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Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33607003746842 | New Middle Fiction | SASS | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
In this heartfelt novel about family, friendship, and identity perfect for fans of The List of Things That Will Not Change and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World , a thirteen-year-old nonbinary kid discovers that life doesn't always go according to plan--especially when they start public school for the first time. ​
Thirteen-year-old Shai is an expert problem-solver. There's never been something they couldn't research and figure out on their own. But there's one thing Shai hasn't been able to logic their way through: picking at the hair on their arms.
Ever since their mom lost her job, the two had to move in with family friends, and the world went into pandemic lockdown, Shai's been unable to control their picking. Now, as the difficult times recede and everyone begins to discover their "new normal," Shai's hoping the stress that caused their picking will end, too.
After reading that a routine can reduce anxiety, Shai makes a plan to create a brand new normal for themself that includes going to public school. But when their academic evaluation places them into 9th grade instead of 8th, it sets off a chain of events that veer off the path Shai had prepared for, encouraging Shai to learn how to accept life's twists and turns, especially when you can't plan for them.
Author Notes
A. J. Sass (he/they) is the author of the ALA Rainbow Book List Top 10 titles Ellen Outside the Lines , which was also a Sydney Taylor Honor Book, and Ana on the Edge , as well as Camp QUILTBAG (co-written with Nicole Melleby). He grew up in the Midwest and South, spending many of his summers with his family enjoying the beautiful Northwoods lakes and scenery in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his husband and two cats who act like dogs. He invites you to visit him online at sassinsf.com.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4 Up--Thirteen-year-old Shai has a plan to create a new normal; come out as nonbinary, get a haircut that expresses who they are, attend public school, and stop picking at their arms. Ever since their mom lost her job during the pandemic, Shai has been picking the hairs on their arm and wearing arm sleeves to cover the scars it leaves behind. They believe that going from homeschooling to public school will provide the distraction they need to stop picking. As Shai makes new friends and their relationship with an old one evolves, they learn that no matter how strong you are, sometimes you need support. Shai's struggles sharing their identity with friends, and the growing pains experienced as relationships change will resonate with readers. Shai has a strong support system of adults who care for them, including their mom, mom's best friend, and grandparents. A class project also leads Shai to investigate their family's roots in Judaism and why their mom no longer practices the religion. The potential for romance with a classmate who identifies as a lesbian brings up further conversations on the relationship between gender and sexuality. VERDICT Shai's struggles with identity, anxiety, first love, and faith will resonate with middle grade and young adult readers. A recommended purchase for all secondary school collections.--Ashley Leffel
Publisher's Weekly Review
After reading online that having a routine can help alleviate anxiety, nonbinary 13-year-old Shai Stern is determined to implement their "new-normal plan" to get their life under control in this luminous read. Forgoing homeschool and starting in-person eighth grade is the first step in their strategy. But entering public school means big life changes, including Shai's leaving behind their Indigenous best friend Moose to remote learning, realizing that they're being placed in ninth grade classes, and reckoning with the fact that cute lesbian Edie--their student guide--assumes that Shai is a girl. Suddenly, nothing is going to plan: their massive crush on Edie, an important school project about Shai's Jewish ancestry, and the growing distance between Shai and Moose triggers Shai's anxiety, and the painful urge to pick at their arms. Via sensitive depictions of Shai's skin picking, as well as sincere prose that yields richly developed characters, relationships, and interactions, Sass (Ellen Outside the Lines) captures the tension and dread of grappling with a hidden illness during a tumultuous transition. Shai's learning to manage their own challenges is palpably wrought, as is their burgeoning understanding that they're not the only one with burdens--and that their presence is a balm for those experiencing troubles of their own. Ages 8--12. Agent: Jordan Hamessley, JABberwocky Literary Agency. (Jan.)