Jillian reminds me so much of a younger me. She tries everything she can to blend in and has no desire to stand out at all. This debut middle grade novel teaches so much about family values and finding yourself then proving it to others. FIfth grade me needed this book.

What can I say I loved this book Just Right Jillian. I read it out loud to my kids (14 yrs and 11 yrs) and that is something that doesnt happen often. Cause my kids like to stay active and moving at all times and they both loved the book as well. The both has asked me get a physical copy and read it to them again. So I highly recomment this book to everyone and will be getting a physical copy very soon.

What a lovely novel for young readers afraid of standing out and speaking out. I felt transported into Jillian’s Mons as she struggled with those two things, and dealt with many other issues alongside. Issues mirrored in some of her classmates and I’m sure in middle schoolers up and down the country, and around the world.

I thought this was such a sweet middle grade book. The main character is grieving from her grandmother's death and through this is struggling with being shy when it comes to the Mind Bender competition. This coming of age story is perfect for middle grade readers.

What a fun book with a good lesson. I enjoyed reading this book and will be sharing it with my nine and 10-year-old girls. The girl was a delightful character and was an easy read.

Have you ever known the answer to a question, but you didn’t volunteer to answer? That happens to Jillian, a lot. Jillian doesn’t like to bring attention to herself, she tends to “go with the flow”, but being reserved means:
You can’t wear the kind of clothes you like
You can’t do your hair the way you like
You don’t sing and dance the way you used to
And you don’t trust yourself even when you know the right answer
Jillian is about to learn from a couple of unlikely people and hatching baby chicks, that she is just right the way she is. So many students will be inspired by and see themselves in Jillian.

This book was so sweet. It is a fantastic book for 3rd grade age about shyness and breaking out of your shell. I loved Jillian's family and the overall support she got throughout the book. This is one I will definitely be recommending to kiddos ages 8-10.

Just Right Jillian was just perfect! Fifth grade me and Jillian share many similarities. The author skillfully deals with overcoming grief, shyness, speaking your mind, and finding your place. The characters were great, and when I read the story with my 2nd grader, he pointed out which characteristics exhibited by his friends matched the characters in the story. It's so sweet to experience Jillian coming into her own in her way. Loved it!

Jillian is certainly a relatable character. She has a lot of anxiety about social situations, compounded by grief. I'm a little concerned by the way she overcomes that anxiety by sheer force of will, though. It doesn't feel very realistic. Still, I like the parallel with the hatching chicks, the way the kids respond to eggs that fail to hatch and how their response is received by their peers.

I love a wonderful middle grade. With it being Middle Grade March this is a great grab! Self-esteem is a tough thing to grow during middle school and this book is a wonderful way to show you can and YOU will.

Thank you Netgalley and Clarion Books for the gifted book that I read along with the library audio.

This is one of the best middle grade books I have seen with a metaphor running it's way through it. Jillian is a 5th grader who is trying to break out of her shell of fear and grief as she deals with her grandmother's passing and her mom's Lupus diagnosis. She is smart but when put on the spot she just wants to freeze and become invisible. But as her and her classmates learn about and observe 10 eggs incubating to become chickens, her development as a person coming into her own is mirrored by the growing and maturing of those chickens in the eggs. I found Jillian endearing and the lessons she learned about standing up for herself, finding the good in people, and finding confidence in her uniqueness had me wanting to pump my fist at her accomplishments. Plus we see involved parents and teachers which I always appreciate in middle grade books where the tendency is for kids to run around without supervision.

If a child in your life is insecure, gift them the book Just Right Jillian from Nicole D. Collier. This adorable book meets young children where they are at and encourages them to believe in themselves. Continued.....
https://booksuplift.com/just-right-jillian/

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier.

I enjoyed this book. For a middle grade, which I always struggle to read, I found it entertaining and I didn't dislike the main character (usually my biggest issue with a story).

Jillian is coming up on the year anniversary of her grandmother's death and is finding herself stuck where she was just after her grandmother had passed. So she decides to do something big, something out of her comfort zone. Shy Jillian decides to take part in the school contest of Mind Benders.

This story goes through the ideas of grief, standing up for oneself, and looking beyond the actions of a person and into why they make be acting the way that they do. It was a fun, quick, read that added some cheer to my day.

Just Right Jillian is an empowering and soft read on breaking out of one's shell. I adored the main character and could feel her frustration as people kept on speaking over her. Moreover, Jillian's character development was so lovely to see! I loved how as she became more confident in herself, she began to reach out to others too -- even people Jillian never thought she'd be friends with. Unfortunately though, I disliked the writing. I found it was a bit boring at times. Nevertheless, it's still an inspiring read for younger kids!

This was a great middle grade book. My 11 and 8 year old daughter are hard to find books for--this was perfect. This book described a lot of what my 11 year old had/has gone through in school. She related to the characters--and it was great for my outgoing 8 year old-very relatable. I look forward to more books by this author!

Just Right Jillian is a a sweet story about a young girl learning to find her voice. Jillian is a fifth grader who is so shy that she often cannot speak. Her mother has a chronic illness and her grandmother passed away recently. Jillian is struggling to find her place in the world and reclaim her identity. With supportive adults throughout and a side story about classroom chicks waiting to hatch, Just Right Jillian is compelling, relatable, and enjoyable. Readers will root for Jillian and the chicks! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy of this book.

Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier is a heartwarming Middle Grade read about a smart girl who is extremely shy and is trying to figure out her place in the world. Her grandmother, whom she was really close to has recently passed away and she is still grieving her loss so much so that she doesn't do any weaving anymore. Her grandmother was always encouraging her to not necessarily be different, but to be herself.

Instead of standing out from the crowd, Jillian follows the crowd and participates in twinning day where her classmates all wear the same outfits and hairstyles. She tries to fit in and not stand out.

Jillian decides to compete in the "Mind Bender" competition that is held at school. She never believes she has a chance to win although she knows she is smart enough to win it.

Throughout the book, Jillian slowly starts to become her own person. It is wonderful to watch her growth and definitely something every middle grade kid can relate to.

Thank you to Clarion Books for the #gifted copy of the book.

This is a Middle Grade. I found this book just ok. I have to say that the main character, Jillian drove me crazy. I do understand what this book was doing but it just was not for me. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

I adore Jillian! Nicole Collier has a spot on middle grade voice and portrays a shy child with such warmth and truth. Vivid details make the story come to life and serious topics addressed in a way that doesn’t feel heavy handed. Love!

Delving into the lives of book characters is one of my favorite past times. Jillian's life gave me nostalgia and comfort. Making promises to grandmas is something I am deeply familiar with and that urge to get it right hit close to home. I was rooting for Jillian throughout the book and look forward to sharing her with my students.
#JustRightJillian #NetGalley