Mixed feelings about this one. Content Warnings: grief, death of a loved one, gender dysphoria

Pros: definitely well-written, and Bug's voice feels like an authentic tween voice. All the characters are positive and supportive of each other - families, friends, all them. It's a story that will resonate with tweens feeling uncomfortable in their skin, trying to figure out who they are, making friends. It does a good job of depicting the grieving process of losing a loved one. The supernatural/ghost aspect isn't too weird or creepy. Affirming of LGBTQ characters.

Cons: spoiler: for most of the story, Bug feels very uncomfortable in her own skin - doesn't recognize her own reflection in the mirror, doesn't feel like she fits in with the other girls in her class who love make-up and fashion. At the end of the story, Bug comes out as transgender. Although it's likely that kids feeling gender dysphoria will recognize how Bug feels, I think it is also true that many other tween girls will recognize this feeling too. It's a relatively universal feeling to be uncomfortable in your skin when you're starting puberty, not recognizing your body as it changes, feeling like you don't fit in if you're not a "girly girl". This story has such a quick and simple resolution - Bug wakes up with a mysteriously shaved head, looks in a mirror, and sees himself as a boy. I spend a lot of time around middle schoolers, and there are MANY girls who aren't interested in make-up, fashion, or romance. I feel like this story could send the message of "Well, you must not actually be a girl then! Identify as a boy and you'll feel so much better!" rather than actually being inclusive of girls who just aren't what our culture labels as "girly". Gender dysphoria is real and complicated, and treating gender dysphoria/coming out as trans is also complicated. I realize this book is geared for middle grade students, so it simplifies that experience a bit and is meant to just give kids an understanding of what it means to be transgender, but it comes across as a quick, easy solution for Bug. (An entire middle school being instantly supportive of a classmate coming out? Unfortunately, bullying is a very real issue that most LGBTQ students will experience in one way or another. Bug's experience feels too good to be true in today's divided world) I think books where LGBTQ kids feel like they can be seen and appreciated are important, but his transition in this story just felt a little too simplified/easy to seem authentic. Other side note: the ghost of Bug's beloved uncle communicates to him through a Ouija board. I think these are creepy and dangerous, and shouldn't be introduced to pre-teen kids as just a normal pastime or easy to way to communicate with spirits. Yikes.