I so, so wish I would've had this book when I was a young teen trying to figure out why I wasn't sexually attracted to anyone. It features an eighth grader learning about asexuality, and it is so sweet and heartwarming and emotional and to the point and I definitely cried a little reading it. This was definitely a book that I could not put down, and I hope that everyone who needs it is able to find it! Basically, I loved this book!!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Honestly, this book was really unforgettable, and I found myself losing interest often while reading. Which is a bummer because I was very interested in the premise, since I definitely think we need more queer middle grade books.

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

This is not an easy, comfortable read. You're going to squirm. Lizzie makes bad choices. SHe goes the wrong way. But it's real. Its messy and confusing and that's reality for a lot of kids in middle school. And it's a complex exploration of identity and being true to yourself even when other people don't get it. Even when your truth is a little frightening to you.

This is a book that I wish I had when I was Lizzie's age. A touching story on asexuality that presents it in a way that I think most asexuals' will understand. I do think this book bit off more than it could chew with the Mom/ predator plot. Adding this additional layer added complexity that I don't think the book was equipped to handle and accidentally opened a can of worms with asexuality as a trauma response instead asexuality. Both are valid, its just this book opened up that conversation but didn't actually do anything for it. I did enjoy it and seeing Lizzie's female friendships.

Lizzie is at an age where everyone around her is talking crushes and dates and relationships. Lizzie, however, doesn't see what the big deal is. Boys, kissing, sex? Not only is she not interested, some of it makes her downright squeamish. This story is about Lizzie as she not only finds out about what asexuality is, but what it means to both the relationships she currently has and to any she may have in the future.

The characters and situations in this book were very well done. They were believable and cohesive and very well thought out. You can tell that the author has a great read on kids in this demographic. The self defense classes in the story line, as well as the reasoning behind it and the feelings that it invoked and inspired were a great addition and a perfect way to keep the story moving along.

I learned quite a few things reading this book, and I'm not just talking about the whip-tail lizard. With the author actually being asexual this came from personal experience rather than the perception of what it should mean to be asexual. I think that makes a world of difference. It's so important to have books like this for kids to be able to identify their feelings and make connections, or just to learn empathy and understanding for those that feel different from themselves.

In Just Lizzie, a young girl works on figuring out her sexuality and dealing with various other issues while learning about herself. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it, though it is not a genre (middle grade contemporary) that I would not normally pick up. However, I know this is a book that I would have loved, needed, and connected with even more when I was younger.

As an asexual biologist, I loved the portrayal of Lizzie's love for science and her finding connections between asexuality in plants and in people though they are different. I know the struggles of feeling alone and separated from peers at this age and connected with Lizzie's struggle with these issues as an asexual teenager. I also remember discovering the Asexual Visibility and Education Network around this age and loved the mentions in the book of Lizzie finding and posting on the forums.

The reason this book is getting 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that I found it a little hard to get into. A lot of themes from Lizzie's sexuality to her struggles with moving, attending a self-protection class, and fighting with her mother were covered. Though these are all important topics, the inclusion of all of them makes the book seem a little disjointed in places.

Overall, I would recommend this book. I hope to see more literature in this age range that deals with asexuality and shows girls liking science.

I thought that the content was really good and I think we need more MG novels that deal with asexuality. However, for me, the writing fell short

Thank you NetGalley and Clarion Books for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Just Lizzie follows the life of the titular character Lizzie as she goes through all sorts of jarring life changes such as moving out of her childhood home, her brother moving away to college, and her childhood best friend drifting away from her as she starts dating. As Lizzie's environment is changing all around her, Lizzie starts examining her goals and motivations, she quickly realizes that she thinks differently from her fellow classmates, particularly when it comes to crushes and dating. After doing research for her science projects and stumbling upon plants and animals that reproduce asexually, Lizzie feels like all of her questions about her identity are answered. However, Lizzie now finds herself having to navigate this newfound identity label and how this could potentially affect her relationships with her friends and family.


There were so many aspects of the book that I loved including the complexity of all of Lizzie's relationships with her peers and the adults in her life Although I feel like elements of Lizzie's internal monologue felt repetitive and sometimes inducive of eye-rolls, it still felt very true to the middle schooler experience. As an adult I wanted to shout, "Lizzie!! Just talk to your teacher/parent about your feelings!!" but her reservations about speaking up were very characteristic of a pre-teen, and in the end, she grew from her mistakes and feels more confident about speaker her mind and being true to herself. All in all, I feel like this book is a spectacular cornerstone of asexual representation, particularly in the middle-grade/young-adult genre, where representation like this is severely lacking. I can wholeheartedly see that this book will have an impact on the next generation!

Just Lizzie is a great middle-grade read about discovering oneself. Lizzie doesn't understand why everyone is getting crushes in middle school. She's never had a crush on a boy (or a girl or anyone else). While working on a science project, she discovers asexuality and about growing up different from other kids. This story is compelling and a heartfelt read for anyone who is going or went on a journey of self-discovery.

I jumped right into this book from the start. The characters seem real, and the diverse cast is inclusive and dynamic. Thank you to #Net Galley for the copy of #Just Lizzie.

This middle grade debut novel examines themes of identity, coming of age issues, and relationships with both family and friends.

Thumbs Up
Addressing topic of asexuality in a middle grade text
Coming to terms with changes in family dynamics
Understanding peer and adult relationships

Thumbs Down
Lizzie doesn’t present as a good friend, which is a missed opportunity to create a relatable character in helping young people understand more deeply some of the topics in the book.
Author attempts to do too many things. Either the assault or Lizzie trying to find herself could have carried the text.

This book is a solid read for middle grade students looking to a text to help them through an assault, uses of self-defense, come to terms with changing family dynamics, or understanding parts of themselves they may not currently understand.

I really liked this one. A discovery to aceness story that made me really emotional. I teared up, raged and just felt for the main character so much.
I really liked everything ace in this but also the mc's relationships to her friends, to her family, etc.
And I liked how it spoke of trauma and how the mc decided to deal with it. I really enjoyed this book, everything in it. I would reread it in a heartbeat and I can't wait to read more by this author.

3.5 Stars (rounded up)

"Just Lizzie" by Karen Wilfrid is a compelling story about a fourteen-year-old girl named Lizzie navigating through the challenges of growing up. Lizzie faces changes in her family and friendships while trying to figure out her own identity. The plot takes an interesting turn when a school lesson on asexual reproduction prompts Lizzie to explore her own feelings about sexuality. She discovers the term "asexual" and starts to understand herself better.

The book does a great job of introducing the concept of asexuality and debunking some common misconceptions. It's a helpful read for people of different ages who might be questioning their own sexuality. The author encourages readers to do more research on the topic, recognizing its complexity. While the story could have focused on fewer side plots for a clearer narrative, it effectively portrays Lizzie's personal growth and the changing perspectives of those around her. The book emphasizes the importance of open conversations about sexual identity and acceptance, making it a valuable read for anyone going through similar experiences in their adolescence.

Reading this book makes me so envious that I didn’t have books like this when I was a child. In a relationship-obsessed world, Lizzie just didn’t get the hype. This was a wonderfully written middle-grade novel about an eighth grader, figuring out and understanding asexuality as well as all of the anxiety that comes with it.

3.5
A sweet middle grade read. I wish I had this book growing up.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for thix arc

In a Nutshell: A middle-grade/lower-YA novel about an asexual girls coming to terms with her sexual orientation. Honestly, I love the intent much more than the content, but just for the fact that it introduces the topic of asexuality to the target age group, I will be generous with my rating.

Story Synopsis:
Fourteen-year-old Lizzie isn’t sure why she hates her developing body or why she can’t say the right gushy things to her pregnant teacher the way the other girls can. But most of all, she wonders why she doesn’t feel ANYTHING towards other boys or even girls. It is only when the topic of asexual reproduction in plants comes up in class that she feels like nature might hold an answer to her queries.
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Lizzie.

Bookish Yays:
💐 The biggest yay is easily the main theme of the book. Asexuality is, as far as I know, not yet a sexual orientation explored in books for this age range. The very fact that the book does not just mention asexuality but also makes it the focal point of the content deserves applause.
💐 The secondary characters, be it Lizzie’s best friend Sarah Nan or her teachers, are interesting. They aren’t portrayed as perfectly positive characters, as is common in this genre, but as humans willing to learn. There are two mother-daughter relationships in the book, and the contrast between them adds much to the story. I always like it when human characters are depicted realistically.
💐 Some of the plot points, though minor, were interesting. I especially enjoyed the details of the self-defence classes and of Lizzie’s science project on asexual reproduction in nature. The scene where the characters ponder over what it means to become an adult is also well written.
💐 It is interesting to see how the author linked asexual reproduction with asexuality in humans, though the two concepts aren’t exactly the same. She also succeeds in establishing asexuality as normal and that asexual people can still have relationships.
💐 The age of fourteen is a midway age - neither child nor adult. It is a time of confusion and a time of change. The story incorporates both these aspects well, with all the characters (even the adults) experiencing either a modification in their circumstances or an uncertainty in their life.
💐 The book highlights ‘Asexuality Visibility and Education Network’ (AVEN) multiple times. There is also a list of helpful resources at the end of the book.
💐 The author’s note is excellent. As she identifies as asexual, and she is also a school teacher for middle-graders, she seems the right person to pen a book on this topic.

Bookish Nays:
🌵 This is a debut work, and it suffers from the common problem of debut novels, what I call the ‘kitchen sink’ syndrome. The theme of asexuality was strong enough to carry the book. But the plot still incorporates – either at a detailed or a superficial level – the importance of self-defence, (attempted sexual/physical) assault, bullying, sexual activity in teens, understanding of adulthood, acceptance of menstruation, fighting the “boys will be boys” mentality, body dysmorphia, change of residence, aromanticism,… Every single theme here is important, but throw in too many in a single book and the value of each goes for a toss. The book should have stuck to the few that are closest to the core theme of asexuality.
🌵 Extending the above, a common confusion is the difference between the connected but distinct ideas of asexuality and aromanticism. Lizzie seems to be both asexual and aromantic, based on what she reveals about herself. But the book clearly puts her in the asexual category, and aromanticism gets but a passing mention. Though the author’s note clarifies the reason why she chose to keep aromanticism aside, I still feel the book missed on an excellent opportunity here, especially as it is meant for young minds going through the same confusion.
🌵 Lizzie’s character didn’t appeal much to me, despite my feeling sorry for her. Her irritation with her mother doesn’t feel justified. She either cries or gets angry with anyone who chooses to date or speaks of attraction, but doesn’t communicate her feelings. I don’t think she made for a great role model, and also that her portrayal doesn’t do justice to the ace community. Being asexual doesn’t mean you hate everyone else for thinking about attraction or romance, but that you yourself don’t feel the same need. Even if she were still trying to understand herself, her passive-aggressive attitude seemed extreme. This behaviour might be an effect of her inner turmoil, but it didn’t make it easy to like her.
🌵 I didn’t get why the plot point about the assault was given so much focus in the book. It was just incidental to the main plot and added nothing much of value.

All in all, I admire the author’s attempt at bringing this important and underrepresented sexual identity to the attention of the young target readers. The implementation might have been a bit here and there, but there are enough positive points in favour of this OwnVoices debut novel.
I would advocate this book to older MGs and above, i.e. the 11+ age group (and that too, only to mature eleven year olds.) Though this is marketed as a middle-grade book, younger MGs might find the number of topics and the information a bit too overwhelming. Plus, the detailed mention of the assault, the details about sexual activity, and the scene where one character flashes her friends make me reluctant to recommend this to the middle grade crowd. Some plot points will be better suited to the lower YA age range (13-16 years). That said, the writing is strongly MG in style.

3.5 stars, rounding up for the core theme.

My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “Just Lizzie”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Lizzie is a 13 year-old girl who is just starting 8th grade, and carrying a lot. She is haunted by the trauma of witnessing her mother being attacked by their former neighbor who was obsessed with her. So much has changed in such a short amount of time, too - her family moved, her brother is going off to college, and her relationship with her best friend, Sarah Nan, is just not the same.

Once back at school, everyone seems to be concerned with romance and sex, demanding to know who likes who, and how far they've gone with them. Lizzie realizes she is just different, and doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. Her brother has Ally, a girl he has been on and off again with, and Sarah Nan has Ned, who she's not even crazy about anyway. Lizzie is afraid of ending up alone, because she doesn't share these desires of pairing off with someone. After all, those closest to her have made their romantic relationships a priority over all else.

A capstone research project (CARP) is required for all of the 8th graders, and at first she struggles to decide on a topic. As time goes by, she is inspired by her life science teacher talking about asexual plants. She wonders, can people be asexual too? After all, it would make sense. She starts to express her epiphany to a couple of the adults she trusts the most, only to be shut down. As time goes by and she opens up to more people, she finds acceptance and support.

Lizzie feels like an alien. It seems like all her friends and family are getting crushes, dating, falling in love or having sex and she just...doesn't get the big deal.

She discovers her identity through a school science project and struggles to navigate coming out in ways true to real life for many asexual people.

She also copes with growing up, interpersonal relationships, experiencing trauma and learning to set boundaries.

Just Lizzie dealt with heavy topics and can get dark at times, however, it's beautifully written and very descriptive in an artful way.

I loved watching her and her friends grow in their confidence and the dialogue and personalities felt realistic for the characters' and their ages.

I do feel like Lizzie was still pressured to be alloromantic in the end and was only partially being accepted, just as asexual. However, I was satisfied with her self-acceptance and her brother's response to her coming out.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet middle grade read!

"There’s the part of me that doesn’t understand kissing or cuteness or attraction, and then there’s the part of me that feels so lonely. How do I make sense of those two parts? Maybe I’ll never make sense of them."

Meet Lizzie, a fourteen year old girl navigating a difficult period of transition. Between a traumatic event she experiences with her mom, a move across town, her brother going away to college, and the typical middle school drama, Lizzie is also struggling to figure out her identity.

Having seen her friends and brother dating and getting into serious relationships, Lizzie struggles to understand why those are things she should be wanting. She can't wrap her head around it. Until she learns a term that makes everything make sense.

"Asexual." Could that be her?

Follow along as Lizzie learns what it means to figure out and embrace her true self.

I wanted to enjoy this more, but I felt like the story was just as confused as Lizzie herself. Like there were too many potential plot points that none really got the attention they deserved.

Despite that, I liked and enjoyed that Lizzie searched for answers and the representation of asexuality that came from it. I liked the self-defense class and learning to have a voice. I liked it being shown that adults don't have all the answers either, even those you admire. That sometimes they get things wrong, too, and that those you don't necessarily like can actually be your biggest supporters.