away. This book is about a journey of self discovery and acceptance, and it was so beautiful being on that journey with Bug. I absolutely loved the supernatural elements and how they aided the story.
CW: grief, death of a loved one, terminal illness
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Print book & ebook.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Dysphoria
Minor: Death, Terminal illness
(NBA longlist YPL nominee)
This was sweet, and I sure did love Bug (and Moira and Griffin). It did feel a little unevenly paced (the last 20% or so covering a lot of ground the rest of the book didn't). And maybe a little imbalanced in the way that YA books sometimes just are - like it's hard to forget a kid is being written by an adult.
But, again, sweet and I'm so glad books like this will be lined on library shelves for kids to find.
And turns out I enjoy the vibe of this type of "old haunted house in the Vermont woods" story.
(I do admit that I worried more about Bug's mom's financial issues than any of the ghosts for most of the book. I am almost 40 after all.)
This was sweet, and I sure did love Bug (and Moira and Griffin). It did feel a little unevenly paced (the last 20% or so covering a lot of ground the rest of the book didn't). And maybe a little imbalanced in the way that YA books sometimes just are - like it's hard to forget a kid is being written by an adult.
But, again, sweet and I'm so glad books like this will be lined on library shelves for kids to find.
And turns out I enjoy the vibe of this type of "old haunted house in the Vermont woods" story.
(I do admit that I worried more about Bug's mom's financial issues than any of the ghosts for most of the book. I am almost 40 after all.)