Annabelle is starting sixth grade and looking forward to making it a great year before leaving her school, the Lab, and heading to middle school. Annabelle is used to her small class and all the kids she has grown up with at the Lab. What she isn't expecting is that things may not be what she is used to.
The first surprise is a new teacher. The teacher she is expecting was taken ill over the summer, so now her class will be taught by Amy. She seems nice and reveals her interest in finding out what her students want to learn, not just what she wants to teach.
The next surprise is Bailey. Annabelle makes an immediate connection with Bailey and is fascinated to learn that Bailey identifies as nonbinary and uses the pronouns they/them. Excited about this new friend, Annabelle tells her parents all about them. Her excitement is short-lived when her father makes a few strange comments and quickly shuts down talk about her having this new friend.
Annabelle likes Bailey so much she isn't going to let her father's unfriendly attitude stop her from hanging out with them. She insists he tell her what he finds so objectionable about Bailey. What he reveals comes as a complete shock to Annabelle. Both her parents have been keeping secrets that have a profound effect on Annabelle. Unsure about her own identity, she looks for support and finds it where she least expects it.
Kyle Lukoff's middle grade novel is the perfect way to learn about the LGBTQ+ community. The heartfelt honesty with which Lukoff tells Annabelle's story will be appreciated by anyone part of the LGBTQ+ community, and at the same time the story can educate readers and answer questions many may have.
No comments:
Post a Comment