Just Right Jillian is a just right book for early middle grade. Jillian is such a vivid and likeable character, who is struggling to find her voice and speak in class. Her friends and classmates are realistic and the reader feels a part of the class. The love that Jillian's family has for each other comes through, giving Jillian support for her individual challenge.

Jillian is a painfully shy 5th grader. Grieving for her Grammy, and worried for her mother, who has Lupus, has taken all her emotional effort in the past year, leaving little for herself. Jillian sees herself as friendless and unable to participate in activities that require her to show her talents. She is very smart, scoring well on written schoolwork, and a gifted weaver, taught by her Grammy. In events that require oral participation though, she fails dismally, unable to get the answers in her brain out of her mouth. Caught between wanting to fit in and wanting to let her talents shine, she is unable to find a happy medium. Through the efforts of patient parents, an encouraging teacher, and friends who see her differently than she sees herself, Jillian is able to burst out of her shell, and participate in all life has to offer.

This book will appeal especially to any reader who is or has been unable to speak what they know, and those who love them. For others, it's a fun romp through 5th grade.

Oh my goodness! This book is fabulous! I love the cover, the plot, the characters - everything is wonderful. Such a cute, inspiring MG story!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

From the characters, to pacing, and the story itself, Collier’s work is “just right.” While the focus is on the delightful (and very relatable) Jillian, readers get a sense of the complexity of other characters even if they appear only for brief moments (e.g. William). I also loved how the project of hatching chicks is mirrored in Jillian’s growing confidence.

Am I allowed to say this redefines "MG Chick Lit?" It is impossible to NOT be rooting for Jillian from the very first pages of this hopeful, humorous and so-human MG book. In her debut, Nicole D. Collier crafts a story that rises and falls, just like Jillian's own confidence, weaving in tangible metaphor in every chapter as her main character grows, develops and breaks out, just like the incubating eggs in her classroom. But it's the wonder she feels each time she realizes that she is not invisible and that those around her not only see her, but value her, that provides regular doses of irrepressible smiles and the occasional happy tear. "Just Right Jillian" is a wonderful book that touches on anxiety, chronic family illness, grief, friendship and it's perfect for shy students who dream of a little bit more courage in their daily lives and their classmates who might mistake shyness for desired isolation.

The smooth flow of this book allowed me to read it quickly and bond with the characters.
Though Jillian was shy, she stepped up when she was needed and put her mark on the world.
I hope this new author will continue to write for this age group.
More stories like these are needed in libraries everywhere!


Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this middle grade novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Fifth grader Jillian is so shy and stuck in her head that others don’t often see or get to know the true Jillian. This same shy girl so desperately wants to participate in the special competition at school but struggles with her words, and even struggles with communicating her true and honest opinions to her own mother.
This is a Sweet story of a girl who learns to speak out and stand up for herself. I see kids being able to relate to this book and see Jillian as their hero.

JUST RIGHT JILLIAN is far more than just right. It's heartfelt and heart building!

Jillian is a smart, wise, and creative 5th grader. She's a kind and faithful friend who has the love and support of her family-- even though she's missing her beloved Grandmother who passed away nearly one year ago. But Jillian has also learned to stifle herself, to hold her thoughts, ideas, and desires in where no one else can hear them. It's only when her teacher encourages her (ok, more like dares her) to step out of her shell to compete in a school-wide competition that Jillian begins to pip; to peck at the shell she's kept herself encased in.

The friendships and the foeships in this story are deftly handled. I fell in love with Marquez, Jillian's best friend who is training his heart to be brave, to fight the good fight. Wisdom, loyalty and determination are his superpowers, and I'm always so thrilled to see open and wise boys in MG literature. This is a beautiful book to model and inspire kids to be compassionate and accepting- both of themselves and others.

Beautiful prose and powerful insights into Jillian's push to pip make this a strong recommendation for younger MG readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Versify for the opportunity to read advanced reader copies.

So much of this story is wisdom parted through play. The importance of believing in yourself, knowing the difference between being shy and hiding, not letting other people dictate who you are, how you act, or how you look.

One of my favorite bits of wisdom was your need to heart train. Spend time doing the things that build up joy in your heart.

Beautiful story of victory. I did have a hard time feeling the child’s voice in this story. I am a 5th grade teacher myself and it was hard to get out of my own voice as an adult and as a teacher and hear Jilly’s or her friends. Even with that, this is a story I would recommend my students, especially when it comes time to incubate chickens!
CAWPILE Rating: 8:14

Jillian is a bright student who struggles with speaking up in class. As the school year progresses, she has many opportunities to keep a promise to her grandmother, who passed away, and show her confidence. It’s so easy to gain an immediate connection to Jillian as she watches the chicks grow in her classroom project and wonder if she’ll break out of her shell as they do.
I can’t wait for this book to be available to elementary and middle grades students! Nicole Collier created an amazing story with the perfect character to help children understand how it feels to be shy and the triumph of fighting to get over that demon. So often, that quiet child is pushed aside or never noticed in classrooms, but this story will help many students and teachers gain a clearer understanding of those students. So well written!

Just Right Jillian is a beautiful story about a character who readers can’t help but feel strongly for. Watching Jillian find her way and take up space after hiding and making herself smaller is such a beautiful thing. Building friendships and sharing her family’s strength and support are also meaningful parts of the story. It is sweet, endearing and empowering and should be a part of any library that touches middle grade readers.

Fifth grader Jillian has been mourning her grandmother for nearly a year. In that time she's become quiet and shy, more inclined to hide and blend in than stand out. Encouraged by both her own teacher and the upcoming one year anniversary of her grandmother's passing, Jillian agrees to participate in the school academic quiz competition. As she slowly comes out her shell, Jillian learns that some of her assumptions about fitting in and other people are mistaken and that she, as the title implies, is just right as she is

This book was such a cute, sweet read. I definitely recommend including this in middle school libraries as it explores a lot of really great themes that are important for young readers.

To feel all the feels for a book should tell everyone how wonderful a story is, and I'm going to be doing that with you about JUST RIGHT JILLIAN. This story has a family theme, self-confidence, acceptance, and friendship. Jillian loses a competition which she knows she can win. However, she doesn't speak out! So, she makes a promise to her grandmother about pushing herself to win the next one. The entire time during this wonderful MG story, I'm rooting for Jillian. I want her to win. I want her to get everything that she wants. She's been through so much, and as the reader, I screamed, "Go, Jillian!" There are so many tender moments in this novel. The characters are so wonderful, realistic and relatable. I see myself in them. Their hopes, dreams, determination... everything. The plot is really cute. The cover is amazing. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Jillian is super shy and unsure of herself in spite of the fact that she has two loving parents, a stable home and friends at school. At the start of the book, Jillian is still dealing with grief from the death of her beloved grandmother the year before. She often remembers what she learned from her grandmother and hears her voice in her head. Jillian also resents the smartest girl in her class who always knows the answers and has won the school wide trivia contest, in which Jillian desperately wants to compete.
Over the course of the book, Jillian learns many things, including the fact that Rashida is actually quite a nice girl and one who becomes her friend; grief comes and goes, but the memory of those you grieve stays with you and overcoming shyness is difficult, but not impossible.
I loved the strong characters, both the children and the adults, who surround Jillian, Jillian's parents and teachers are all excellent role models as well as gainfully employed minority figures. We need more books about African American children where the problems are those that occur in middle class homes. Nice going, Nicole Collier!

This is a book about lost and finding your voice and courage after that lost. Jillian is shy and tries to blend in, Her family, friends and teacher help her find the strength.

Happy #bookbirthday in 1 year! Oh this book brought me back to my past! Jillian is an amazing kid but has trouble speaking up. It takes a school competition and a promise to her grandmother to help her show everyone who she really is inside. This is a story full of friendship and family, with good times and lots of challenges. This book will definitely resonate with kids in grades 3-6. I think Nicole Collier got her character’s voices just right! This book arrives Feb. 1, 2022. Thank you to @netgalley and @hmhkids @diversifybooks for this digital arc. @EssentialCoco

Finding friendship, your voice and overcoming grief are the themes to this book. Written in a way that speaks to middle grade students, Nicole Collier delivers a believable story with real-life angst, fear, love and self discovery.

The story of Jillian, a 5th grade girl who prefers to be unseen (or does she?), is the story of many 5th grade girls. The story isn't complicated but takes on many of the struggles of girls that age. Do people see her? Can she find herself? Does she have any friends? How can she make herself heard? With the support of her parents and a few good classmates, she answers these questions by pushing herself past her comfort zones. The author does a great job of reminding the reader that there is more to a person that what is seen on the surface.

I enjoyed this book and will definitely put it into the hands of my students.

I love this tory, especially as an elementary school teacher and mother. I have had so many shy students over the years and this book gives insight as to why some children might be shy. Jillian became even more shy after her grandmother passed away. This story is all about what life is like for her and how she finds herself. Such a great story!

Watch out world, Jillian is hatching into her own self! Debut author Nicole D. Collier does not disappoint in her debut novel about a girl who is timid. Jillian has been shy since her grandmother based away eleven months ago. Many opportunities are offered to her, but does she take them? That's for the reader to discover!
As a classroom teacher, I loved this story for its charm and relatable characters. In today's society, it is hard for children to fit in a digital learning environment. "Just Right Jillian" shows readers and students that it's okay to be who you are!