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Too Bright to See
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
22 posts | 20 read | 6 to read
A haunting ghost story about navigating grief, growing up, and growing into a new gender identity It's the summer before middle school and eleven-year-old Bug's best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. For Moira, this means figuring out the right clothes to wear, learning how to put on makeup, and deciding which boys are cuter in their yearbook photos than in real life. But none of this is all that appealing to Bug, who doesn't particularly want to spend more time trying to understand how to be a girl. Besides, there's something more important to worry about: A ghost is 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--Bug is transgender.
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review
Bookish_Gal
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Pickpick

This is a beautiful book about grief and loss. About a kid trying to make sense of the world without a family member who, now, appears to be haunting their family house. Manifesting ghosts through said grief allows Bug to figure what the Uncle needed to say as he prepares to pass. The result makes sense through the subtle hints.
Picked up because it‘s cause controversy as my library‘s new book clubs first choice.
#lgbtq

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Bookzombie
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Pickpick

I loved Lukoff‘s children‘s book, Call Me Max, so it‘s no surprise that I loved this middle grade book as well. I cried for the last 40 pages or so. It makes me sad that The NY Times review on the back is probably correct on the book being banned.

TheBookHippie I loved this book so much. I was 😭😭😭 as well. 9mo
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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steph_phanie
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Bug's summer is off to a bad start. Uncle Roderick passed away, mom can't afford camp, and best-friend Moira is pushing makeovers & manicures, which Bug doesn't like. Plus, Bug's house is haunted by a new ghost. Is Uncle Roderick trying to pass along a message? And if so, what does it have to do with Bug?

This middle-grade story is about figuring out who you are, at an age when everyone is trying to do the same. It's full of love & hope.

steph_phanie Continued: I had trouble with the ghost story aspect of the novel (perhaps because I'm not the target age!), which kept my star count low, but the rest of it was so so lovely. The family and friendship relationships feel real, and the way 11yo Bug tries to alleviate mom's stress by pretending to be unbothered and okay with so much is heartbreaking yet relatable. I guarantee you can relate to someone in this story, even if it isn't Bug. 9mo
5 likes1 comment
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Branwen
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Today was day one of a library conference for work! It's in Ann Arbor, which is a bookish city I have never been to before! 💕📚 The featured speaker today was Kyle Lukoff - a really awesome trans author who writes picture books and middle grade books!

TrishB Sounds fab! 12mo
Branwen @TrishB I just finished the tagged book and it was incredible! 💕📚 12mo
39 likes2 comments
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IndoorDame
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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#TransRightsReadathon Book 7

Engrossing and affirming. I cried happy tears!

#transrightsmatter #transrightsarehumanrights #middlegrademarch

IndoorDame The ghost story aspect of this was fun, but for me the magic of this novel was that it challenges the prevailing narrative of trans kids knowing who they are from incredibly early ages. I think it will be vitally important to the next generation of children to see a multiplicity of perspectives on discovering one‘s own gender identity.
12mo
TheBookHippie Seriously it‘s so good. 12mo
IndoorDame @TheBookHippie I want to see this one in every middle school library!!! 12mo
See All 10 Comments
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame I agree. Going to try to do that here 👀. 12mo
IndoorDame @TheBookHippie awesome! Thank you 🙏 I hope you don‘t hit any unpleasant stumbling blocks 12mo
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame HA. Yes. I expect it. Thankfully I‘m at the point that the students I mentor in reading benchmark, and didn‘t benchmark before -so when I put a book in the library, they just write Miss Christine recommends… and kids pick it up. The peeps that would protest the book won‘t read it just because I am associated with it.. that weird liberal reading lady.. 👀🙄😵‍💫 12mo
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame also I PAY and donate it. I didn‘t use their previous tax money. It‘s a loop hole that‘s worked thus far. 12mo
IndoorDame @TheBookHippie haha I wish we could install a weird liberal reading lady in every school! 12mo
TheBookHippie @IndoorDame I‘ve been told that. I‘m in title one schools so I don‘t generally have too many issues. I did do one classroom at the public Montessori school, but it was way too problematic and I gave it up. 12mo
IndoorDame @TheBookHippie that‘s sad. But you can‘t be everywhere and the title one schools need you more, so maybe it‘s for the best… 12mo
55 likes10 comments
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TheBookHippie
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Too Bright to See is a middle grade ghost novel written by Kyle Lukoff and published on April 20, 2021, by Dial Books. It tells the story of Bug, a transgender boy who lives in a haunted house, as he tries to understand a message a ghost is trying to send him. Love it!

#transrightsreadathon “tween” book 🏳️‍⚧️

Follow the hashtag to see all the posts here.

53 likes4 stack adds
blurb
maggiedesantis
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff

A story about two friends, Bug and Moria, during their summer before middle school. Moria decides that they should use the summer to prepare. None of this is very appealing to Bug, who doesn't want to spend more time trying to understand how to be a girl. Also, there's a ghost haunting Bug's house and maybe just Bug.

maggiedesantis As Bug begins to solve the mystery of who the ghost is and what they're trying to say, an altogether different truth comes to light - Bug is transgender.
Awards won: Stonewall Book Award
Purpose of Award: Presented to English language books that have exceptional merit reading to the LGBTQIA+ experience
Author/Illustrator: Kyle Lukoff
Date of publication: 2021
Genre: Fiction
1y
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Katies_always_booked
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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I love finding the line or quote that inspired the title!

New*ish* middle grade paranormal mystery, with a tasteful LQBTQ aspect. Recommend!

slategreyskies I love that too! :) 1y
6 likes1 comment
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BucklingBookshelves
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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I‘m going to need to circle back you our last book, but my hold on our final 2022 Newbery #buddyread came in and it‘s short! Shall we try to read it this month @smilingshelves ? Hopefully I‘ll do better at this one, but I feel like we could do our own pace again and chat later if anything interesting comes up. I‘m definitely flagging a bit going into these last two this year! 😆🤷🏼‍♀️📚

smilingshelves So I actually grabbed this off the new shelf last time I was at the library and read it last week. I wanted to make sure I got it in in August! 😄 It is a really quick read, so go ahead and read it and we can chat whenever you're done. 2y
BucklingBookshelves @smilingshelves I started yesterday after I finished my current book and saw your message and probably will finish soon. Definitely a quick read. It “counts” for a category on my adult summer reading challenge at my library, so that‘s a bonus! Maybe I‘ll manage to get back to the other one after 😆 (edited) 2y
5 likes2 comments
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GirlNamedJesse
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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What a wonderfully sadhappycreepydelightful coming-of-age story! I adored the ghost story aspect and how a character who had died before the book began had such a hand in guiding Bug‘s self-realization. I‘ve never read anything quite like this before; I‘ll definitely be watching for future books by Kyle Lukoff!

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LaurenMags
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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An amazing middle grade novel! I don't want to say much because I don't want to give anything away but it is about a child called Bug getting ready to enter middle school that lives in a haunted house and her uncle has just passed away. Definitely a perfect choice for pride month!

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Eggs
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Day 9: Finished You‘ve Reached Sam, and Too Bright to See. 13 books total

#AwesomeApril #Readathon @Andrew65

Gissy Wow! 🤩 impressive! I read two😳☺️ 2y
Eggs Thanks @Gissy 🙏🏻 My count is high bc: audiobooks 2y
57 likes2 comments
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Nebklvr
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Bug knows about ghosts. When Uncle Roderick dies, many things come to a head. Grief, money problems, increased ghost activity, and looming middle-grade. This book covers so many issues and does so in a pretty saccharine way. It is a fairy-tale version of finding yourself (Disney, not Grimm). However, it is sometimes nice to read sweet fairy-tales. They can offer us hope for a gentler world.

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kissmehardy
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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I get why this book won the Newbery Honor. Bug's journey and emotions are all painfully real, and I loved the ghost story aspect. I also loved that Bug's whole network was supportive! #mglit #childrenslit

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kathytrithardt
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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My next audiobook is about a haunted house...

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BookInMyHands
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Bug is grieving Uncle Roderick, who has been as close as a parent. Grieving and getting ready for 7th grade and a new school leaves Bug feeling pressure to figure out who Bug is, or wants to be.

Bug‘s house has something to say about it too. Bug has always known the house is haunted, but none of the ghosts have been interested in communicating, until now…

Inspiring and heartwarming - all the 😭 😍
#LGBTQ #ownvoices #middlegrade

42 likes2 stack adds
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BookishTrish
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Super loved this big-hearted listen about a kid dealing with grief, being haunted, and discovering who they are.

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TracyReadsBooks
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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This middle grade book packs a lot into its 192 pages & does so with hope, compassion, & empathy. It the summer before middle school & Bug feels adrift. Her uncle & best friend passes away, Bug‘s only other friend discovers boys & makeup & clothes which interest Bug not at all. Worst of all? Bug is being haunted by a ghost that really wants her attention. A remarkable story about grief & gender identity.

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TracyReadsBooks
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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Reading outside on the patio before it gets too hot…

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ShansMousey
Too Bright to See | Kyle Lukoff
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After the death of a beloved uncle, Bug is certain he's still haunting the house. Not only that but Bug's pretty sure that Uncle Roderick is trying to leave Bug a message from beyond the grave.... I can't really say much more without spoiling this story, but for those looking for some positive LGBTQ+ rep this is a great one to check out! Add it to your Pride display this year. It'll make a great addition!