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A review by readwithrhys
Spin with Me by Ami Polonsky
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is a cute, quick middle grade novel featuring a nonbinary LI/MC.
The book starts out from Essie’s POV, and we learn she is forced to move to North Carolina with her dad because he has a teaching opportunity at a college there, while her mother, who is an artist with a messy work schedule, stays in St. Louis. Essie is 13 years old and in 7th grade, and is forced to leave her best friends and make new friends at the new school in NC.
She makes some new friends, who then introduce her to Ollie, a nonbinary kid also in grade 7, who happens to be the child of one of Essie’s dad’s coworkers at the college.
The book is split in 2 parts: Part 1 Butterflies (Essie’s POV) and Part 2 Hands (Ollie’s POV)
This book has a cool way of storytelling. Both parts follow the same story, just from the different POVs. At the end of part 1, it leaves readers off at a cliffhanger, not knowing what will happen to Essie; does she get to stay in NC, or will she have to move back to St. Louis and stay with her mom? Part 2 is in Ollie’s pov, so there are overlapping scenes, just from their perspective, but you also get new scenes. I think this is a neat way of writing.
I think Spin With Me is a great book for readers aged 8-11. As a 23 year old trans man who read it, I can say it is cute, but it’s obviously made for a much younger audience. I love reading books with trans* main characters because I never could find these types of stories as a kid or a young teen. That being said, I gave this 3.5 stars because I found the writing to be ‘tell’ rather than ‘show’.
If you’re a parent looking for a middle grade novel that has a trans* main character for your kids to read, I do recommend Spin With Me!
The book starts out from Essie’s POV, and we learn she is forced to move to North Carolina with her dad because he has a teaching opportunity at a college there, while her mother, who is an artist with a messy work schedule, stays in St. Louis. Essie is 13 years old and in 7th grade, and is forced to leave her best friends and make new friends at the new school in NC.
She makes some new friends, who then introduce her to Ollie, a nonbinary kid also in grade 7, who happens to be the child of one of Essie’s dad’s coworkers at the college.
The book is split in 2 parts: Part 1 Butterflies (Essie’s POV) and Part 2 Hands (Ollie’s POV)
This book has a cool way of storytelling. Both parts follow the same story, just from the different POVs. At the end of part 1, it leaves readers off at a cliffhanger, not knowing what will happen to Essie; does she get to stay in NC, or will she have to move back to St. Louis and stay with her mom? Part 2 is in Ollie’s pov, so there are overlapping scenes, just from their perspective, but you also get new scenes. I think this is a neat way of writing.
I think Spin With Me is a great book for readers aged 8-11. As a 23 year old trans man who read it, I can say it is cute, but it’s obviously made for a much younger audience. I love reading books with trans* main characters because I never could find these types of stories as a kid or a young teen. That being said, I gave this 3.5 stars because I found the writing to be ‘tell’ rather than ‘show’.
If you’re a parent looking for a middle grade novel that has a trans* main character for your kids to read, I do recommend Spin With Me!