I thought that this was a very relatable book for kids to read. I thought that the writing wasn't amazing and that there wasn't a lot of representation.

I really enjoyed this book. Reading the experience of an 11 year old was a treat especially as he goes through a hard time in his family, moving to a new town and making friends
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for their next read

Thank you netgalley. Good story and look at how things like this can effect others involved. I liked how it was written in the form of letters, I thought it had a more personal appeal that way.

I enjoyed this story that could lead to conversations about the media, cancel culture, celebrity stories, the #metoo movement and other important issues.

I didn't love the format of the book, at first, its written as a series of letters from the son of a celebrity accused of multiple sexual assaults, but I think the point was that in the beginning this boy had no one to talk to, so the unsent letters were a way of letting his feelings out. Rodney's family is forced to go in near hiding in a small town in Arizona that could not be more different from the life they led in Las Vegas. Rodney slowly acclimatizes to his new home and learns how to confront the events that took place, rather than allow himself to be shielded from them.

I basically devoured this book. Rodney's narration kept me reading, eager to see how he navigated his new life, and dealt (or didn't) with his dad's scandal.

This was a good book that I enjoyed reading. It dealt with some difficult yet important themes very well.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Me Three by Susan Juby is a middle grade novel that deals with such sensitive topics that I can't help but wonder if it would have benefited from being aged up to a Young Adult audience. Rodney's life was amazing: he had his friends at school, his house with an olympic swimming pool in Las Vegas and his dad, a famous poker player. But now, since his dad was accused of being a little too friendly with some of the women he worked with, they're lying of course—or are they? This novel deals with the fallout that his dad's actions have on his family and how Rodney deals (or doesn't) with them.

The book is told through letters that Rodney writes to his best friend, Larry, who isn't speaking to him. I don't know if this format worked in its favor, the pacing was a little all over the place but the letters did end up feeling very genuine and made me feel close to the main character. Dealing with an undoubtedly interesting and daring topic, I was surprised by how real the author's portrayal of it was. Even if I would have preferred to have read this from Rodney's older sister's pov, I think this book would perfect for middle schoolers with questions about these hard topics.

Looks cute, said the cover.
Surprisingly funny, said the synopsis.
A light read, said the middle-grade label.
So why did I cry, asked the reader?!

I love that the story is told entirely from Rodney's POV in the form of one-sided letters to his best friend, Larry. I feel that the perspective from the family of an accused person has been largely ignored, especially in the media and in the era of #MeToo. That's not to say that the book makes light of sexual and workplace harassment or ignores its victims. It does not make you question the allegations, but explores the subject well while still focusing on telling the stories of Rodney, his mother and sister.

I can understand why readers might feel frustrated by Rodney, but I loved getting insight into his thoughts. Seeing him struggling to cope and come to terms with what has happened broke my heart, but I enjoyed his growth as a character.

There are also plenty of funny, touching and heartwarming moments in this novel. One of my favourite scenes is when journalists swarm the school and Fisherman simply picks Rodney up and ploughs through everyone while carrying him. I found it so moving!

A wonderful read that I would highly recommend.

An interesting book on the fallout for the family of a famous man accused of multiple sexual assaults. The main character is eleven-year old Rodney, youngest child of a professional poker player.

Rodney, his mother and sixteen-year old sister Kate have left their home in Las Vegas and relocated to Short Butte, Arizona. All three are having a tough time making the transition to their new home, with Rodney’s mother and sister both deeply upset (Kate has developed an eating disorder). Rodney is unhappy to be away from his friends, none of whom will respond to his messages, and not liking his new home and school. Rodney also believes that what few accusations against his father that he’s heard about are lies, and that these women should apologize to his father. So, a difficult to read perspective for the POV character to have. Rodney also does not want to hear anything contradicting his view of his father, whom he feels is a great guy and a great dad.

How Rodney goes from this view to a much more realistic understanding of his father and the family’s situation is an interesting journey. It’s hard to read Rodney’s unquestioning belief in his father, especially as his mother and sister show us how horrible the effects of the man’s actions have been on them and the women he harmed. At the same time, Rodney’s sentiments feel realistic, as Rodney has not heard the full extent of his father’s transgressions, and does not want to hear anything negative about his father, and consequently, can’t understand why his friends no longer want to talk to him. And his father has not told Rodney the truth either, continuing to obfuscate and blame others.

Susan Juby tells this story through letters Rodney writes, which he doesn’t intend to send, to his best friend Lars, as Rodney begins his new life in Short Butte. I love epistolary novels, despite the artificiality of the technique, but it’s a terrific way to really get a feel for this child’s perspective on his formerly privileged life and its loss, and how hurtful and confusing it feels when people accuse him of the same type of behaviour as his dad. Especially as Rodney is so respectful of considerate of others, though also sort of clueless about things (because of his privileged life) when we first meet him.

I liked his book a lot, and appreciated how Juby dealt with such a difficult topic, all while also dealing with moving to a new place and starting over, and making new friends.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This is an MG book that deals with hard topics, so I'd say it's better for those who are 12 and up.
It was very GOOD. I was so into it and finished it so quickly. The writing style is in form of letters that the MC writes to his ex-best friend who doesn't talk to him anymore. He has moved out to some other place and he feels awful and out of place. His dad is in a rehab facility because of something he did to some women, but Rodney doesn't believe it, I mean how can his super awesome, rich and famous dad be bad?!
He now lives only with his mom and big sister, who are all really struggling now. They all get into different coping mechanisms some more unhealthy than others (Kate, Rodney's sister really gets angry, stops talking and eating) while Rodney is in denial. He is kinda oblivious and just tries to avoid everything that people say about his infamous dad and keeps on writing. They start their new schools with mom's last name to not be recognized. At school thankfully, he makes some friends, all a weird bunch who do some semi-illegal stuff, but they're kind and nice. But then hell breaks loose, and well Rodney isn't so sure who to believe, what to do, why doesn't Larry ever write or call and why does he keep crying all the time.
It's an emotional read, and at some points kinda intense. I mean Rodney is just 11 and well, the things his dad did and now his family how to deal with... is hard. Thankfully he has people on his side, and he gets the courage to finally speak to his dad.
As I said I really liked it, Rodney's voice was very distinct though at times annoying as to how oblivious and ignorant Rodney was, but it was intentional. He is just a KID, and if it was me I'd like to be in denial too, though I think I would have acted more like Kate... angry.
The ending was very satisfying on how all three of them got together, and it's very sweet.
The book is based on the Me Too movement, and the title and book cover is very clever.
I highly recommend it, it's a very good book and an eye-opener too.

One sentence review- Me Three is a lovely book, just a little to mature for middle grade children in my opinion.

The story covers Rodney- a preteen forced to move away from his father to a foreign city with his mother and teenage sister. Unable to understand why he must use his mother's last name and finding it hard to cope with his new home, school, and his sister's weird behavior, he starts writing letters to his old friend Larry.

As I said, I'm not sure how appropriate this book is for its intended audience, but it draws a fine like between outright inappropriate and safe for children. it is largely about sexual harassing and MeToo which is probably at the root of the creative title. The letter format of the book was interesting and revealed a lot about Rodney. I found him to be a disturbed boy who thinks too much, judges too quickly, and has opinions about everything. It's probably not a great example for children, but I didn't mind his nature, because I had a similar undertone as a child. Maybe there is an audience for this carefully written manuscript somewhere, but I can't say who I would recommend this to.

I have mixed feelings about the pacing and Rodney’s characterization in this book, but overall I enjoyed it and appreciate how “Me Three” addresses a topic that we don’t see represented in middle grade lit very often. In terms of pacing, the epistolary nature of the book didn’t always work for me. Sometimes Rodney would end a letter to Larry because he had to go eat dinner, and then he would pick the story back up in a different letter/chapter. I didn’t find this to be a particularly useful or compelling writing tactic.

Some of the moments of tension that were probably meant to be very climactic and dramatic fell a bit flat for me because I generally found it difficult to tell what exactly Rodney was aware of but in denial of, and what he actually did not know about. Maybe I’m just not able to truly put myself in the brain of an eleven year old boy, but it seemed unrealistic how clueless he was about what his father had done, particularly in terms of what he did to Larry’s mother Isbell. It’s possible that Susan Juby is tapping into an experience that is so rarely written about that the conventions of this type of story have not been formed yet, and so that’s why some of the nuances of how Larry reacted to things seemed off to me.

I did overall enjoy reading this book and I think it can serve as a good transitional book from early middle grade books (that are often lighter in topic) into books with a bit more grit that you’d find straddling the line between middle grade and YA.

When kids pay the price for a parents selfish and stupid actions.

I really thought the format of Me Three by Susan Juby was really interesting and unique. Similar to journaling, Rodney writes letters to his best friend.

Rodney's sixth-grade life was pretty awesome; semi-celebrity dad has quite the home and Rodney accompanied his dad on the red carpet and to some fun events. That life comes to an abrupt end and it takes a while for Rodney to understand how/why.

This story made me think about the children of celebrities; their parents made the choice to live in the limelight. But their actions have consequences.

Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Juby the author and Penguin Random House Canada, Puffin Canada the publisher for the opportunity to read the advance read copy of Me Three in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is 22 May 2022.

When allegations against his father surge and his forced to move to another state with his mum and sister, Rodney can’t believe how easily his life turned upside down. He’s in a class with a bunch of kids who seem to sort of hate him and even his best friend won’t write him back.

Told fully from the perspective of the eleven-year-old main character, this middle-grade story addresses difficult topics, like sexual harassment, bullying, eating disorders, and isolation; it’s definitely not an easy read sometimes, even though Rodney doesn’t really understand what his dad did for most of the plot.

The way we see through Rodney's eyes how his sister is suffering and neglecting her health is very well executed. And the sudden and confusing and harrowing way in which Rodney himself finally realizes that maybe his father isn't such a nice person either.

Sometimes it felt hard to root for Rodney because he seems a little self-centred and judgemental, but I think he’s just trying to cope with what’s happening in his own awkward way. I think I would be a little in denial, too.

I have to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The final version is scheduled to be published on March 22, 2022.

This feels like a modern day version of a classic. Dealing with a lot of real world problems like children dealing with their parents being alleged assaulters, eating disorders, bullying, isolation, and so much more, this book hits hard in a lot of way. The writing style is very interesting, with each chapter being it’s own letter, the story is told fully from the perspective of the 11 year old main character. It’s a very hard story, not an easy read like most middle grade books, but if you have a kid who enjoys stories like “13 Reasons Why” or watch Law & Order, then they’ll like this book.

While I love an epistolary novel--especially for kids--I feel like the reasoning behind these "letters" felt forced and less letter-esque than just...beginning with 'Dear XYZ." Seeing a "new" kind of #MeToo novel was interesting...but I think the protagonist spent too long stuck in his thoughts, and didn't have enough growth on the page.

Rodney can't figure out why his best friend won't talk to him, and why his father is being accused of things he couldn't possibly have done.

In the meantime, he has to move from Las Vegas to somewhere in Arizona where he knows no one, and at first, no one knows about him, or his famous father, until they do.

And through it all, he never loses faith in his father, even quoting his rules of life to himself, to keep his spirits up.

Interesting take on what happens to the kids of the people who did the harassing. How they have to deal with the pieces, and the results. Rodney himself isn't a bad child. He just doesn't understand why his father is being accused of something he couldn't possibly have done.

Well done showing the pain and the realization that his father might actually be guilty of what he did.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

The format of this book is different and I love different formats. The book is written in the letter format that is written by Rodney to his friend Larry. Rodney along with her mother and sister moved from Vegas to a small town in Arizona. His dad is famous for playing poker and hosting celebrities on his show but a few women claim that he is over touchy or something so he is living in a facility until things will get better. In the new town and school, Rodney is alone and don't have any friend. People here have completely different interests.

Rodney is such a self-centered child for his age. He believes that his father is right and in denial mode. In any situation of reality check, he preferred to just leave that place/situation. He is also pretty judgemental about the new town and its residents. It was quite hard to root for him as letters were from his PoV and his denial nature was getting on my nerves. I just wanted to smack in his so he'll start to see things clearly.

This story focused on sexual harassment which might be too much for a middle-grade/ children book but the author was able to keep a perfect balance without overdoing it. Despite Rodney being a difficult character, the book can educate children.

The novel is written as a series of letters from eleven year old Rodney to his friend Larry, who isn't speaking to him. Rodney continues to write to him the letters and just stockpiles them. It's an interesting structure and it works beautifully for this story, infusing tension and suspense. Rodney, his mother and older sister have abruptly moved and his father is in a rehab facility. Rodney's adjusting to his new life under an assumed name at a new school and missing his old friends, his father and his old way of life.

Juby brilliantly and compassionately shows many facets of the Me Too movement and the many victims of sexual and power abuse. Nuanced and delicately balanced. A deceptively simple book with a powerful impact. A clever and apt book title too.

#Netgalley

Rodney, his sister, and his mom move to Arizona after Rodney’s dad goes to a treatment center to get help for touching women without asking. Rodney tells us his story through a series of letters to his best friend that he says he won’t send but will still write.As the school year starts, Rodney makes new friends, Ben and Fisherman, and Ben shows him bike tricks. Fisherman takes Rodney and Ben to his uncle’s ranch, and Rodney likes hanging out there. As the kids find out about his dad, Rodney is forced to confront his dad about the past and he realizes that what the media has said is true. It’s a rude awakening for Rodney and his sister, Ben tells Rodney “you can be your own man.” What Rodney has to deal with is character building and a lot for a 12 year old, but Rodney with the help of his friends and family handles it all quite well. Great book.