Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. This is the story of Ollie—a biracial kid in middle school grappling with the loss of their mother and their own intense emotions about puberty and gender.

“But what if growing up honest means that I don’t know whether the people I love most deeply will love the deepest parts of me in this world where so many people would rather have me dead or different or at least so out of sight that they can pretend I don’t exist?”

As someone who doesn’t fit in the gender binary, this book called to me and I was so very excited to read it. And for what it is, I loved it. It’s a book I would have gobbled up as a kid as there was so much I related too. I thoroughly enjoyed that this was more nuanced and deeper than other books I’ve read featuring trans MCs. Reading between the lines, Ollie is also neurodivergent and I appreciated how the author leaned into that with how Ollie perceived the world and questioned it.

The author’s note said this was inspired by Judy Blume’s Are You There God It’s Me Margaret, which I really didn’t like as a kid (I did not understand the period obsession). And I’m glad there’s now another perspective out there on puberty, womanhood, and identity. I really appreciated the message that there is no one way to be a woman and that periods just are and really don’t need to be celebrated.

My reasoning for deducting stars is the pacing and the how this wraps up. It was a rather slow, character driven book with a lot of introspection from Ollie and not so much action. Which is fine, but sometimes I felt like we got lost in Ollie’s thoughts and were missing out on character interactions that could have shown us their point even better. While I did love the family dynamics, I felt like both dad and Lila were kind of flat characters and when Ollie was going through some big emotions and getting their period, Lila was just absent, and there was never a scene where they reconciled what Lila had previously stated about trans folks. I did love dad’s reaction to it all—it felt more genuine than Lila’s.

I also felt like the ending was too neatly wrapped up. Ollie’s grief about their mother was a passenger the entire book. I expected some kind of realization or something to at least happen to the letters that they had written to her. It felt like a missed opportunity with Cal who also was seen at the throne. I also don’t understand Cal’s and Nate’s change in heart. There was really no catalysis for it, only Ollie calling them out, which fine, but at that age I think you need more than words from a friend to realize going against the grain is the right thing to do, especially in Nate’s case—I would have liked to have seen him interact positively with Ollie more through out the book so that him showing up at the end made sense. While I’m all for happy endings, especially for queer books, they also should be realistic and true to the characters.

Overall, I feel this is an important book and has so many relatable moments. I just wish there weren’t so many missed opportunities and the end better reflected the characters.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!

Oh, this book has my whole heart. Raw, honest, and a little hard to read at times, this book is incredibly profound and emotional. Watching the journey Ollie takes from the beginning of the book when they ask, "What if you don't want to become a woman?" to the end of the book when they start to accept who they are is a tumultuous rollercoaster ride, but it's refreshingly real in it's depiction. The lesson here is clear: It's hard to "Be Yourself" as everyone says, and it's even harder when you don't even know who you are or who you want to be. Ollie is essentially, lost, and looking for guidance at a time where everything is changing, and this is such a refreshing narrative for young readers to read.

I had a couple of issues with the pacing of the ending, mostly that I wish we had seen the stuff that happens with the principal or heard a bit of Ollie's essay but overall, I loved the book. Can't wait to purchase for my school's library!

I loved seeing the unique way that Ollie experiences the world and the wonder that comes with it. I am autistic myself, so it was nice to see that representation even if it wasn't stated. I wish I had this book as a kid <3

I really felt like had I been more self-aware as a child I would have been Ollie. Everything about them is so relatable and how they experience gender and sexuality and friendships and hobbies is so similar to me that I really felt right at home with this book. It absolutely wrenched my heart strings a little bit and I am so happy that I got a chance to read this and that it exists for other people to find.

My autism as a kid and teenager was more of the just do what others are doing and everything will be fine and in a way Ollie is like that as well but they recognize that something is different with them. I didn't notice that as a child. I just tried to blend in and do what my two friends were doing. so seeing Ollie start this book with two main friends who both end up being a bit disappointing and finding a group of friends that is so much more inclusive was really heartwarming. I loved their relationship with their sister and their super awkward definitely autistic dad.

this one does deal with some queer phobia and transphobia from both other students and from Ollie's grandparents. I understand that could be difficult to read so if that is going to be triggering maybe skip this one. I will say that it's all dealt with and Ollie is supported so do it that what you will.

One of the big highlights for this for me was Ollie's interviews with women in their life. and then reading the authors know at the end that this is something they did in college was really fascinating for me. I love that the general consensus is that no one really knows what womanhood is and that felt very relatable as an AFAB agender person.

this is very much a character driven book and there's not a ton of plot going on. I would classify it almost as a slice of life but where Ollie is dealing with their mom's death and figuring out their own gender, autism, and sexuality as a preteen.

Iranian American MC, autistic, aspec questioning, nonbinary

Ollie In Between is a beautiful coming of age story. I loved so much to watch Ollie find their people to love and fiercely defend them. I was particularly glad to listen to this as an audiobook because it felt like I was along with Ollie in their own diary.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC but sadly this is my first DNF (25%) this year ;( I find it difficult to follow this kind of story—a very character driven story. It feels all over the place and the inner monologue is a torture to follow. I kind of understand that it's supposed to be delivered this way and I'm sure this book will find its audience.

I love Ollie so much. They are so, so extremely relatable, and not just for nonbinary folks—for almost every human being, the period around puberty and its seemingly unavoidable changes to one's physicality and social life is, at best, tumultuous, if not outright chaos. This is a really excellent, funny, just extremely charming middle grade/young adult novel about being yourself, even if that means nonconformity with other people's ideas of who you should become.

This is one of the most important books I’ve ever read in my life and it needs to be on a shelf in every middle school library (even if it’ll probably get banned from half of them). Ollie In Between is an incredibly difficult read, especially as a nonbinary, neurodivergent adult. The writing managed to evoke the strongest sense of viscera I’ve ever experienced, often depicting the exact thoughts and feelings I experienced around the same age. I frequently had to set this book aside for days, sometimes even weeks, at a time in order to finish it, but I’m so glad I did. This is a story that desperately needed to be told and I’m so glad someone was brave enough to do so.

FIVE BRIGHT AND SHINY STARS FOR THIS GEM OF A BOOK! Ollie In Between is a story about a middle schooler trying to figure out who they are after being given an assignment to write an essay on what it means to be a woman. But it is also a story about growing up, about friendship, about grief, and about mental health. I loved getting to experience it all through Ollie’s inner monologue.

Along with the heavy topics featured in the book comes some potentially triggering instances of bullying, transphobia, homophobia, panic attacks/sensory overload, death of a parent (off page, past) which should be kept in mind before reading!

I hope Jess Callans continues to write queer stories like this!

ollie in between is a tender, emotional story following young ollie as they navigate the uncharted territories of identity, growing up, and growing into yourself.

the entire cast of character leapt off the page, entirely realistic and human.

beautiful exploration of friendship, family, community, mental health, gender identity, intersectionality, and the necessity of standing up for what you believe in

ollie in between lands itself alongside will taylor’s the language of seabirds in the ever growing pile of books that I Wish I Had As A Child

a poignant read amidst the current sweep of book bans that target queer communities and ostracize queer youth, especially queer poc!!!!

beyond grateful for netgalley and feiwel & friends for the arc of this book!

This book gave me flashbacks to middle school. The descriptions of peer interactions were so raw and real that they hit me viscerally, making me ache alongside Ollie, who is cued neurodivergent but without a label or support structure, as I was at their age. Readers who like Ollie are questioning their gender identity will find solidarity and authenticity in this story, and readers who do not share Ollie's nonbinary identity will also find solidarity and authenticity in the many other middle school "in betweens" explored in the novel: being in between a kid and a grown up, in between a bully and a hero, in between a friend and an enemy. I highly recommend this beautiful debut to middle school students.

I was initially drawn to Ollie In Between due to the book's premise. Middle school was around the time I was questioning my own identity and never had the words to describe my frustrations of not wanting to be a girl, but also not wanting to be a boy. I read this book with my younger self in mind, thinking how I would have reacted to it as my 13-year-old self.

I loved Ollie's voice throughout the novel. The book read as if we the reader were a journal Ollie wrote in at the end of each day. Ollie was unapologetically them in their narrative. As a reader, you can see all of Ollie's thought processes as you journey with them. I also loved all of the animal analogies, my 13-year-old self was also obsessed with animals and I read Zoo Books religiously. I never thought the raw conversations between Ollie and the reader felt out of place. As the narrative continued, I could tell that Ollie was maybe autistic, but it is never explicitly stated, only alluded to.

Ollie's journey of self-acceptance was done beautifully, and I also thought how side characters were handled was done with a lot of care. I adore Stella and Ollie's dad and wish I got to see a bit more of them both, but that is just my selfish wants. I do wish some of the parental issues later in the book were a bit more fleshed out, but understand it was left open-ended.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book as an adult and I know my younger self would have appreciated a book like this. I think it would have helped me so much to feel not so alone in the world at a time when variations of gender identity were not widely known. I think this book is perfect for those in middle school. There are at times raw descriptions of puberty, but I think this is still needed.

Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Overall Rating: 4.5 (rounded up)

What a moving queer coming of age middle grade debut about Ollie who is scared about 'becoming a woman' and all that it entails. The more they dwell on the way their body is changing and how uncomfortable being a 'girl' feels, the more they start to question whether maybe a nonbinary identity fits them best. Sure to resonate with readers going through the same feelings, this book is a great addition to young queer lit and perfect for fans of books like Gooseberry by Robin Gow, Spin with me by Ami Polonsky or Green by Alex Gino. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had to DNF this book. I tried hard to get into it, but I just couldn't. It's still a great story and important, but I think it just wasn't for me and that's okay.

Ollie In Between is an authentic portrayal of the adolescent experience. The narrative is both endearing and hilarious, capturing the chaos of growing up and the courage it takes to speak up for oneself and others. Ollie’s direct addresses to the reader create an intimate and engaging reading experience, making it easy to empathize with their struggles and triumphs.

The book thoughtfully explores themes of gender identity, friendship, and self-acceptance. Ollie’s internal conflicts and external challenges are portrayed with sensitivity and realism, resonating with readers who may be navigating similar issues. The inclusion of diverse characters and the depiction of bullying, transphobia, dysphoria, and grief add depth to the narrative, providing a comprehensive look at the multifaceted nature of growing up

Ollie is facing puberty and for them, it feels like it's time to be a "woman," whatever that means. Ollie then begins to inquire of other women what it means to be a woman. After their research and interviews, they're just as confused as ever and they still don't feel like a girl or woman. Dress are still awful and their body changes bother them. When Ollie meets a group who are starting a Queer Book Club, they may just find out what it means to be themselves.

The first half of this book was rough. I almost DNFed, but I also was determined to finish this book as it had some positive reviews. At the halfway point, the book shifts (this is where they meet the Queer Book Club Kids) and it becomes hopeful as Ollie starts to find a direction. A lot of the hangups Ollie has in the beginning fades and I couldn't wait to read their journey. If one can get past the really dark first half, they will be rewarded with a hopeful story.

This will be an important book for middle schoolers who need it -- and all middle schoolers need it. Ollie is a character that readers in similar situations can relate to. All middle schoolers need to relate to the situations presented in the book. Ollie has many questions about growing up and becoming a woman with much internal dialogue.

Ollie's introspective look at life in the middle (middle school, in the middle of friends, in the middle of identity) was touching and a story that I can see a lot of queer kids in the middle needing to hear.

3.5 stars rounded down. As a reader who doesn’t fit neatly into the gender binary, I was really looking forward to this book, although me and Ollie’s coming out experiences are vastly different. Trans middle grade, especially novels with non-white protagonists, is extremely and troublingly rare. Although I gave this book a lower rating, I don’t think that should discourage others from reading this: “Ollie In Between” provides a visceral, often deeply uncomfortable, glimpse into entering puberty in a body your true self isn’t recognized in. Ollie’s dysphoria and anxiety goes so much deeper than a stereotypical, “born in the wrong body” trans narrative. Grief, family dynamics, and gender were handled in such a way that it brought me to tears (and, fine, ONE breakdown).

With that said, my main issues come from both the pacing and the ending. If you don’t relate to Ollie’s story, there isn’t much to get out of it. While it’s not totally slice-of-life and is still driven heavily by external conflict, the writing tries to be more introspective, something that I felt was dulled by Ollie’s circling lines of thinking as they struggle to grow into their identity. The ending was also frustratingly optimistic, which I understand is to give the target demographic hope, but to me it just felt like forgetting the actions and hurt of certain characters that were especially cruel towards Ollie (and unarguably fueled their spirals). I’m a bit iffy on one of those cases, though, because at least with that particular character it was implied that Ollie had some wishful thinking (which, unfortunately understandable).

I did like the autism representation, though. There were some very graphic sensory overload scenes that showed how emotional triggers lead to them just as much as physical ones. I also felt Ollie being neurodivergent (and already struggling to fit in with their peers) added a layer to their already complicated gender identity.

I’m still glad this book exists. Unsure of if it’ll reach more kids, or adults who read middle grade, though. (I’m hoping the former, but with the writing style, and how triggering it could be, I don’t know.)

As a woodsy, queer, nonbinary, and probably autistic adult, Ollie in Between was an absolute joy to read. Even if those labels don’t resonate with you, this book offers a heartfelt exploration of finding your people, looking for what it means to be a woman, and navigating the loss of a parent. I highly recommend it for middle-grade readers, though be mindful that it includes depictions of bullying, transphobia, dysphoria, and grief.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital advanced copy.