Lo Simpson starts a revolution

Title:

Author:

Summary:

"In this middle-grade novel, Lo's best friend, Jazz, is leaving her behind for the popular crowd, makeup and boys. But when Lo finds new friends who share her love of comics and Doctor Who, she also discovers her voice--and the confidence to speak up for what's right."-- Provided by publisher.

Physical Description:

207 pages ; 20 cm

Genre:

School fiction.

Subject Term:

Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.

Popularity -- Juvenile fiction.

Self-confidence -- Juvenile fiction.

Schools -- Juvenile fiction.

Publisher:

Orca Book Publishers,

Publication Date:

2024

ISBN:

9781459838505

Publication Information:

[Victoria, British Columbia] : Orca Book Publishers, 2024.

Call Number:

M FLORENCE

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003744219	New Middle Fiction	FLORENCE	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Key Selling Points

Lo's best friend is leaving her behind for makeup, boys, and bras, while Lo wants to stick to her comics and Doctor Who; luckily, she finds some new friends who support her as she is and help her find her voice as an advocate and activist. Lo Simpson Starts a Revolutiontakes on the adolescent experiences of growing apart in a friendship, finding new friends, allowing yourself the space to grow up at your own pace and having the strength to stand up for what's right, even when the issue doesn't directly affect you. From a more political perspective, this book explores gender equality, consent and menstrual hygiene rights, as Lo finds herself confronted with these issues in her middle-school milieu. Author Melanie Florence is a huge Doctor Whofan (she has a Doctor Who tattoo!), which inspired her to write Lo as one too; Lo pens letters to the Tenth Doctor throughout the book and uses his brave acts and words of wisdom for inspiration. Melanie Florence is the author of such books as Stolen Words(which won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book Award), Missing Nimâmâ (which won the TD Canadian Children's Book Award) and The Missing.

Author Notes

Melanie Florenceis a writer of Cree and Scottish heritage based in Toronto. She was close to her grandfather as a child, and that relationship sparked her interest in writing about Indigenous themes and characters. She is the author of Missing Nimâmâ, which won the 2016 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, Stolen Words, which won the 2018 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award, and the bestselling Orca Soundings titles He Who Dreamsand Dreaming in Color.

Reviews (1)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 5 Up--A middle schooler used to living in her best friend's shadow learns how to stand out and speak up, not just for herself but for her whole school. Twelve-year-old Lo's best friend, Jazz, seems to be outgrowing her. Instead of wanting to cosplay and obsess over Doctor Who, Jazz is now interested in clothes, boys, and popularity. Through confessional, unmailed letters to Doctor Who, Lo wishes for advice on how to be brave and seeks solace in her loneliness. After Jazz ditches Lo for the "It Girls," Lo stumbles across a new friend group that shares her interests. When Lo comes to Jazz's rescue on a day she unexpectedly gets her period and bleeds through her pants, Lo develops a new interest: getting the school to provide free period products in all bathrooms. Working with her new friends (including nonbinary Zev, who helps make sure Lo's plans and language are inclusive) and eventually some unexpected allies, Lo addresses the need for necessary hygiene products and speaks up about consent, sexual harassment, and double standards at her school. Told at a quick pace with short chapters and plenty of dialogue, this story, rife with themes of regeneration (which any one-sided Doctor Who pen pal knows all about) and transformation, unflinchingly tackles big issues and emphasizes the importance of speaking up for oneself and on behalf of others. VERDICT A compelling look at friendship, activism, and self-confidence.--Amanda MacGregor