Status
Publication
Description
Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. HTML:From the award-winning author of Melissa, the story of a boy named Rick who needs to explore his own identity apart from his jerk of a best friend. Rick's never questioned much. He's gone along with his best friend, Jeff, even when Jeff's acted like a bully and a jerk. He's let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn't given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out. But now Rick's gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school's Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that . . . understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones. As they did in their groundbreaking novel Melissa, in Rick, award-winning author Alex Gino explores what it means to search for your own place in the world . . . and all the steps you and the people around you need to take in order to get where you need to be..… (more)
User reviews
Rick hides his feelings from his best friend Jeff, a homophobic bully. As Rick begins to find words that describe his orientation—asexual, aromantic—he bonds with his fellow club members and is forced to consider his friendship with Jeff. Jeff is now bullying the Rainbow Spectrum group. Unlike Jeff, Rick is accepted by his club peers, which lead to conversations with family about his identity. I really appreciated the openmindedness of Rick’s whole family. This seems to be rarely the case.
I adored Rick’s deep relationship with his Grandpa Ray, who loves cosplay, and how their time together provides Rick the safe space to be himself. At first the two bond over a science fiction program, then realize their connection spans beyond the screen, highlighting the power of authenticity and acceptance. Through the Rainbow Spectrum, readers are introduced to a wide range of identities and pronouns. Ages 8–12.
The book is no where nearly as good as George. It’s almost like a documentary of terminology with the cast of characters to identify.
I did find the term QUILTBAG+ interesting. Be sure to read the author’s note concerning this term.
loved this, there still aren't many books for Ace kids to know they aren't alone (this is the first one for middlegrade that I know of?), but this is also