3.5 stars

Rick is a quick, sweet, and relevant book; however, I didn’t enjoy it as much as George. There was something missing, though I can’t quite pinpoint what.

I liked Rick. I loved the Rainbow Spectrum, a Pride club at Rick’s middle school. My favorite parts of the story were Rick hanging out with Grandpa Ray, seeing Melissa and Kelly again, and Rick calling Jeff out. Three very different yet equally good things.

One last thing I’ll say is that some of the discussions in Rainbow Spectrum felt redundant, as I already knew most of the information. Although, take that with a grain of salt, as I’m definitely older than the book’s intended audience. I’ve also been out and learning for years now, with numerous resources available to me. For elementary and middle school students and anyone unaware of the community, this would be a win-win—valuable information in a wholesome story.

Alex Gino’s books have been hit-or-miss for me personally, but I’d recommend both Rick and George. :)

CW: homophobia