Ollie in between

If there's a guidebook for adolescence, someone forgot to give Ollie a copy. Ollie is often baffled by social cues and supremely disinterested in becoming a woman--whatever that even means: "Deep down in me, I just know that I don't want to become a woman, and I can't say why for sure." Puberty is callous, so naturally Ollie gets their first period at school. Thankfully, as childhood friendships dissolve, a cadre of confident new friends, all queer, welcome Ollie into their supportive (if often bullied) fold. Meanwhile, an assignment for their seventh-grade health class launches Ollie into conversations with adults about womanhood that leave Ollie even more addled. Ollie's family, still grieving Mom's death, fumbles sweetly through protecting and supporting Ollie as Ollie navigates shifting peer dynamics and evolving sense of self. Debut author Callans' confiding tone leans into Ollie's flummoxed first-person ruminations with rhetorical questions that probe moments of deep vulnerability and hope as Ollie struggles to choose a path forward that feels right for them, right now. Clear echoes of Judy Blume couple with themes of social adaptation that rely a bit heavily on analogies to the animal kingdom, but a range of readers should relate to Ollie's sense of otherness. As Ollie puts it, "Being yourself can hurt," but awkward and self-aware stories like Ollie's can help more tweens "just be."

Twelve-year-old Ollie is determined to discover what it means to be a woman. The more Ollie learns about puberty, the less they understand; they don't feel like a girl, but they don't want to be a boy, either. As seventh grade goes on, they're suddenly seen as too much of a girl for their hockey team but not enough of a girl for their best friend. When a teacher assigns a personal essay on "what it means to grow up," Ollie uses this prompt as an opportunity to interview women, including their older sister, a friend's mom, and teachers--but they only become more confused. When a classmate invites Ollie to join a queer book club, they finally begin to feel comfortable in their own skin. But Ollie knows that the world isn't always kind to queer people. And how can they be themself when they don't fully understand what that means? This book covers timely topics, such as transphobia and the importance of representation in books and media. Ollie, whose late mom was Persian and dad is white, embarks on an authentic, well-developed journey of finding themself and trying to understand their identity, all while balancing their fears of rejection. This book also emphasizes the queer joy of finding accepting people and discovering the strength to speak your truth. An authentic look at the fears of gender-nonconforming queer youth and the challenges they face. (author's note)(Fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.