What a lovely book! Its main character is likeable and relatable, and it was a pleasure to go along on her journey as she learned about confidence, loss, friendship, creativity, and, ultimately, the importance of letting others see your true self. I'm looking forward to recommending it to customers.

Remember not to count chickens before they hatch! Fifth-grade Jillian is shy—the kind of shy that twists up her insides and hides her words when she gets nervous. It has gotten worse since the death of her grandmother, an advocate whom Jillian felt could always see through to the real her. When the Mind Bender competition is announced at school, Jillian sees it as her chance to honor her grandmother’s memory—even if she is intimidated by the competition itself. Just like the eggs preparing to hatch in her classroom, Jillian must summon the strength and courage to face her fears and break out of her shell.

While it is not uncommon for people to be shy, it is not often that a protagonist in a story suffers from that same affliction. Written from Jillian’s perspective in the first person, readers get a clear view of the struggles happening inside Jillian’s own mind whenever she must speak up to others. Little by little, Jillian finds herself as the weight of the sadness from her grandmother’s passing lifts. Colloquial phrasing, familiar moments, and palpable emotions draw readers in from the first page. The narrative flows smoothly and though there is only one illustration, the dialogue and design of the story make it accessible to a wide range of middle grade readers. Using the metaphor of chicks hatching, Jillian’s story is filled with growth, discomfort, and ultimate arrival in a world outside of a shell. Anyone who is or has ever been shy will empathize with Jillian’s story and her ongoing journey to let others see her true self.

What an absolutely perfect time for JUST RIGHT JILLIAN to be making her way into the world... because the world could sure use some more Jillians right now. I’m so grateful to Nicole Collier and to Versify for the advanced review copy.

Jillian is a super smart fifth-grader who hasn’t quite broken out of her shell yet. But she’s tired of shyness holding her back and decides to train her heart to be brave. I so wish I could quote from an uncorrected proof, because this book provides inspiration on every single page. From Jillian’s class project (incubating eggs until the chicks are finally ready to break out of their own shells) to her love of weaving (handed down by her late grandmother, who inspired her to be courageous) to her friendship with the endearing and encouraging Marquez, Jillian’s story will make you want to speak up. It will make you want to be yourself. It will make you want to live your life without fear, expressing the joy and brilliance that’s inside you, just waiting to hatch.

Jillian is very quiet and insecure, even though her parents are really supportive. Her mother, who suffers from lupus, even runs empowerment workshops for women! Jillian is also still grieving for her grandmother, with whom she was very close, who passed away almost a year ago. School is especially difficult. Jillian doesn't have anyone to whom she feels close, and while she understands the importance of fitting in with the clothing and hair styles of other fifth graders (boring colors, simple hair dos, and strict adherence to an unspoken weekly schedule), she doesn't like it. Still, she is too shy to speak up. Even though she is very bright, she doesn't want to participate in the Mind Bender competition that the school holds as a review replacement for standardized testing. Since Rashida won last year, as a fourth grader, Jillian is sure that she will win again, so it's senseless for her to try. Still, she is trying to speak up more as a way to honor her grandmother's memory. Jillian also wove a lot of items with her grandmother, but hasn't worked on her craft in the last year. When she finally talks to her teacher about participating in the Mind Bender, her teacher is supportive, but lots of things get in the way. She is glad to make friends with Marquez, who sticks up for her and on whom she has a little crush, and the more she gets involved with school, the more she realizes that Rashida is actually rather nice. A bad cold causes her to do poorly in the preliminary round for the Mind Bender, although she makes the cut to go on. When her mother's lupus flares up and Jillian wants to go to the hospital with her, she misses the round before the final one. She's given the opportunity to try to get a retake, but it involves asking a lot of teachers at school if she can have a re-do. Will Jillian be able to channel her grandmother's enthusiasm and outspoken qualities in order to try for something she really wants?
Strengths: My favorite part of this was the coping strategies Jillian uses when she feels out of control in the situation. Biting the back of her tongue in order to be still, using a "neutral face" when things are uncomfortable; these are helpful for just about everyone. It's good to see depictions of children missing grandparents, since that's an unfortunate loss that many students face. I was also glad to see a classroom that was very interested in academics, where the most accomplished student is also the most popular. Young readers will be amused by Jillian's different fashions, and interested in all of the different things she does with her hair. While Jillian is a very anxious character, she is really trying to work in a positive direction, and utilizing solid coping skills.
Weaknesses: It seems unlikely that a school would be able to opt out of standardized testing, and even more unlikely that Jillian's teacher would make her ask all the other teachers for special permission to re do the Mind Bender qualifying round. Of course, I don't work in an elementary school, but I can't see this happening in middle school. Young readers will not be bothered by this.
What I really think: Just Right Jillian reminds me a lot of Allen's Mya Tibbs, if Mya had an anxiety disorder. Same supportive family, same quirky sense of fashion, and same desire to get things done. This is another good series for elementary schools, like Draper's Sassy, Brown's Lola Levine, and Barrows' Ivy and Bean.