Just Lizzie

Wilfrid, Karen. Just Lizzie
November 14, 2023 by Clarion Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lizzie's family has moved across town after a lot of unpleasantness with a neighbor (and a restraining order against him), and Lizzie is struggling with the move and with 8th grade. She misses her old neighborhood, and being close to her friends, and is also dealing with her older brother going off to college. Her best friend is Sarah Nan, but she's starting to become more and more interested in boys and kssing while Lizzie... just isn't. Lizzie also struggles with her perceptions of her body (she starts the book with running, and saying how much she hates it), relationships with teachers, and dealing with jerky classmates. She does have some positive things; she babysits younger neighbors and does have one teacher that she likes, Mrs. Faraher, although the teacher is pregnant and not as attentive as she was when Lizzie had her in 6th grade. When she needs to research something for a Capstone project, Lizzie comes across instances of asexual reproduction in the animal world and is intrigued. Is this perhaps what her sexual orientation is? She wonders again and again why she doesn't think anyone is "cute" and doesn't want to kiss anyone, boy or girl, they way her classmates do, and she can't find anyone to discuss this with. She tries to talk to Sarah Nan's mother (Daria is a free spirit who is planning a celebration of womanhood for Sarah Nan when the time is right) and her brother, who stays at college over the Thanksgiving break so he can sleep with his girlfriend. She wishes she could talk to Mrs. Faraher, but the teacher brushes off her concerns. Clearly still bothered by the thought of the neighbor who forced his way into their house trying to talk to her mother, Lizzie signs up for a self defense class. It's taught by a teacher she hasn't liked in the past, but the class is helpful. Eventually, Lizzie decides she does identify as asexual, joings the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), and even finds a classmate who identifies the same way. 

Strengths: Everybody feels awkward in middle school, but sometimes it's not as simple as not knowing what kind of shoes to wear or how to talk to other people. This is a good portrayal of how many tweens and young teens have questions that they just can't seem to get answered. Middle school friendships often fall victim to this, and it was good to see that while Lizzie and Sarah Nan were different, they still tried to stay connected. I liked the depiction of the self defense class, and well as the way the teachers were generally depicted as real human beings with good sides and bad sides. Wilfrid's prose is easy and enjoyable to read. 
Weaknesses: I don't think that Mrs. Faraher can be blamed for not completely supporting Lizzie; a large percentage of middle school students probably identify as asexual until later in their lives, so it's difficult issue to address. Lizzie does seem to really struggle with a lot of issues, and I'm a bit surprised that her parents don't have her in therapy. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed medina's The One Who Loves You Most , Reese's Every Bird a Prince, or Gino's Rick. I don't know that I would buy this for elementary school because of several of the topics; they just wouldn't be applicable to most readers younger than 6th grade.