This was a beautiful afternoon read.

My favorite character was Benson - this book is a great way to introduce kids to the concept of someone being chronically ill, and how someone might NOT want to be treated. Benson's former friends abandoned him, but through the book you learn that maybe someone can change their behavior. This plot line isn't resolved, but is left hopeful.

There are queer characters involved, but they are not the focal point - a therapist's pronouns are they/them, and Laura's mother is bi (she has dated boys and girls), and you see the impact this has on the family. Though I wish plot points like this were more delved into, this is a novel in verse and middle grade. The theme of the novel is that people can sometimes change, such as Laura's grandparents, or her parents towards the end of the novel. You do not see the work that goes into changing, but rather how someone changing or not changing can affect the people around them. A powerful novel on what drug use and family dynamics can do to a child.

Hello my name is.... I identify as he/him, she/her kind of book.
With a dash of my mom used to like girls, but now she likes boys.
Wrapped in 'a little girl and her puppy' cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to preview this book.