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emily_mh's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I’ll always love a book with aroace rep and this was no different. Being aspec as a middle-grader is a unique experience, because people dismiss you on the basis of your age - even if they can accept allo kids knowing they’re allo. This is represented here, as is the confusion of trying to understand your aroace feelings in an allonormative world. I will say, and this isn’t a critique, that the aroace rep in Rick is less foregrounded than the trans rep in Melissa. (Again, not a bad thing, just setting expectations.) Instead, the focus here is on friendship.
Gino looks at friendship in two ways. The first is in the toxic friendship Rick shares with Jeff. Rick starts to realise that not only does this friendship make him feel bad, but that Jeff is an all-round jerk. In the meantime, Rick is also finding more positive relationships in the queer community of his school. Seeing this community grow and thrive was a joy, as was seeing Rick becoming more involved in it.
On top of its focus on friendship, the novel displays beautiful intergenerational love between Rick and his Grandpa Ray (who does DRAG!). Both benefit so clearly from this connection. I love seeing these kinds of relationships portrayed in media.
Although Rick claims to be a stand-alone companion novel, I would encourage you to read Melissa first as then both books will pack their full punch.
Rep: questioning aroace-spec MC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Bullying
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Ableism, Misogyny, Violence, Physical abuse, Vomit, Cannibalism, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: loss of a loved one, 1 lesbophobic l-slur, 1 HP refeni_iilorak's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Acephobia/Arophobia, Toxic friendship, and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Transphobia, and Vomit
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
shirarweiss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Deadnaming
black_flamed_candle_b00ks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book so much! I’m so glad no one got misgendered in this book and I’m so happy about the asexual representation!! This book was executed so well! Definitely one of my new favourite books for sure! I didn’t want to put it down! Perfect!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Transphobia, and Homophobia
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Transphobia, and Deadnaming
Minor: Vomit and Fire/Fire injury
rachelizx's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
booktavernkeep's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
iris_parsons's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was an interesting book, I thought Rick and Ronnie's friendship was really interesting near the end. I also hate Jeff, all the homophobes were disgusting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Transphobia
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This book focuses on Rick, who is just starting middle school. As he's navigating a school change, he is also confronting questions about himself and who he is friends with. Outside of school, he is spending more time with his grandpa who he learns shares his passion for a sci-fi show.
This was a cute middle grade that touches on quite a few LGBTQ topics (primarily, what it can be like to be ace or aro) as well as hard lessons about friendship that don't get discussed very frequently. It also touches on grief and change on several fronts, but it's not super heavy emotionally. This is set in the same world as their first book, Melissa, so we get to see her a bit as well! Overall, it was a cute well-done middle grade.
It definitely gave me lots of feelings. I love that some kids get to have this sort of experience and access to community (that was necer in the realm of possibilityfor me growing up), but it's upsetting to know that this is a limited experience, especially with recent legislation in many states. Just one more reason to stay aware of these bills being seen throughout the country that focus on queer kids.
This was a cute middle grade that touches on quite a few LGBTQ topics (primarily, what it can be like to be ace or aro) as well as hard lessons about friendship that don't get discussed very frequently. It also touches on grief and change on several fronts, but it's not super heavy emotionally. This is set in the same world as their first book, Melissa, so we get to see her a bit as well! Overall, it was a cute well-done middle grade.
It definitely gave me lots of feelings. I love that some kids get to have this sort of experience and access to community (that was necer in the realm of possibilityfor me growing up), but it's upsetting to know that this is a limited experience, especially with recent legislation in many states. Just one more reason to stay aware of these bills being seen throughout the country that focus on queer kids.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief
bekahmccue's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Deadnaming