I LOVED Melissa and Rick and have recommended both stories to my students. Now I really enjoyed reading Green's story and their world. I love how Gino connects the stories and explores an area that not many authors have explored especially at the middle school level. Gino's previous stories have helped one student in particular to become comfortable to change their names and pronouns. I feel like Green is such a likable characters and my students will enjoy this story as they did Gino's other ones. I also like how this one included a play just like Melissa did.

This book mostly held my attention throughout. Many times though, I felt like it was repetitive. Important topic for students to read about, and I did appreciate the theater aspects of the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was just as cute as all of Alex Gino's books but for me, it lacked a lot of substance. It reads much younger than the actual main character and that was a bit of a let down for me. This is supposed to be a middle grade but I would maybe recommend this for elementary school kids.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a cute book and I loved seeing Rick and Melissa again as well as seeing a nonbinary MC, but I just wanted a little bit more.

i'm so happy that a book like this is out there. it's nice to have representation for smaller marginalized communities and i'm so happy that there is a non-pandering fictional piece like this for my library .

Wonderfully important and charming story of a well-adjusted non-binary middle schooler who is finding themselves with the help of supportive family, friends and educators.

Green is a non-binary middle schooler who, with their friends, help to make changes to their school's production of The Wizard of Oz to make it more diverse for everyone involved. And on top of all of that they have their first crush!

I adore this universe of queer middle school kids (Rick, Melissa, and now Green!) learning about themselves and their friends and how they fit in to the world. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but it's so amazing to have stories about queer kids that real kids can read and see themselves in.

There's also such casual discussion of so many things that are harder to talk about for parents and kids, like periods or puberty blockers. I liked that there was also the acknowledgment that even if you are well versed in diversity and inclusion that doesn't mean that you know everything and should be open to other people's life experiences.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

This was very sweet and enjoyable. An important addition to the series and wonderful to have nonbinary representation in middle grade literature. Green was easy to root for as they navigated different things, such as crushes, body changes, and other critical parts about coming of age. Alex Gino did a terrific job in portraying the added complexities of being nonbinary when going through all these changes.

My only feedback is that it read a little young for middle schoolers. I would recommend for 4th-5th graders. A good addition to classrooms!

I have loved everything Álex Gino has written and ALWAYS purchase the books for my middle school library...but unfortunately I didn't love this one quite as much.

For some reason, this one feels like way more "telling" than "showing"...constantly describing everything and everyone in the story without making it feel natural. This also makes the book read VERY young. I mean...these characters are in 7th grade now, but other than crushes and "dating" (in the middle school sense, anyway) the characters still read as elementary kids.

This isn't a BAD thing necessarily, but I do think this one won't appeal to my students as much as Rick (by far their favorite).

All that being said, I adored Green and their supportive friends and family. I'm always appreciative of the diversity in Gino's stories, and there is always age-appropriate handling of tough LGBTQ+ topics.

Rainbow Spectrum is back!

Meet Green, a 6th Grader, member of the Rainbow Spectrum Club, and the main character of author Alex Gino's latest middle-grade novel--or the third volume in the "Rainbow Spectrum Chronicles",

In the tradition of both "Melissa" and 'Rick", readers are introduced to another LGBTQIA+ perspective through main character Green Gibson who is non-binary. Green is happy with their life--mostly happy--comfortable and confident with how they identify and already has a strong support system with family and friends who accept Green as they are.

Having read the prior volumes in this loosely connected series, I enjoyed about Green and getting some insight into their life and non-binary identities, but occasionally found myself wanting to catch up on what Melissa and Rick were up to at this point. Going in with expectations set by those prior stories in this series, Green missed a step for me--compared to those other two stories, and the struggles and exploration of Melissa and Rick, I had high expectations for this one.

That said, I still found this to be an enjoyable and quick read. It's an important story, serves to continue exploring gender identities and allow readers to connect with characters who are like them that they can identify with, and I'm glad Gino wrote it. Once I realized that Green's story is less about the inner exploration of self or understanding how to fit into a world that might not be accepting, I was able to more easily connect with the main character and the story.

I think Green asks a more singular, simplified question middle-grade readers can grab onto as a jumping off point. I'm not going to spoil that question, but I think it adds another layer of realism to the broader narrative of this series, and I hope there are more books featuring the Rainbow Spectrum.

Green’s school has decided to put on the show The Wizard of Oz for their spring musical. Even though it’s not their first choice, Green and the other theater kids have decided to work to make it more inclusive. Green is hesitant to work on the play, but when they find out their crush, Ronnie, is working backstage, they decide it won’t be so bad after all.

However, navigating your first crush isn’t easy. Especially when you’re not sure if your crush is even attracted to people like you. Join Green as they navigate the middle school theater scene, along with their first crush.

Thanks to Scholastic for an advanced copy of Green by Alex Gino to review! Alex Gino is an expert at writing queer middle grade stories, and this one is no different. Set in the same world as Melissa, you get to see some familiar faces as well.

One of the great things about this is that the theater teacher works with their Rainbow Club to make The Wizard of Oz more gender inclusive. Not only does anyone get to try out for whatever role they want, but they also make a few changes to make the musical generally more welcoming. The kids also get to learn a little about queer history related to The Wizard of Oz, and it all just flows so nicely.

And the first crush plotline! It was just adorable, seeing Green get those butterflies and trying to figure out if Ronnie had them back. It’s all so classically middle school, and there are so many middle grade readers who will see themselves there. Green also has some great discussions about body dysmorphia and getting your first period. Such great representation for middle school readers who will pick this up.

I do think the ending felt a bit rushed, but other than that, I have no complaints! If you love Alex Gino, you’ll definitely love this latest book by them.

Alex Gino can clearly do no wrong as they have release another book into the world that we didn't know we needed. Green is a nonbinary middle school student dealing with fitting in, friends, puberty, and crushes just like middle school kids do yet navigating these waters are even trickier when you are queer. Lucky for them, they have our favorite club, Rainbow Spectrum, to look forward to and friends to help them along the way. I loved that we got to explore yet another facet for the queer community in the 3rd installment of Gino's Rainbow Spectrum world. It was eye opening yet relatable. It was nerve wrecking and comforting. I cannot wait to purchase this title for my middle school library. I know they are going to love it!

Alex Gino's middle school world is just a teensy bit better than ours and I love them for it. Alice Austen is still my favorite though. Green's dad was my favorite character.

Alex Gino's "loosely connected" stories MELISSA, RICK, and now GREEN are such fantastic, inspiring reads. I wish every kid had an accepting, loving group like the kids in this world. In addition to following Green's story after they don't get a part in the musical and then joining the backstage crew with Ronnie, a potential crush, we also get a peek at Melissa and Rick to see what they are up to and how they've grown since their own stories.

I really appreciate the range of kids and teachers in Gino's work, especially these three stories. The kids' lives are not perfect and some of the teachers still have some learning to do about this generation of LGBTQIAP+ people. However, there is an effort to support one another and learn that is severely lacking in many schools and our society in general these days.

A new book in the Melissa series that YA readers will enjoy! A young nonbinary student who is navigating their first crush, a school play, and their first period. I love how this book explores so many questions that nonbinary kids may have, and it will also help kids who are not nonbinary understand and empathize with some of what they may be going through.

I love Alex Gino's work, and it's a delight to learn more about Green from the Jung Middle School, Rainbow Spectrum Club/Melissa universe. Gino sweetly and honestly draws the main character's interior life, family experiences, and space in a community of kids all forming identities and relationships at this very challenging age. The adults are more than window dressing but never so omni-present as to be either cringe or savior, which is a nice touch. The representation matters for kids reading this book, for the adults sharing it with them, and for people of any age who could stand to take a look into the life of a trans kid.

We need more books that have a variety of representation and Alex has done it again! Including Melissa and Rick from their other two novels, Green adds in a non-binary pre teen, talks about some of the more difficult parts of being non binary and included yet another supportive family behind them! Love these books!

If you enjoy the exploration of middle school crushes and what it means to be non-binary, then this book is for you! GREEN explores the life of a non-binary middle schooler who is navigating the complected world of crushes and puberty. Alex Gino does a great job flushing out these themes and explains the LQBTQUIA+ community and life in general in a way that is clear and to the point.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This book follows Green, a nonbinary middle schooler who had previously made an appearance in Rick, Alex Gino’s last book in the “Melissa” universe. This is a very sweet story about learning to understand one’s self, respecting others’ journeys to understanding their identities, and all of the typical middle school stuff like crushes, friendships, and of course the school play. It is amazing to have stories about queer and trans kids out there, especially ones written for a middle grade audience. I’m so glad this book exists and I can’t wait to keep reading what Alex Gino creates!

As an educator, I know there are students who need to see themselves in books. I struggled with this book (as an adult) abs making each character and their unique situation clear in my mind. I'm not sure what age would have a clearer view.