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GirlNamedJesse
Teenage Dirtbags | James Acker
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I received a copy of Teenage Dirtbags by James Acker for consideration for the award committee I‘m on (Great Lakes Great Books). I legit yelled when I saw it in the box. I LOVED The Long Run and I am so excited to jump into this! Thanks Inkyard! #greatlakesgreatbooks #awardcommittee

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GirlNamedJesse
Flamer | Mike Curato
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Jarrett J. Krosoczka said “this book will save lives” and I really think that says it best. What a phenomenal resource for teens and other readers who are experiencing extreme bullying and harassment, and contemplating self-harm or suicide. My heart hurts for the character of Aiden and for the author who had these experiences to base the book on.

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GirlNamedJesse
Ghost Roast | Shawne Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs
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After Chelsea is forced to spend the summer working for her father‘s cringy paranormal hunting office she discovers she can actually see ghosts! Suddenly, days spent at the old Harrington plantation are much more enjoyable, especially when she visits with Oliver, a mysterious teen ghost on the property. Solving the mystery of Oliver‘s identity while finding her own way of dealing with the dead make for a busy summer for Chelsea! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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GirlNamedJesse
The In-Between | Katie Van Heidrich
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I felt very nostalgic finding all the early 2000s Easter eggs in this memoir in verse. I had to break out my middle school cd collection to re-listen to some Brandy, Christina, and Alicia Keys. Life is messy and Katie is stuck in the middle of it. I enjoyed this slice of life a lot. It took a while to finish, but I think that was more my head space than the book itself.

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GirlNamedJesse
Elf Dog and Owl Head | M. T. Anderson
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I adore this book! It is weird and inventive and relatable and did I mention weird? There is an absolutely perfect passage (pictured), a tiny bit of eeriness, and ✨ m a g i c ✨.

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GirlNamedJesse
Fence: Redemption | C.S. Pacat
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This is my favorite volume so far! So much happened! Seiji and Nicholas‘ “appointment” was my favorite (lol), though meeting Jesse was amazing, the fencing was fun, and Aiden being the one pining over Harvard for a change was refreshing. I need to know what happens next!! 🤺 ⚔️

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GirlNamedJesse
Buzzing (A Graphic Novel) | Samuel Sattin, Rye Hickman
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I was not expecting the TTRPGs in this story of a kiddo with OCD. I wish the nerdiness was more apparent from the start; I think I would‘ve been drawn in faster. I liked the hinted romance, sibling growth, and embracing the weird!

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GirlNamedJesse
Celestial Monsters | Aiden Thomas
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I am checking Edelweiss EVERY DAY to see if I can request an arc yet! Aiden Thomas is my absolute favorite author of YA and I cannot wait to finish Teo‘s story!!!!! 😍😍😍

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GirlNamedJesse
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Pickpick

Ah, middle school. You couldn‘t pay me to go back. I do find it funny that in seventh grade I coveted the glasses another girl had, while Rex is doing everything in his power to avoid his. 😂

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GirlNamedJesse
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The best way to ring in any year: with Heartstopper! I really loved the growth Nick and Charlie (and many other characters) experienced in this volume. There‘s so much coming into yourself and figuring out who you are as a person that happens as a teenager and it‘s delightful to see it happen for two of my favorites. I love these characters so, so much. ❤️

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GirlNamedJesse
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Pickpick

Kelly Barnhill writes the most magical stories! This one felt a little too real sometimes (for me, as an adult living through eerily similar times), but it is all the better for it! The message is beautiful, timely, and timeless: be kind.

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GirlNamedJesse
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Weird, magical, eerie, and strange. I went in with an open mind, and was still taken aback by this sequence of events. An incredibly unique idea that didn‘t end how I wanted it to! lol Still, this idea will keep me up at night….wondering.

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GirlNamedJesse
Squire | Nadia Shammas, Sara Alfageeh
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WHY did I wait so long to read this?! Girls with swords is one of my favorite things. 😍 My little Tamora Pierce-loving middle school self is infatuated with becoming a knight. I really loved the world these authors created and for the bigger picture they pointed out that is often left out of stories like these.

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GirlNamedJesse
Shakti | SJ Sindu
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Magic, mythology, and family; three of my favorite things to read about. I enjoyed Shakti‘s growth, as well as the immersion into another culture and this specific type of witchcraft. (Little one is painting “bringing to life” her Paw Patrol figures in the background.) 🐾

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GirlNamedJesse
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This is such a unique setup! I expected a novel when I pulled this off the shelf, but that is not what I found. Lowry begins with a discovery: the Windeby child unearthed in Germany in 1952. She creates a fictionalized account of the life of that child, shares further history, and tells a different story of the Windeby child. It‘s a fascinating exercise. I can see this being an excellent example for beginning storytellers. And it‘s # 100 for 2023!

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GirlNamedJesse
Brooms | Jasmine Walls
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This had me at “a queer, witchy Fast & the Furious” and kept me with amazing characters, standing up for what‘s right, and fascinating magic! ❤️

Kenyazero That sounds absolutely amazing 😍 super excited to see I can borrow it on Hoopla! 3mo
GirlNamedJesse @Kenyazero Woohoo! I hope you love it, too! 😊 3mo
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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GirlNamedJesse
How to Stay Invisible | Maggie C. Rudd
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Wow! This ended up being one of my very favorite reads of the year! Raymond is such a resilient kid, but my heart broke over and over to see him struggle through things no kid should ever have to handle. The story serves as a reminder that we never know what someone else is living through and to pay attention to signs that someone needs help. 🐶 🦊 🎣 🔥 🌲

8 likes1 stack add
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GirlNamedJesse
Dear Mothman | Robin Gow
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The reasons I struggled to connect with this book were all mine. It‘s not the usual POV I go for and the struggles were nearly all internal which makes the story lag for me. But I was fascinated with Mothman and how Noah used him to process his grief for his friend.

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GirlNamedJesse
Half Moon Summer | Elaine Vickers
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Drew and Mia‘s stories intertwine and separate over and over again, always returning to the path. Their stories both show the value of resiliency; of taking one more step, running a little further, just breathe, breathe, breathe, and being there for each other. Theirs is a beautiful story of friendship and family and running.

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GirlNamedJesse
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I loved seeing how the absence of stories affected the people around her in small and striking ways. Some stories just resonate like they‘re in tune with in your soul. Ultimately, I enjoyed Poppy‘s adventure and I hope a tiny reader finds it and takes its message to heart because, after all, “If you can‘t find your place, make it”. 🦁🪽 📖 ✨

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GirlNamedJesse
Mehso-so

This was a fun graphic novel about a fictional peewee hickey team in Flint, Michigan in the eighties. I didn‘t connect with the characters as much as I‘d hoped I would, but there‘s a lot of great team building/friendship making moments throughout.

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GirlNamedJesse
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This is such a delight! Helvetica, our raven narrator, is so funny! I love the little nods and twists to familiar fairy tales, and all the new fantastical elements to this magical story. I can‘t wait to read more about Gumluck‘s adventures! 🍦

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GirlNamedJesse
Eb & Flow | Kelly J. Baptist
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed this book (especially the shared sequence towards the end), but never really connected with it. As a reader I got to know each character individually, but they barely interact through the entire book.

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GirlNamedJesse
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Pickpick

This story tore my heart out, twisted it up, set it on fire, and planted it back in my body. My heart hurts for the people who suffered through the Holodomor. Millions of Ukrainians starved to death in one year because of a man-made famine. The "drought" was fabricated; greed is what powered their systemic starvation. I‘m so glad I read this wonderful, heart wrenching book! ?

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GirlNamedJesse
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I don‘t think I‘ve ever read a book with an autistic narrator before Maudie! Seeing through her first person point-of-view the way she experiences the world was eye-opening. I was grateful for the cast of adults who modeled appropriate behavior, discouraged secret keeping, and were unique, interesting people who helped show Maudie the wonderful person she is. And I‘d be thrilled if her mom and Ron fell off the face of the planet. ✌️

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GirlNamedJesse
Dust | Dusti Bowling
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There aren‘t many higher compliments for me than “I read this in a day because I could NOT put it down.” I love the possible sci-fi elements and Avalyn‘s extreme empathy. I appreciated the terrifying asthma rep (and food allergy rep!). And I am so grateful for this book‘s message. ❤️

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GirlNamedJesse
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Sorry; can‘t see to write a review through these tears. 😭😭😭 So incredibly beautiful and moving and hopeful. And that‘s all I‘m going to say about it. 💜

11 likes1 stack add
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GirlNamedJesse

The stars remind me that we never really lose things or people we love; they are just closer or farther away.

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GirlNamedJesse
The Labors of Hercules Beal | Gary D. Schmidt
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I enjoyed this journey so much! The classical mythology tie-ins were perfect; it was so much fun to see how events in our Hercules‘ life mirrored ancient Hercules‘ labors. The growth between Achilles and Hercules, and Viola and Hercules, and really between Hercules and every other neighbor, teacher, random person he encountered were beautiful and really showed how a community can come together to care for a child or family who needs it. I love it.

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GirlNamedJesse
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I was having trouble pinpointing my thoughts on this book, but I think it‘s just different. It‘s written in a style that feels antiquated, the pace is leisurely until over halfway through when things ramp up in a hurry, and I kept guessing (incorrectly) both what would happen and how it would fit into the original. The characters made the story and I absolutely adore Juliet! I was surprised yet happy with how everything fell into place.

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GirlNamedJesse
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Starting off October‘s #bookspinbingo strong! I‘ve already read six and I‘m currently reading three more:

🎧 Teach the Torches to Burn 56%
📖 The Labors of Hercules Beal 55%
📱 Him 40%

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GirlNamedJesse
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Here‘s where I ended September‘s #bookspinbingo. I flew through and adored all of EL Massey‘s books! I had to buy them in print as well as digital so I could put them on my shelf. 😍

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GirlNamedJesse
A Duet for Home | Karina Yan Glaser
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A beautifully heartbreaking (but ultimately uplifting) novel of kids who live in a homeless shelter in New York. I loved the music, the friendships, and the desire to be heard. We would all do well to seek out stories of people living a vastly different life than our own.

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GirlNamedJesse
Growing Pangs | Kathryn Ormsbee
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The friendships in this book brought back some middle school memories! 😬 I really enjoyed and appreciated the OCD rep. This fills a void in kids books and I‘m glad it exists!

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GirlNamedJesse
Garlic and the Vampire | Bree Paulsen
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Adorable! Turns out my aversion to anthropomorphized food doesn‘t extend to foods with a logical creation story. 😜 A sweet tale of bravery, friendship, and the perils of making assumptions. Oh, and gardening. 💚

JanuarieTimewalker13 Stacking!! Thank you!! 6mo
17 likes1 comment
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GirlNamedJesse
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Super late on the #bookspinbingo board this month, but here it is. I‘ve already read six; currently reading four, including the tagged book.

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GirlNamedJesse
Work in Progress | Jarrett Lerner
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This was pitched as “Starfish” with a male protagonist and I can see where the comparison comes from. Will‘s story is very introspective, being written entirely as journal entries with doodles throughout. It was very effective to illustrate exactly what was going on in his head, and what was going on was so painful. My heart hurts for Will and all the kids who feel like him. This will be an important one for every person (kid and adult) to read.

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GirlNamedJesse
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It‘s been less than a week and I‘ve read all three books, found #4 on ao3 (though I‘m trying hard to refrain from reading until it‘s complete for my own sanity), and fallen in love approximately 27 times with the most adorable characters. I love how Rome and Damien just kind of fit together before they even figured anything out, and I love how both sets of main characters are obsessed with each other and with forever. 😍😍

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GirlNamedJesse
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Nothing like reading outside! 😎 Loving this so far!

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GirlNamedJesse
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Pickpick

So much happened in the second half of Eli and Alex‘s story. I feel like I‘ve just been along for the ride through injuries, Alex being outed, the most amazing team response to harassment, management‘s response to harassment (the montage was brilliant), and so much of our sweet, adorable, besotted boys! I‘m both sad for their story to close and excited to read what happens next in this universe!

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GirlNamedJesse
An American Story | Kwame Alexander
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You do it
by being brave enough
to lift your voice,

by holding
history
in one hand

and clenching
hope
in the other.

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GirlNamedJesse
Like Real People Do | E. L. Massey
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This was so adorable! Knowing that it originated as “Check, Please” fanfic made the little nods to it feel like a scavenger hunt, but it was never so close that I felt like the characters were anyone other than themselves. Alex and Eli are wholly original and work together in the best way. 🩵 I inhaled this book and I am immediately starting the next one!

12 likes1 stack add
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GirlNamedJesse
Darkhearts | James L Sutter
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The combination of Ramon de Ocampo‘s narration with James L. Sutter‘s character voices is ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!! This book is so freaking funny. I nearly injured myself multiple times trying to listen while doing other things, laughed out loud/giggled/blushed/snorted more times then I can count, and absolutely fell in love with these two idiots. Thanks to Libro.fm and Macmillan Audio for the ALC for an honest review. Honestly, I loved it. 🖤🎶🖤

10 likes1 stack add
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GirlNamedJesse
Heartstopper: Volume 3 | Alice Oseman
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Rereading these, binging the show, and consuming massive amounts of fanfic make my heart happy! 🍃💕

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GirlNamedJesse
Breakup, Makeup | Stacey Anthony
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I love a good nerd love story! I learned a lot about cosplay and loved the beautiful second chance love story. Eli never gives up and fights for what they want-even against someone they love. 🩵 Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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GirlNamedJesse
The Lost Library | Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead
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Lily (age 7) says: “I love this! Especially the chapters with Al.” I also quite enjoyed the story! Maybe in life things don‘t always come together perfectly, but it is so satisfying when they do in a book. Wonderful! We listened to the audiobook and having multiple narrators was very helpful for the kiddos to distinguish characters. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and the Libro.fm ALC program for an early audio copy in exchange for an honest review!

LiteraryinLawrence I was JUST thinking this week about Rebecca Stead, one of my favorite middle grade authors, and wondering if she was writing anything lately. Mystery solved! 8mo
LiteraryinLawrence Thanks for the recommendation! I just read this and loved it. 💗 6mo
GirlNamedJesse @LiteraryinLawrence I‘m so glad you enjoyed it, too! 🩵 6mo
14 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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GirlNamedJesse
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Otilla is pretty badass. I definitely like Klassen‘s version better than the original. Also, secretly glad that librarians were part of re-finding the original tale. 💀

jlhammar Looking forward to this! Love that cover. I was just reading this interesting LitHub article yesterday:
https://lithub.com/let-the-kids-get-weird-the-adult-problem-with-childrens-books...
8mo
17 likes1 comment
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GirlNamedJesse
They Hate Each Other | Amanda Woody
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I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers, fake dating story! (I‘m all about the tropes) Once I started I found myself unable to stop reading, sneaking in a few minutes here and there until I could find a long stretch. I really loved how Jonah and Dylan were able to recognize each others‘ anxiety and help each other through it. 🩵 Thanks to Edelweiss and Viking for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

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GirlNamedJesse
Camp Sylvania | Julie Murphy
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Okay, this was adorable. You‘ve got summer camp, making new friends, parental betrayal, and new experiences, BUT then you add in vampires! What a fun adventure this was! I loved how all the abstract things came together and how Maggie came into her own. Audio narration by Katie Ladner was spot on with several accents represented well. Thanks to Libro.fm and Balzer + Bray for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

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GirlNamedJesse
Pickpick

This book is amazing! I expected it to be heavy, given Simon‘s past, but it isn‘t. It is so funny and heartwarming and smart, and, yes, sometimes devastating, but balanced with new friendships, puppies, and small-town-life shenanigans. I think this will be my favorite middle grade book of the year! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️