
Reach for this book when your child is beginning to experience the dizzying, confusing, and often overwhelming physical sensations of a first crush. It is a perfect choice for the sensitive preteen who finds it difficult to put their feelings into words or who feels a sense of quiet panic when faced with new, unfamiliar emotions. Stevie is an eleven-year-old girl who loves facts because they are solid and dependable. However, when she starts feeling a physical flutter around her friend Chloe, she realizes that some things cannot be looked up in a typical encyclopedia. This gentle verse novel explores her internal journey from anxiety to self-acceptance. It is an incredibly soft and age-appropriate introduction to LGBTQ+ identity, focusing on the emotional experience rather than social or political labels. Parents will appreciate how the story models a healthy, supportive relationship between a child, her mother, and a trusted community figure like a librarian.
Stevie experiences significant anxiety and fear of the unknown.
None.
A thoughtful, sensitive 9 to 12 year old who might be prone to anxiety or overthinking. This is particularly suited for a child who feels things deeply but lacks the vocabulary to express their internal world, or a child who is just beginning to notice their first romantic feelings and feels frightened by the intensity of that change.
This book can be read cold. It is exceptionally gentle. Parents may want to look at the scenes where the librarian provides Stevie with books on LGBTQ+ history and identity, as it models how to provide resources without pressure. A child expressing physical symptoms of stress (tummy aches, racing heart) without a clear medical cause, or a child who seems suddenly withdrawn and fearful of "growing up" or changing.
A younger reader (9-10) will likely focus on Stevie's physical anxiety and her relationship with her mother. An older reader (11-12) will more deeply identify with the specific nuances of queer discovery and the social shift of middle school crushes.
Unlike many middle grade books that focus on the social or external aspects of coming out, this is a purely internal, emotional portrait. The use of verse allows for a focus on sensation and feeling rather than plot, making it one of the most accessible and non-threatening introductions to LGBTQ+ identity available for this age group.
Stevie is an eleven-year-old girl who loves the certainty of facts and books. When she starts experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety (a fluttery, uncomfortable feeling in her chest) whenever she is around her friend Chloe, she becomes overwhelmed by the unknown. With the help of her perceptive mother and a kind librarian, Stevie navigates the confusing transition from friendship to a first crush, eventually finding the words to describe her identity as a girl who likes other girls.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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