Rick

Reach for this book when you notice your middle schooler pulling away from long-time friends who seem more focused on dating or locker room talk than they are. It is perfect for children who feel like they are performing a role that does not fit but are not yet sure what their true identity looks like. Rick is a gentle, realistic story about an eleven-year-old boy navigating the transition to middle school and the realization that he does not experience romantic or sexual attraction the way his peers do. Through the lens of the school's Rainbow Spectrum club, Rick explores the concept of being asexual and aromantic without the story feeling like a textbook. The book handles middle school social dynamics with great empathy, touching on themes of toxic masculinity, bullying, and the importance of finding a community where you can just be yourself. It is a vital choice for normalizing the 'opt-out' of the social pressures surrounding puberty, providing a hopeful roadmap for kids who feel like they are developing on a different timeline than their friends.