Descriptions, Reviews, etc.
Description:
"A nonbinary middle-schooler must choose between pretending to be the girl everyone expects them to be and forging their own path forward"--
Brief description:
Jess Callans is a queer children's author and wanna-be-illustrator with an MFA from Rosemont College. He lives outside of Philly with his partner and four amazing kids, where they collectively bake, garden, and tirelessly pursue the human experience.
Review Quotes:
"Clear echoes of Judy Blume...A range of readers should relate to Ollie's sense of otherness. As Ollie puts it, 'Being yourself can hurt, ' but awkward and self-aware stories like Ollie's can help more tweens 'just be.' "
--Booklist, starred review
"Tackles the hard-hitting topics of neurodiversity, gender identity, and the powers of peer pressure... A vital read that celebrates the power of true authenticity, this is a must-buy for middle school collections."
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School Library Journal (starred)
"As endearing as it is hilarious,
Ollie in Between is Jess Callans' laugh-out-loud debut about surviving the chaos of growing up and finding the courage to speak up for others, and, most importantly, yourself. This tender, queer coming-of-age tale shows how sometimes the only way to survive is to embrace your weird and choose your own path."
--Aiden Thomas,
New York Times-bestselling author of
Cemetery Boys "Wholesome, heartfelt, and important. One of my favorite books of the year."
--Erin Entrada Kelly, 2018 Newbery Medal winner for
Hello, Universe "A tender, modern Are You There God, It's Me Margaret for any kid with a uterus trying to figure out their place in the world. Jess Callans shines in this funny, heartbreaking, and heart-repairing novel about a 13-year-old kid discovering who they're meant to be." --Nicole Melleby, award-winning author of
Hurricane Season "Callans's debut is an empathetic exploration of identity that will resonate with young readers carving out their own definition of self. Infused with equal amounts serious, topical conversation, and gently humorous observation, Ollie in Between is a middle grade classic in the making. " --A. J. Sass, award-winning author of
Ellen Outside the Lines and
Ana on the Edge
