Review by Booklist Review
This poignant, illuminating story about a nonbinary girl named J-- (who uses she/her and they/them pronouns) explores the complexities of growing up through verse. J-- speaks directly to the audience, sharing their struggles with ADHD and the stigma surrounding it. In an effort to encourage focus, their parents buy Coaster Boss, a tycoon-style computer game in which J-- operates a theme park, from constructing rides to checking on the welfare of guests. Early in the story, which spans fifth through seventh grade, J--'s ADHD is the focal point of their poems. As time progresses and J-- examines her choices in Coaster Boss, she comes to better understand her diagnosis, gender identity, the distressing relationship between her and her parents, and why her crush Junie doesn't love her back. Though somber at times, hope comes by way of meeting Sam, who's nonbinary, and the feeling that J-- isn't actually a living glitch manifests. The prose will especially resonate with anyone feeling like an outsider. The work's format creates an accessible, immersive experience with a lighter word count.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A tween assigned male at birth numbs peer and parental rejection by obsessively playing a video game in this melancholy verse novel from Oet (Robin's Worlds). Despite classmates and teachers being aware of J--'s ADHD diagnosis, which is managed via prescription medications, they all assume J--'s lack of impulse control and overexuberance are intentional choices. To cope, J-- plays simulator game Coaster Boss, discovering glitches, modifying theme park rides, and creating avatars resembling classmates as well as self-portraits that serve as park guests. The only person who seems to accept J-- is classmate Junie, on whom J-- has a crush. Set in 2004--2007, the novel follows J-- from fifth to seventh grade as the youth delves further into gaming and fantasizes about dating Junie, despite noticing zero signs that Junie is interested. As J-- continues to struggle socially and endures parental abuse from Jewish Russian immigrant parents, J--'s assigned gender becomes increasingly restrictive to the middle schooler's growing sense of self. Then J-- joins a fencing club, and a new friendship presents unexpected possibilities. Simple language injects immediacy into J--'s narration throughout this raw novel about navigating abuse, gender identity, and experiences of neurodivergence. Main characters read as white. Ages 10--up. (Mar.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this work inspired by the author's life,J--, a neurodivergent, nonbinary trans girl, grasps for love and community as she plunges and loops on the roller coaster of her life.J--, who usesshe/her andthey/them pronouns, wants to "be good": for her parents, who used to make her feel loved; for the teachers who don't seem to like her; for the Guests in the computer game Coaster Boss, who keep leaving her theme parks; and for classmate and crush Junie, who trusts her. But the rules she's supposed to follow are impossible. She forgets her homework and makes too much noise in class. Her parks are in debt, and her Guests die in accidents. Desperate for kindness, friendship, and self-understanding,J-- latches onto Junie when they meet at the start of fifth grade and obsesses over an imagined love between them, even as the two drift apart. This coming-of-age story followsJ--, the child of Russian Jewish immigrants, from fifth through seventh grades. The narrative, written in spare, direct verse, spirals deeply intoJ--'s traumatic, abusive upbringing and her unhealthy fixation with Junie, which spawns a rivalry with Junie's friend Garrison. Coaster Boss acts as both a mechanism of escape and a reflection of her mental health. Although the majority of the narrative is heavy with loneliness and anxiety, the resolution is hopeful and empathetic. A turbulent, emotionally wrenching coming-of-age story. (author's note, interviews)(Verse fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
