This book hit home with me. Maybe a little too accurate, too insightful. Jillian is a shy girl. Her wish to be invisible crosses over into real anxiety. The author doesn't use that word, but it’s what Jillian is going through.

The opening chapters showing her pain were difficult for me to read. All the bad advice she receives: “No teeth grinding, no tears, natural face.” And “being wishy-washy makes you weak.”

I feel the author lived this. The aguish and hope are there in the words.

One line Jillian said was similar to: “I’m not sure if I feel relief or defeat.” Dang. So true.

I think this book will be good for some young readers. Others it may be too much of a mirror. That just means to me that the author wrote this with deep understanding.

This is such an uplifting, sweet, and heartfelt book. I loved it! It is incredible to see Jillian come into her own. Jillian has lost her grandma and is grieving that loss. Her grandmother always told her she was fine the way she was and had a fierce warrior inside her. So, when a big competition called Mind Bender comes up, her teacher wants her to give it a try. Jillian is a really smart 5th grader, but when put on the spot she freezes and can’t always come up with the answer even though deep down she knows it. It’s really all about trying that counts and Jillian starts to get support from unexpected friends and her wonderful family. Maybe, she does have what it takes and should join. As her friend, Marquez points out, everyone has something. It was great the way the life cycle of fertilized eggs eventually turnings into chicks played such a role in the story. I really enjoyed this part. This parallels Jillian’s life so well. Her chick is a late bloomer and all the conditions must be right for a chick to break free of the egg and live in the outside world. Can Jillian use this to help her do the same? The cover is fantastic, it absolutely captures the story. So, for all the shy girls, this is a time to understand that you are Just Right and can realize your dreams just like everyone else.

I would recommend this to children from 3rd to 6th grade. I think most would relate to and enjoy this book. It’s a great read for an adult, too.

Thank you NetGalley, Nicole D. Collier, and Clarion Books for an ARC of this terrific book.

Although there are some unrealistic details, overall this book is genuine, heartfelt, and inspiring. I love the scientific descriptions of what happens when an egg develops into a chick (looking forward to that TK photo), and the classroom (and family) dynamics are sweet. I think this will resonate with readers in grades 3-5.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Jillian promised her grandmother she would try to be a little less shy. When the perfect opportunity arises at school Jillian decides to do her absolute very best to come out of her shell and show everyone how smart she really is.

This book is one of the sweetest middle grade books I've read. The story just warms you from the inside out. What I really liked about this book is the issues the characters face (and no I'm not just talking about being shy) are addressed in a way that is suitable for the middle grade child while still being enjoyable and relatable for a slightly older audience. With an adorable cast and heartwarming relationships Just Right Jillian belongs on every middle graders bookshelf.

Thank you to Versify and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!

To feel seen, to be heard, and the freedom to be yourself are some of the most empowering things in the world - "Just Right Jillian" embodies this and more.

The wonder that is "Just Right Jillian" will forever hold a special place in my heart. It’s rare that I come across a character I feel a deep, personal connection to. Jillian’s story was so much like looking in a mirror that I couldn’t help but get emotional at times.

Jillian is many things - smart, a warrior weaver, an expert at hanging upside-down, kind. But many see her as a kind of awkwardly shy turtle if they see her at all, she feels. Though her family always supports and encourages her, saying she’s just right as herself, Jillian isn’t convinced because words are often “too big” to get out of her mouth. She can’t help but believe it’s better to conform and hide (be invisible) than be different and stand out. People-ing and speaking are a struggle for sure!

Jillian wants to enter her school’s Mind Bender academic competition (and maybe win), so that she can prove her worth and keep a promise to her Grammy. Jillian’s journey is challenging because of her low self-esteem and continued grief over the recent loss of her Grammy.

The path towards Mind Bender and being the Jillian she wants to be is a mesmerizing undertaking with exceptional character development. There were as many steps forwards as there are steps back. I love Jillian’s strength and resolve. Even when she feels she hasn’t made any progress towards her goal, with the love and support from her friends and family, she continues to try her best.

I loved the close, loving relationship Jillian has with her parents through the good times and the bad. I also loved her friendship with one of her classmates, Marquez. They’re very kind to each other, offering helpful advice whenever the other is feeling troubled. Marquez’s advice was really wise. I liked his philosophy of being JTRA (just the right amount) and that you can overcome your fears by training your heart. Even the relationship between Jillian and her supposed enemy, Rashida (known for her smarts and also a classmate), was wonderfully developed and special.

A fun part of the story was Jillian’s class raising chickens. It was interesting learning the process of what happens inside the eggs from the time they’re laid to when the chickens hatch. I like how Jillian made connections with the eggs to her own predicament and how she could find a solution to it.

"Just Right Jillian" is a book I wish I had when I was younger and beyond. This book made me feel so seen and for that I really appreciate it. Indeed, "Just Right Jillian" is a marvelous debut with a ton of heart. Short, sweet, and oh-so endearing.

I received an electronic ARC from Clarion Books through NetGalley.
The cover first caught my eye with the gentle way she holds the chick and the expressions in her eyes. Jillian copes with grief from her grandmother's death and her own anxieties figuring out who she is. She is a fifth grader who does her best to blend in as she is fearful of speaking out. Excellent discussion points on why readers think she is anxious about being different or standing out.
Collier brings her story to life by slowly revealing the characters' layers. I love the comparison to chicks waiting to hatch and develop their lives.
Middle grade readers will relate to the challenges and joys as the final year of elementary school unfolds.

Just Right Jillian
by Nicole D. Collier
The book is a great look at culture, and bravery. Jillian is a young girl who has to learn to accept the loss of her grandmother, and learn how to be what her grandmother expected. She has to learn to express herself, and prove herself. A good resource for young elementary students to understand, courage, cultural ideals, and academic success.

***I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. All words and opinions are wholly my own, as always.***

Read this. Read this out loud to your family. Hand a copy over to a child. Share this.

Jillian's story is painfully familiar to anyone who has ever weighed the cost and benefit of blending in versus being themself. It's a story of friendship, and class chickens, of a teacher who is there to lift and teach but not stand for any foolishness.

Check the author's bio and acknowledgments. They may not mean much to young readers, but I think adults will appreciate her expertise and community.

Fun middle grade novel with a very likeable character in Jillian. It will be a hit with middle schoolers.

Really good! As a shy person, I understood what Jillian was going through, except I wouldn’t be brave enough to enter a school competition. Nonetheless, reading about Jillian’s bravery and how she slowly got out of her shell was really nice! How she started small by chasing to a more confident appearance, to speaking up more, and finally winning their school competition. Rate it 5 out of 5

Found this endearing and refreshing. Encouraging in finding yourself. Such a loving family. was so sweet how they used the hatching of the chickens. This showed healthy comlpetition as well. It was an easy fast read with a great message and also educated on an illness some may not know about.
4.5

This is a darling little book for children. It will help them to sort out feelings of shyness and that inner voice that may be telling them that they are ‘less than’. No one knows the private battle that is fought by someone with themselves, that inner voice telling them they are not good enough or asking if they are sure they want to direct attention to themselves. Jillian is a very smart young lady, but she is fighting a battle of her very own. It’s as if she wants to be invisible and not call attention to herself. Because she is so inner-focused, she does not pick up on the cues of those around her and does not realize that each of them is fighting a battle, too. This is a sweet story that will help a child to learn to cope with their feelings as well as to empathize with those around them. I also love the diversity of the characters and the cover! This book brought a smile to myself, and I would definitely purchase it as a gift for someone. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Nicole Collier's debut delivers an empowering message about embracing who you are and also having the courage for improvement. Jillian - nicknamed Jilly Bean by her mom, which reflects the warmth of this story - is a painfully shy 5th grader who wants to make her deceased grandmother proud while also getting more out of herself. Surrounded by a spirited cast of classmates, she slowly pushes herself to break out of her shell (a metaphor deployed in other ways in the book, note the great cover) until she's ready to do so more aggressively. Jillian's bravery, charm, fun hobbies and quiet relatability will be endearing to kids, and I think this book will soon be beloved.

Thank you to the author and publisher for letting me read an ARC on NetGalley.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read ARC of this book. I was drawn to the fun depiction of Jillian on the cover. and the need for this content for Middle School readers. . Jilian is a Middle School girl who is tired of just trying to "fit in". Her inspiration for a new style comes from her grandmother who has passed and a new friend she makes at school helps her come out of her shell socially and academically. Jilian is a likable character and I feel like preteens will be able to connect well with her. I also loved the side story about the chickens. "Don't count your chickens before they have hatched" Thank you NetGalley

Just Right Jillian by Nicole D Collier
MG Contemporary, Coming in February 2022 from Clarion Books, 224 Pages

What I Didn’t Like:
-I wanted a bit more of the other characters. Granted, this is Jillian’s story (obviously) and we do get a little of the others. But if I said I wasn’t wondering what home is like for Marquez and William, I’d be lying! I’m just saying, I see spin off potential here.

What I Did Like:
-Jillian. She’s relatable, adorable, and totally realistic. Middle grade readers will relate to her struggles and root for her.
-Realistic goals. Jillian isn’t looking to win the Nobel Prize in fifth grade. Her goals are realistic and relatable. Her struggles are real.
-Friendship goals. I loved how this friend group formed naturally without struggle or force. I like how we started the book feeling isolated and developed into one of the group. It was comforting and beautiful.

Who Should Read This One:
-Middle grade readers! Teachers, this should be a staple in a classroom from 4th up to even 6th grade. The struggles will relate to what kids go through and the journey is inspiring.

My Rating: 4 Stars. This is a wonderful middle grade contemporary book.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Jillian is a 5th grader who struggles to speak up for herself and struggles with what it means to be her. She is smart, funny, and kind but isn't sure how to use her voice to advocate for what she wants. On top of that, her mom has lupus and she lost her grandmother a year earlier.

When the “Mind Bender” maths competition tryouts are announced Jillian is unsure if she wants to display her talents or stay quiet and hidden.

This is a heartwarming story for middle grade readers and I really liked the parallels between Jillians and the chicks they were following in their classroom. It took me several chapters to get into the story, but once I was hooked, I was hooked!

Fifth-grader Jillian just wants to make it through. Don't stand out. Don't get noticed. Go with the flow. And she's pretty much got it down. But what's a fifth-grader to do when she intuitively knows there's more to life? More to who she is?

Just Right Jillian is a relatable book about growing up and becoming who you were meant to be. Through her family, friendships, and her own determination, Jillian finds the strength to break out of the mold and share her gifts with the world.

This contemporary middle school read shares a wonderful message with its audience. For any child that's struggled with speaking up, Jillian is a delightful role model. She shares honestly about her struggles without minimizing her fears. But she also doesn't allow them to rule over her. Just Right Jillian also deals with themes of loss, friendship, positive family relationships, and growing up, all in an age appropriate manner. There was very little questionable content or red flags in this book, a rarity in middle school literature. This would make a great read for kids struggling to find their voice and live with confidence. Jillian is a rare gem.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Jillian is in the fifth grade. Smart, funny, kind and individual , she is also painfully shy amongst her peers in school and struggles to speak up in class. Top this off with having lost her beloved grandmother the year before, and with her mother being ill, Jillian has a lot to contend with.

When the “Mind Bender” maths competition tryouts are announced to be coming soon to the school, Jillian struggles between wanting to display her talent for maths and being too shy and self conscious to do so.

This is a heartwarming story for young readers that explores many themes that they may encounter in their day to day lives in a positive manner. An enjoyable read and one I would recommend for my own daughter (age 9) to read

** spoiler alert ** Thank you Net Galley for the ARC! This will be a great read for kids who want to blend in and struggle to stay true to themselves and stick up for themselves. I loved Jillian and the support she receives from her classmates. The academic competition was an excellent opportunity for Jillian to show that she can succeed and speak up, even when she faces unexpected obstacles. This was a very heartwarming read and something I would have related to when I was in the 5th grade! A fantastic read!

This is a fun middle grades contemporary novel that follows Jillian as she copes with the grief of losing her grandmother and the journey of becoming her truest self. I felt like the author truly captured the feel of anxiety, the worries of learning to be yourself, and the stress of saying or doing the right thing. I love the way that we watch Jillian grow over the course of the novel, whether it was her glasses or her hair or her friendships. Jillian’s family and friends are a wonderful supporting cast of characters, too. It’s perfect for middle elementary to upper elementary students.