I love this story of Bug and her best friends who determines she no longer wants to be called by her nickname. They are about to start middle school and Bug has lost her uncle. She believes her house is haunted and learns that it’s her uncle trying to communicate. This is a necessary book for students who do not necessarily identify wiry their birth gender. It’s a moving story, I cried several times.

This book feels like two separate books merged together, one that moved me deeply and one that left me feeling a bit meh. That said, the part that moved me overshadows anything else. It is the summer before middle school, and 12 year old "Bug" has just lost her uncle, who played a very big part in her life and lived with her and her mother. The first half of the book focuses on how Bug struggles with Roderick's death especially in a house that is "haunted", doesn't want to learn to wear makeup and consider which boys are the cutest in school, but also doesn't want to lose her best friend. Bug's uncle seems to be trying to tell her something and Bug has to step outside of her normal comfort zone to figure it out. I'm not spoiling anything, as this is in the summary of the book, but the second half of the book deals with Bug's realization that they are transgendered. This is the part of the book that moved me deeply and that is told so amazingly well. The kids that need this book will easily make it through the first half to get to the pages where Bug learns to listen to that inner voice and to look in the mirror and see themselves as they truly are. Bug is so lucky to be a part of a family that loves no matter what and part of a community that is open-minded. But Too Bright To See isn't just for the kid questioning their identity. It is for anyone who might have a friend who is questioning their identity, which means everyone. Bug has to discover that all of those times feeling not quite comfortable in their own skin were because they were trying to be something they were not. I can't begin to say I comprehend what someone who is transgendered goes through, but Kyle Lukoff really does a great job trying to put it into words that many can understand. An important book because you never know who needs it.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC of this novel.

A true ghost story, this is a book that some adults may need to preview before passing on to younger readers. I know several who would definitely have nightmares from this one. I was very well written, and I enjoyed the story.

I absolutely loved Too Bright to See. It starts as a super realistic portrayal of what it’s like to be moving into adolescence and coming to terms with the fact that childhood friendships may not always last as you get older, but with some supernatural elements added in. Bug reminds me of Anne of Green Gables in the best possible way, full of a love for being outside and frequent flights of fancy. The ghost story aspects are the perfect level of scary for middle grade readers. Then, the story ultimately becomes a really nice, non-cliched exploration of a young person realizing that he’s trans, figuring out who he is with a little help from a friendly ghost. I would absolutely recommend Too Bright to See to any middle grade reader (or anyone else who just really loves a good story).

For MS kiddos, making friends and figuring out who they want to be is hard. The same is true for Bug! This sweet, scary, sad and happy book is one I’ll hold in my 💜 for a long time.

Kyle Lukoff, well known for his picture books about trans kids (including the Stonewall Book Award winning When Aiden Became a Brother), makes the jump to middle grade with Too Bright to See. He nails the landing of that jump with this story about Bug, a kid working through grief, friendship pains, and gender identity.

Trying to picture myself as a teenage girl is like staring at the sun, too bright to see, and it hurts. (Too Bright to See, 35%)

Too Bright to See starts off pretty dreary. Bug’s uncle, who shone brightly in Bug’s life, has just died young. (First line: “It’s strange living in our old house, now that Uncle Roderick is dead.”) Bug’s relationship with his bff seems to be on the rocks once again. Bug’s unhappiness seems to go deeper than these obvious challenges in his life, but even Bug isn’t totally sure why that is.

Trans Narrative
As the story progresses, we see a kid trying to convince himself he’s a cis girl, a kid who knows what transgender means yet also thinks that it can’t apply to him, a kid whose mixed up jumbled feelings will make you want to give him a big hug. Too Bright to See offers another key narrative to the small canon of middle grade trans coming out stories, a narrative that shows realizing one’s gender identity can be a bumpy, unclear road. For a book coming in under 200 pages, it takes you on an emotional journey: starting as a sad summer story, becoming more heartfelt and heartbreaking as Bug struggles, ending with happy tears and strengthened relationships.

A lot of the trans people telling their stories talked more about a general feeling of not-rightness. Like people looking at you through a frosted glass window, guessing at what they were seeing. But that just sounds normal to me. (Too Bright to See, 73%)

Ghost Narrative?
To be clear, Too Bright to See is not primarily a ghost story. The mostly gentle hauntings function as a guide to help Bug understand his feelings. The ghost’s identity isn’t much of a mystery. Roderick might have been able to help Bug figure things out. He does the best he can as a ghost. I do recall a couple of scenes with heightened tension – one where Bug’s home alone and one where Moira’s injured. Originally, I was excited to read this book because I thought it would be a spooky read. Turns out its strengths lie elsewhere.

BFFs
I want to add some quick notes about Moira, Bug’s best friend since they were little. The two clashed when they were young but eventually settled into a comfortable enough friendship. That friendship has become rocky again as Moira pushes forward into femininity and middle school. I appreciated Moira’s depiction as more than ‘bff turned mean girl’ that used to be common in middle grade. Especially after Bug comes out to Moira, she makes some astute observations about why their friendship had been fracturing.

Pronouns
As I finished this book, I wondered how I would refer to Bug when booktalking. Lukoff anticipated this thought. He addresses it in an author’s note immediately after the end of the story. I’ve used he/him throughout this review because my audience here is all adults. Lukoff suggests using they/them quickly when talking to someone who hasn’t read the story yet. He notes, “But I also trust you to describe it to someone who hasn’t read it yet, in whatever way feels right to you, so long as you hold the truth of who Bug is in your heart.”

The Bottom Line 💭
A slim volume with plenty to offer, Too Bright to See tells a moving story of one kid’s journey to coming out to himself and his community, with a little bit of ghostly assistance! I hope Lukoff receives opportunities to continue publishing middle grade in the future.

Too Bright to See pulls you in from the very first chapters. I made the mistake of starting it before work and didn't want to put it down. It's the sort of story that begs you to move forward. Whether you read to find out what Uncle Roderick's ghost is trying to reveal to Bug, to see old friendships evolve and new friendships blossom, or to feel the emotions involved in discovering who you are as you embark upon middle school, this story will not disappoint. It has so much to say about humanity, becoming ourselves and acceptance.

Bug is dealing with the loss of her uncle. She keeps sensing his presence and thinks it’s his ghost trying to tell her something. When she looks in the mirror, she finally recognizes herself and thinks if I get to look like a boy I might feel better. As time goes on, she realizes her uncle is trying to tell her “Be yourself.”

This fast middle grade read will be a breakthrough novel. I haven't read anything that's so necessary for kids and adults in this country right now. The story of Bug and his slow journey into self-awareness and acceptance is a must add to classroom libraries.

It is challenging to provide a review without giving away the beautiful story and journey, which the reader really must experience for themselves. The angst and discomfort Bug feels in his own body at the beginning is tangible. You will feel uncomfortable in your own skin purely by reading his inner thoughts. You can see his destination before he can, and will be cheering and pushing him into the right direction.

The death of beloved Uncle Roderick at the beginning of the book provides a secondary character that we don't actually get to meet. Roddy has been a father figure to Bug his whole life. This continues after his death as the ghost and haunting of his uncle helps Bug to his ultimate realization. I'll admit that, although an interesting way to help a character along, the ghosts and hauntings were not my cup of tea. I feel that this story would have been interesting, emotional and moving without the distraction of a paranormal element. It may be beneficial to getting middle grade readers to pick up this book and delve into it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and PRHYR/Dial Books for an early copy to review.

This was a quick read that engaged me right away. There were some creepy parts but nothing too scary. The mystery really did have me guessing throughout the entire book.

I was happy and proud to see LGBTQ representation in a middle grade novel.

The thing I loved best was reading the authors note at the end and realizing that it is an own voices book.

All the stars to Bug and this story of figuring out how to make your outside look like your inside feels.

Kyle Lukoff said it best in his author’s note: “It’s about a kid being haunted by the ghost of their dead uncle into figuring out something important!”

Given the current political climate and the 80+ bills Republicans across the country have introduced that will prevent transgender teens from being their true selves, I’m so happy that this sad, sweet story about grief and acceptance will soon be out in the world. I will definitely be adding this book to my middle school class library.

"The weeks stretch out in front of me, slow and hot, the finish line shimmering like a mirage. I don't know who I'll be when I cross over."

This heart-breaking and beautiful middle grade novel follows 11 year old Bug as they prepare to start middle school, grieve for their beloved uncle, and try to figure out who they are.

This story explores grief in a heartfelt and honest way. Specifically the grief for a death that was not sudden but expected and no less heart-breaking for it. It begins shortly after the death of Bug's uncle who was a parental figure in their life. We see how Bug deals with, and doesn't deal with their grief, throughout the beginning of the book.

It discusses feeling like you don't fit in and aren't able to be a proper "girl" in a way that seems to come easily to most of your peers - a feeling that was very familiar to me as a transgender man. It also features a trans character who didn't always know which is a common narrative that doesn't apply to many of us. Bug doesn't always know but when they figure out who they are everything else makes sense in hindsight.

Overall I felt this was an honest and heartful look at both grief and transgender identity that felt true to life and was beautifully written. I'd highly recommend it to children and adults alike.

Content warnings: grief, death, terminal illness, mentions of bullying, unintentional misgendering

This is the story of Bug, an 11 year old who spends the summer being haunted as they try to figure out what their uncle's ghost is trying to tell them. Between the ghosts and the grief, is a story of identity and being yourself. With sometimes tense friendships and close family relationships, I adored this book so much. It starts off quite sad but has such a happy ending, and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

This was such a beautiful reading experience. I was expecting more of a creepy type of ghost story but instead it was more about grief after the main character's uncle passes away. This was masterfully combined with the main character working out he's transgender - both storylines are woven together perfectly.

It was so refreshing and comforting to read a trans coming out story that just completely lacked transphobia and was so incredibly supportive.

Eleven year old Bug's best friend Moira has decided they should spend the summer getting ready for middle school. That means practicing makeup applications, finding the right clothes, scanning yearbooks to find cute boys, learning about the clubs, and expanding Bug's social circle. Even though none of this is on the top of Bug's “to do” list, she participates in the sleepovers and chat fests with the various girls that will be in middle school with them. However, the most issue for Bug is finding out the identity of the ghost who seems to be trying to communicate with her. With Uncle Roderick's death, the house, which is home to several friendly ghosts, seems to have a new resident. Small clues slowly unlock the identity of ghost is trying to relay to Bug. Well plotted story about learning who you are, and how to be comfortable in your own skin. In the end, the acceptance and understanding Bug receives from her/his peers is a nice change of pace from the usual bullying issue. Highly recommend. Thank you to Dial, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, and netgalley for the arc.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book. At first I thought it was a slightly scary ghost story. After all, some of those ghost activities had me worried for Bug! Then I thought it was more about Uncle Roderick being. Drag queen. Wrong again. This is the story of Bug’s uncle dying and still needing to tell Bug something-hence the haunting. But it is also about being true to yourself and finding, making, and keeping friends. And, yes, it’s a ghost story too. I very much enjoyed Bug’s thought process as she figures out what she finally needs to understand. The story is appropriate, honest and innocent. I will be adding this to the school library. Thank you, Kyle for a very important story. .

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff. This is a scary yet wonderful ghost story of kid named Bug whose Uncle has recently passed away. Bug is struggling to deal with the passing of Uncle Roderick, upcoming middle school, and the increased ghostly activity in the house. Bug has some coming of age realizations towards the end. I can't really say more without giving away some plot points. Just read this book!

What a great read!! It’s a fast passed, lovely story exploring grief, gender identity and growing up. Everyone should read this one. When Aiden became a big brother is one of my favorite picture books and I loved this story even more.

Too Bright to See is the book I needed when I was Bug's age. I'm sure I'm not the only one, and I'm so happy for the kids who will get to grow up with this in their libraries and bookstores and shelves. Every element wove together perfectly to make a beautiful, moving story about being yourself - and figuring out who that is.