Published by Dial Books

Summary:  Annabelle’s not super excited about starting sixth grade.  It’s her last year at the Lab School, where she knows her other classmates a little too well after six years in school together.  But this year begins to look different when a new student named Bailey walks into the classroom.  Bailey is nonbinary, and Annabelle is fascinated by them.  The two become friends, and Annabelle finds herself hoping it will turn into something more.  When Annabelle brings Bailey home, she’s dismayed by her parents’ cool reaction to them.  Later, her parents reveal that her dad is a trans man, and Annabelle’s world turns upside down.  With the help of Bailey and their parents, Annabelle and her family start to become part of the LGBTQ+ community, allowing them to learn more about themselves and to live more genuine lives.  320 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Newbery honoree Kyle Lukoff has created another heartwarming story that explores the lives of LGBTQ+ kids and their families and friends.  Bailey and Annabelle have to deal with a classmate (aptly named Dixon), his mother, and a wishy-washy principal who work to keep any LGBTQ+ discussion out of the classroom, and readers will get some insights on how to deal with that issue.

Cons:  Bailey and their parents seemed a little too good to be true, and sometimes seemed to exist just to educate Annabelle and her family.

June 30, 2022 at 07:04PM Janet Dawson