OLLIE IN BETWEEN

Twelve-year-old Ollie is determined to discover what it means to be a woman.

The more Ollie learns about puberty, the less they understand; they don’t feel like a girl, but they don’t want to be a boy, either. As seventh grade goes on, they’re suddenly seen as too much of a girl for their hockey team but not enough of a girl for their best friend. When a teacher assigns a personal essay on “what it means to grow up,” Ollie uses this prompt as an opportunity to interview women, including their older sister, a friend’s mom, and teachers—but they only become more confused. When a classmate invites Ollie to join a queer book club, they finally begin to feel comfortable in their own skin. But Ollie knows that the world isn’t always kind to queer people. And how can they be themself when they don’t fully understand what that means? This book covers timely topics, such as transphobia and the importance of representation in books and media. Ollie, whose late mom was Persian and dad is white, embarks on an authentic, well-developed journey of finding themself and trying to understand their identity, all while balancing their fears of rejection. This book also emphasizes the queer joy of finding accepting people and discovering the strength to speak your truth.

An authentic look at the fears of gender-nonconforming queer youth and the challenges they face.