This book was sweet and sad and I really enjoyed it. Sie clearly has a good handle on the self-loathing that can come along with being trans and also an excellent grasp on how teenagers interact and talk to each other. Well written and inspiring. #NetGalley #AllKindsOfOther

Sie presents an engaging and poetic story in "All Kinds of Other." Jules and Jack are starting out life at a new high school, and each come in with their own challenges. Through alternative point of view chapters, we get to see two distinctly different perspectives, sometimes of the same moment. Sie really does a great job at differentiating their voices and styles so that you don't feel like you're reading everything from the same author. It helps that Sie consistently presents a balance of poetry and prose that is reminiscent of early David Levithan (a compliment from this reviewer).
While the two boys meet and bond relatively early in the story, the end game is a bit more of a slow burn. This works mostly because we get enough to make the reader feel like things are happening, but it does start to become a bit of a strain at the mid-point (ie. why the star ranking is not a 5). Once the crisis finally takes place, Sie reins in the story to bring it to a surprisingly good ending that is a bit off the beaten path from your typical story in this genre, which is quite welcome.

I devoured this! I really enjoyed getting to know Jude and Adam. Both boys are starting at a new school. Jude is figuring out if he wants to be out as gay and what that looks like for him, while Adam is mourning a friendship that recently fell apart.

Content warning for outing and assault/hate crimes, which I typically avoid in YA books. It's hard to find a balance of a realistic amount of homophobia and transphobia, while still remaining uplifting and hopeful. This book does balance those things well. For kids who want an escape from the reality of transphobia and homophobia with a cute fluffy romance, this might not be the book for you. For kids who want to see their struggles reflected back to them without tragedy, definitely pick this one up.