I vividly remember reading Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret as a kid. All of the changes Margaret and her friends were so excited about , and so eager to rush into, were the exact things I didn't want to happen to me. I wondered what was wrong with me that I wasn't looking forward to "becoming a woman" like everyone else was. Imagine having a book like this one to realize I wasn't alone in thinking that way. But this book didn't exist at the time.
In Ollie In Between, Jess Callans captures the confusion, fear, and worry of puberty perfectly. As a nurse, teacher and most especially a parent, some of Ollie's thoughts completely gutted me. Especially considering a recent survey showing that 50% of transgender and non-binary youth in the US have seriously considered suicide. I wanted to leap into the pages of the book and find a way to protect Ollie and shelter them from this reality. We only get one chance at our initial reaction to a child confiding their true self to us--and experiencing this through Ollie's eyes is a poignant reminder of how wrong we adults often get it. Callans does a beautiful job at expressing the physiological responses Ollie has to various situations throughout their journey, which makes the reader feel in the midst of it all. The writing is so well executed it comes as no surprise that the author has an MFA in writing for kids.
The relationships in the story felt authentic, and I especially enjoyed the older sister trying her best to fill the shoes of a desperately missed mom.--and not always getting it right. The ending wasn't wrapped up in a neat bow, but was satisfying and hopeful. Ollie is a character you can't help but root for. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of so many kids who need a character they can relate to. As Ollie discovers along the way, there isn't one right way to feel. I predict many kids will finally feel seen in these pages.

This is a story for any young person who has questions about growing up, especially if you feel like the questions you do ask are always given basic answers, like 'it's a feeling' or 'I just knew." Figuring out who you want to be, and doing that in a world that often tells young people that puberty is a celebration related to becoming a woman or a man, is confusing and can be very lonely. For trans and nonbinary youth it's downright dangerous. This is a tearjerker with very realistic situations, dialogue and characters sure to immerse readers and have them racing to find out if Ollie has a happy ending. LGBTQIA+ readers, families and allies will find an author who understands how frightening growing up feeling like an outsider can be, feeling like you're missing a rule book, and nothing on offer sounds like it'll fit. This story is for you.

When Ollie pulls their own question from the 'sex box' in health class, they have to read it aloud, "What happens if you don't want to become a woman?" And then listen to the laughter of the other students to this "stupid question." Ollie already felt like a bit of an outsider, but before it was ok, they had their friends Cal and Nate who helped Ollie navigate socially, but now Cal and Nate are moving in different directions, but both directions are leading them away from Ollie. Ollie starts interviewing women at and around the school - "What did womanhood mean to you when you were younger and how do you think that has changed as an adult?" The interviews lead to more questions, and also the question of bravery. Can Ollie be brave enough to stand up for a new friend? Or take steps to be themselves even if they might get hurt?

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

I had the biggest smile on my face after completing this wholesome novel. Ollie's journey discovering their gender identity mirrored so many of my own moments growing up as a confused, scared, and most definitely not cis girl.

Jess Callans wrote this book with the prompt from school that asks, "What defines a woman/womanhood?", and coincidentally, our main protagonist, Ollie, dives in their health class to answer the very same question in their essay. After interviewing several adults, friends, and their sister, they are just as frustrated and confused as ever.

What comes out of the essay, and the end of the novel, is a teen with inclusive, queer, and loyal friends in a queer book club.

Even though this book is written for juniors/middle-grade level readers, it touches on some really difficult topics and themes. I wish I could bottle up the feelings I had while reading this and carry it with me always, because it makes me feel safe and cozy.

I hope Jess Callans will continue to write more books because I am definitely a new fan!

Being nonbinary, I found so many things to appreciate about Ollie in Between, which concerns a nonbinary 13-year-old navigating gender expectations. And as I read, I wondered if the protagonist might also be autistic because Ollie has difficulty interpreting people’s nonverbal communication and Ollie struggles with social interactions. Ollie in Between will be published by Feiwel & Friends and April 2025.