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lillanaa's review
2.0
I'm going to be a little controversial and say that I think this has good themes and interesting characters, but nothing was handled appropriately. This book took way too long to get to the point it was trying to make, and it felt as though having Rodney as an unreliable narrator was stunting to the actual heft of the topic itself. I genuinely didn't enjoy this book, but I can see where it's a decent enough teaching tool, I just wouldn't reach for it myself and felt as though it handled sexual assault allegations far too lightly for the day and age we're in, even with its middle grade status.
carolineinthelibrary's review
3.0
“Me Three” centers around Rodney, who moves with his mom and sister after his dad is accused of sexual harassment. I liked the idea of the story - how one person’s actions can affect more than just themselves - and I thought Rodney’s growth throughout the book was important. I didn’t love the style, Rodney is writing to his best friend, Larry but he’s not sending the letters to him (which he mentions often). I think Rodney could have been writing in a journal and that could have been tied into the story while revealing why Rodney hasn’t heard from Larry. I also rarely love when author’s attempt to talk AS a young person and I occasionally thought this one was a little clunky and awkward and not necessarily the way a young boy would talk. Overall, I think this is an interesting topic to address for a middle grade audience, so I would recommend it!
zbrarian's review
4.0
A family dealing with the fallout of the father’s indiscretions, with the story being told from the 12 year old son’s point of view. The story is told rom the perspective of Rodney through letters he writes to his best friend Larry. It was both tense and sad and moving. The story shows the side of a story that is never told: the fallout effect on the family, especially the kids. Besides Rodney, you also learn about the effect it has had on his mother and sister. The story touches on eating disorder, stress/anxiety, physical abuse and bullying. It was a tough read, one that won’t leave me for a while.
marshaskrypuch's review
5.0
The novel is written as a series of letters from eleven year old Rodney to his friend Larry, who isn't speaking to him. Rodney continues to write to him the letters and just stockpiles them. It's an interesting structure and it works beautifully for this story, infusing tension and suspense. Rodney, his mother and older sister have abruptly moved and his father is in a rehab facility. Rodney's adjusting to his new life under an assumed name at a new school and missing his old friends, his father and his old way of life.
Juby brilliantly and compassionately shows many facets of the Me Too movement and the many victims of sexual and power abuse. Nuanced and delicately balanced. A deceptively simple book with a powerful impact. A clever and apt book title too.
#Netgalley
Juby brilliantly and compassionately shows many facets of the Me Too movement and the many victims of sexual and power abuse. Nuanced and delicately balanced. A deceptively simple book with a powerful impact. A clever and apt book title too.
#Netgalley
woodsbookclub's review
3.0
When allegations against his father surge and his forced to move to another state with his mum and sister, Rodney can’t believe how easily his life turned upside down. He’s in a class with a bunch of kids who seem to sort of hate him and even his best friend won’t write him back.
Told fully from the perspective of the eleven-year-old main character, this middle-grade story addresses difficult topics, like sexual harassment, bullying, eating disorders, and isolation; it’s definitely not an easy read sometimes, even though Rodney doesn’t really understand what his dad did for most of the plot.
The way we see through Rodney's eyes how his sister is suffering and neglecting her health is very well executed. And the sudden and confusing and harrowing way in which Rodney himself finally realizes that maybe his father isn't such a nice person either.
Sometimes it felt hard to root for Rodney because he seems a little self-centred and judgemental, but I think he’s just trying to cope with what’s happening in his own awkward way. I think I would be a little in denial, too.
I have to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The final version is scheduled to be published on March 22, 2022.
Told fully from the perspective of the eleven-year-old main character, this middle-grade story addresses difficult topics, like sexual harassment, bullying, eating disorders, and isolation; it’s definitely not an easy read sometimes, even though Rodney doesn’t really understand what his dad did for most of the plot.
The way we see through Rodney's eyes how his sister is suffering and neglecting her health is very well executed. And the sudden and confusing and harrowing way in which Rodney himself finally realizes that maybe his father isn't such a nice person either.
Sometimes it felt hard to root for Rodney because he seems a little self-centred and judgemental, but I think he’s just trying to cope with what’s happening in his own awkward way. I think I would be a little in denial, too.
I have to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The final version is scheduled to be published on March 22, 2022.
fionak's review
4.0
A easy and fairly quick read with short chapters and brisk pacing. Rodney is a sympathetic enough narrator to make his willful ignorance understandable (if annoying as embodied by his sister's anger about his head-in-the-sand attitude). The underlying issues around his father's lecherous behavior come to a head when the other kids find out and Rodney's treated like he's guilty of the same thing, but this passes quickly thanks to the new friends our narrator has made. The book offers a good starting point for discussions of sexual assault and who gets believed but overall is about being brave in both trying new things and speaking up for yourself.
Thank you to Tundra Books who kindly sent me a free copy for review.
Thank you to Tundra Books who kindly sent me a free copy for review.
angelofmine1974's review
My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:
https://youtu.be/D74u5vG-RtY
Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/D74u5vG-RtY
Enjoy!
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
Rodney can't figure out why his best friend won't talk to him, and why his father is being accused of things he couldn't possibly have done.
In the meantime, he has to move from Las Vegas to somewhere in Arizona where he knows no one, and at first, no one knows about him, or his famous father, until they do.
And through it all, he never loses faith in his father, even quoting his rules of life to himself, to keep his spirits up.
Interesting take on what happens to the kids of the people who did the harassing. How they have to deal with the pieces, and the results. Rodney himself isn't a bad child. He just doesn't understand why his father is being accused of something he couldn't possibly have done.
Well done showing the pain and the realization that his father might actually be guilty of what he did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
In the meantime, he has to move from Las Vegas to somewhere in Arizona where he knows no one, and at first, no one knows about him, or his famous father, until they do.
And through it all, he never loses faith in his father, even quoting his rules of life to himself, to keep his spirits up.
Interesting take on what happens to the kids of the people who did the harassing. How they have to deal with the pieces, and the results. Rodney himself isn't a bad child. He just doesn't understand why his father is being accused of something he couldn't possibly have done.
Well done showing the pain and the realization that his father might actually be guilty of what he did.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
twiinklex's review
4.0
Looks cute, said the cover.
Surprisingly funny, said the synopsis.
A light read, said the middle-grade label.
I cried, said the reader!!!
Eleven-year-old Rodney looks up to his father, a professional poker star. But when allegations against his dad erupt, Rodney's life turns topsy-turvy and he is forced to question everything he has ever known...
I love that the story is told entirely from Rodney's POV in the form of one-sided letters to his best friend, Larry. I feel that the perspective from the family of an accused person has been largely ignored, especially in the media and in the era of #MeToo.
That's not to say that the book makes light of sexual and workplace harassment or ignores its victims. It does not make you question the allegations, but explores the subject well while still focusing on telling the stories of Rodney, his mother and sister.
I can understand why readers might feel frustrated by Rodney, but I loved getting insight into his thoughts. Seeing him struggling to cope and come to terms with what has happened broke my heart, but I enjoyed his growth as a character.
There are also plenty of funny, touching and heartwarming moments in this novel. One of my favourite scenes is when journalists swarm the school and Fisherman simply picks Rodney up and ploughs through everyone while carrying him. I found it so moving!
A wonderful read that I would highly recommend.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Surprisingly funny, said the synopsis.
A light read, said the middle-grade label.
I cried, said the reader!!!
Eleven-year-old Rodney looks up to his father, a professional poker star. But when allegations against his dad erupt, Rodney's life turns topsy-turvy and he is forced to question everything he has ever known...
I love that the story is told entirely from Rodney's POV in the form of one-sided letters to his best friend, Larry. I feel that the perspective from the family of an accused person has been largely ignored, especially in the media and in the era of #MeToo.
That's not to say that the book makes light of sexual and workplace harassment or ignores its victims. It does not make you question the allegations, but explores the subject well while still focusing on telling the stories of Rodney, his mother and sister.
I can understand why readers might feel frustrated by Rodney, but I loved getting insight into his thoughts. Seeing him struggling to cope and come to terms with what has happened broke my heart, but I enjoyed his growth as a character.
There are also plenty of funny, touching and heartwarming moments in this novel. One of my favourite scenes is when journalists swarm the school and Fisherman simply picks Rodney up and ploughs through everyone while carrying him. I found it so moving!
A wonderful read that I would highly recommend.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
z_brarian's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A family dealing with the fallout of the father’s indiscretions, with the story being told from the 12 year old son’s point of view. The story is told rom the perspective of Rodney through letters he writes to his best friend Larry. It was both tense and sad and moving. The story shows the side of a story that is never told: the fallout effect on the family, especially the kids. Besides Rodney, you also learn about the effect it has had on his mother and sister. The story touches on eating disorder, stress/anxiety, physical abuse and bullying. It was a tough read, one that won’t leave me for a while.