Stevie Crumb is the tallest girl in 7th grade, but she still feels invisible. When she joins the debate team things start to look up.

I love how Wyman tackles topics of growing up, friendship, bullying, and issues of safety for women in a way that is relatable to children and in no way cringy. I loved the complex friendship that Stevie and Arianna have because it showed the true ups and downs of friendship. I think a lot of kids will relate to this book and I can’t wait to purchase a copy for my library!

Seventh grader, Stevie, wants to be seen by her parents and brother, Ryan. All her parents time, attention, and limited resources go to Ryan's basketball playing, in unrealistic hopes that he secures a college scholarship. Also, Stevie is 5'10" tall and she wears a size 10 shoe. Everyone thinks she should play basketball and comments on her height and her maturing body. Add to that a best friend, Arianna, that strives to become a social media influencer with a predictable situation that unfolds, a crush on Cedric, and a newly formed debate team at her school and you have the setting for the book. Unfortunately, this has too many didactic moments. All the issues dealt with in this book are important ones. Educators, counselors, and parents will find ample opportunities to find discussion starters while reading this. Stevie is a very likable character and young readers will be cheering for her all the way through the book. The ending was hopeful but not as satisfying as it could have been. Not sure what young readers will think. 2.5 stars

For all my tall girls, this one needs a graphic novel too! As a 6’1” woman by my early teens, I developed the tendency to cross my arms because shorts had to be finger length for dress code and everybody else could roll their Sofee shorts but mine were too short… Slouch is written for that awful time when girls start growing before the boys and it’s so hard to be confident BUT throw in being too tall for your clothes and feeling like everyone only comments on your body (you’re so tall- do you play basketball- you’re so lucky to have long legs) and you have such a great story! Commenting on bodies shouldn’t be the norm and I feel like this book addressed it through Stevie in such a relatable way!

Slouch is a novel about a tall 12 year old girl navigating friends, family, self-esteem, and boundaries most teens face as minors. 

Stevie Crumb, like most adolescents, doesn’t want to stand out. Problem is, she’s nearly 5’10” in seventh grade, so she towers over her peers and much of the school staff as well. To Stevie, it seems, all anyone wants to talk about is her height. Her parents want her be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother, Ryan. She cares not one thing for basketball and any other sport, frankly. But Stevie has a keen desire to be good at something, just not something that draws even more attention to her lanky frame.

Then, quite by accident, Stevie learns her middle school has a debate team. She, out of curiosity, joins in on a meeting and thinks this may be her niche. After all there is a a cute fellow debater named Cedric. But alas, he’s shorter than she is, a fact her best friend is so kind to point out!

Then you have are Stevie’s clothes which she is out growing super fast. Even her brother calls her Flood Watch due to her pants stopping well above her ankles. Yes, another reason to stand out. It seems there is always money for Ryan’s basketball attire and expensive shoes but Stevie is asked to make do because the parents, after living expensive in the city have no money left for her. This fact infuriated me with the parents. I understand being on a-tight budget, but funds could have been shifted around to buy their daughter proper clothing.

Another plot in the Stevie saga is her subway rides to school and debates. Looking more like a high schooler than a twelve year old, men on the subway start making comments about her body. This is of course annoying, but also scary and unsafe.

Then her best friend lands herself in a stranger danger situation and when Stevie’s parents happen to find out, they tell best friend Arianna’s parents and now shes list her best friend.

Lots going on in Steve’s life and you reader will want to be there for every second of it!

Slouch, by Christina Wyman is a new must-read story about growing up and growing into yourself,

There’s a lot of heart in this story that tackles big topics and universal coming-of-age issues in a very tactful manner for middle grade readers