
Reach for this book when your middle-schooler is struggling to bridge the gap between who they are becoming and the expectations of their family or faith community. It is an essential resource for a child who feels they must 'perform' a certain version of themselves to stay safe or loved. The story follows thirteen-year-old Brie, a soap-opera-obsessed aspiring actor who realizes she is attracted to girls. When her mother discovers a secret, Brie panics and tells a lie that spirals, testing her relationships and her sense of integrity. It is a deeply realistic look at the weight of shame and the courage required for radical honesty. Parents will appreciate how it handles the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and Catholic school life with nuance and heart. It is best suited for ages 9 to 13, offering a roadmap for navigating difficult conversations when the stakes feel incredibly high.
Depicts a middle school crush and internal questioning of sexuality.
Explores feelings of shame and the fear of losing family support.
Family crisis (specifically intense emotional tension and temporary estrangement between parent and child).
A 12-year-old who feels like they are living a double life or a child in a religious household who is afraid that their authentic self will disappoint their parents. It is perfect for the "theatre kid" who uses performance as a shield.
This book can be read cold, but parents may want to preview the scenes where Brie experiences intense religious guilt to help facilitate a conversation about the difference between faith and shame. A parent might reach for this book after witnessing their child become uncharacteristically secretive, or if they suspect their child is struggling with a lie that has spiraled out of control.
A 9-year-old will focus on the slapstick nature of the lie and the drama of middle school friendships. A 13-year-old will more deeply resonate with the identity crisis and the nuanced struggle of reconciling queer identity with a religious upbringing.
Unlike many coming-out stories that focus solely on the reaction of others, this book focuses on the internal performance of the protagonist. It uniquely uses the metaphor of soap opera acting to explore the very real masks children wear to navigate their worlds.
Brie Hutchens is an aspiring actor attending a Catholic middle school who is coming to terms with the fact that she likes girls. When her mother discovers her looking at a picture of a female teacher, Brie panics and tells a lie to cover her tracks, claiming she wants to become a nun. The story follows the fallout of this lie as Brie navigates her faith, her family expectations, and her evolving identity while trying to find her voice on and off the stage.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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