Reviews

It's always just been Bug, their mom, and uncle Rodrick. But at the start of the summer before beginning middle school, Bug's uncle Rodrick passes away after a long illness. Bug is doing their best, spending time outside and with their best friend, Moira. But Moira's interests are shifting, with her focus now more on make-up and nail polish and boys, and Bug isn't feeling similarly. In fact, more often than not, when Bug looks in the mirror, the person staring back doesn't look quite right. And though Bug's house has always been haunted, it seems as though a new ghost has come. Is it the ghost of uncle Rodrick? What is he trying to tell Bug?

As noted in the summary, this is a heartwarming story about a kid navigating the realization that there isn't something wrong with their mirror, or something wrong with them, but that they are in fact transgender. Short, sweet, a tale of figuring out who you are as a pre-teen. This would be a good one for any kid, just with the general nature of ~figuring oneself out~. Though the subject matter has the potential to be heavy, this book is filled with love. Would recommend!

small_shrimp's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

jkherz25's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was so lovely. Such a tender, moving, and at times painfully relatable exploration of grief and identity and belonging. And ghosts! I’m so glad this book exists

danggeun's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.75

ldeshaw's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

easy read. themes of self discovery.

anncarve's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

bibliobrandie's review

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4.0

Bug has just lost their favorite uncle and now it seems that he has come back to haunt Bug, or maybe Uncle Roderick is trying to tell Bug something? This is not a scary ghost story, more atmospheric-ghost story that addresses identity and acceptance and family and grief.
The cast of characters is great. Loved the main character, Bug, loved the mom, and loved the best friend Mo (who has decided to go by her full name, Moira, to start middle school). Moira is also dealing with her own struggle to fit in and is trying to help Bug but in all the ways that are not helpful (nail polish and make overs). One of my favorite parts was the way the mom talked to the principal, her words could be helpful for anyone else needing to know what to say to school administrators.

Spoiler

In true middle grade fashion, everything works out in the end. But I think that is okay for this book, you want everything to be okay. You want to hope this is the experience an eleven year old would have

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I loved the author’s note and how Lukoff explains that if you tell other people exactly what this book is about you “might feel like taking away your friend’s chance to fully experience the story.”

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