4.5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC!

Ollie in Between is about an autistic middle schooler dealing with the conflicts of puberty and gender identity.
I have been trying to write this review for weeks. I don’t know how to explain my thoughts on this book in a sensible way.
I would say, this book is almost more about being autistic than being nonbinary. It was great, but it was a bit confusing because I thought it would be more about gender questioning (and it is but it’s… not?).
This book made me weep. I can’t reasonably recommend this to anyone because it was so heart-breaking to read. Ollie deals with a lot of bullying and internal confusion, and I felt their feelings so hard that it hurt.
However, it was really hard to watch Ollie go around in circles, and I almost DNFed this so I wouldn’t have to watch them suffer. Every time I thought things would get better for them, they didn’t! I just wanted Ollie to have a happy life with their friends!
Anyway, good book. Recommend. Autistic queer friends, proceed with caution. You may find yourself getting stabbed in the heart a thousand times.

CW: queerphobia; bullying; parent death; sexism; body shaming & (signs of) eating disorder; blood

*thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

sometimes i don't know what to say about a book because it is just that good, and this is one of them. it hurt in a good way. i felt everything and wanted so much to protect Ollie from all the horrible things people said and did to them. i'm glad books like this exist. i'm glad people like this author exist to bring us these stories and make spaces for us to feel all the things.

highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ollie in Between is a middle grade, coming of age novel about a middle schooler trying to come to terms with their sexual and gender identity amidst the throes of puberty. Ollie’s inner voice is so distinct and their struggle to find their place in the world feels so relatable. I can only imagine how valuable this book is going to be for queer, trans, and nonbinary kids reading it today.

I loved the use of humor to add a bit of levity to a tough topic. I need someone to cosplay the sanitary napkin armor scene. 🤣 5⭐️

I really wanted to love Ollie In Between, but it consistently fell somewhat short of my expectations. I’m always seeking out new middle-grade stories of nonbinary and trans self-discovery, and based on the description, I was hoping Ollie In Between would find its place among my favorites. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite manage that. There was a lot to enjoy about this book, from the thoughtful exploration of womanhood and how the difficulty to define gender makes it even more difficult to understand your nonbinary identity to the Ollie’s complex family dynamics to the transphobia and homophobia of their peers to the new friend group they find themself part of. However, it fell a little flat for me. This story felt a little more wandering than I wanted it to, a little too aimless to be character-driven, and though I appreciated elements of the ending, it was a little too tidy for me. Overall, I think that Ollie In Between is a valuable book to read and share, because I think many readers discovering themselves will find themselves in it—I think I would’ve five or six years ago. However, I wasn’t personally a huge fan.

2.5/5 stars, rounded up

I'm sure this is a heartfelt book about working out your gender identity, but I had to stop at 25%. It is written in first person and is 90% Ollie talking to Ollie about Ollie. But with all that, I don't feel like I learned much about Ollie. That much internal monologue is a turn-off for me.

First person doesn't lock you into internal monologues. The [book:Fourth Wing|61431922] series is all in first person, and that has plenty of dialogue and action.

Feiwel & Friends was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via NetGalley for an honest review.

DNF at 31%

I fully recognize this is a me issue. It could be a number of things, but they're all a me problem that I couldn't get into this book. I love that Ollie is a probably autistic, possibly asexual, likely nonbinary main character. I really liked Ollie's sister. I found Ollie's "I'm fine, just observing" attitude interesting. Did not care for Ollie's friends or the way they treat Ollie. The pacing was slow, which I think was supposed to be because Ollie is being introspective and self-evaluating, but I just did not get into it. I have the same issue with literary books too, so it's definitely a me problem.

Rated 3 stars because there are queer neurodivergent kids out there who need this.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Ollie is on the precipice of puberty, something we all have to go through. Hair appearing places it wasn’t before, a new need for deodorants, and of course, menstruation. Ollie doesn’t feel like they fit in. They’re too “girly” for the hockey team yet not “girly” enough for the popular girls at school. Ollie decides to interview women and girls in their life for a school project, asking “what does it mean to be a woman”, which leads Ollie through the realization that she isn’t a girl.

This middle grade novel had me hooked! Ollie is immediately likeable and I was rooting for them the whole time! The book deals with subjects most 12-13 year olds deal with, such as friendship woes, fitting in, and puberty, but the book really shines when it dives into Ollie discovering their gender identity. There’s also a good about of grief being dealt with while Ollie is going through everything else.

As a middle school teacher, I truly believe that everyone deserves to see themselves represented in books, especially during our early teen-hood. Ollie in Between balances the trials of middle school in a realistic, sometimes dark, and yet still hopeful way. This debut is well crafted, nuanced, and an important story to add to any shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an awesome book. I loved Ollie and getting to watch them experience their place in the world and also so desperate to fit in.

It felt so easy for me to go back in time and remember myself at this age, and just truly how difficult everything feels. To fit in, to find yourself, to know yourself, to find friends, to try to feel close to your family, to find out what you like, etc. It all feels like so much. I think Callans did an incredible job of displaying these feelings and emotions in Ollie for the reader. It felt so real, like I was experiencing it in real time with them.

I feel like this book is so important, not only those questions their gender identity but for everyone else as well. It’s crucial to remember that everyone else experiences the world different than ourselves. No two people are the same, and that’s the beauty of diversity and inclusion. I loved how Ollie got to see and experience kids their age stick up for them and their friends. I loved the Queer Book Club and how those friends allowed Ollie to question and slowly accept themselves. It’s important to stick up for others in the face of bullying and harassment, and I loved moments where we got to see that and how it showed Ollie’s old friends just how important it is to go against the status quo.

CW: transphobia, homophobia, bullying, sexism, misogyny, panic attacks/disorders, body shaming, death of parent (off page, before book time period)

This was pretty awesome. I really liked the characters, they were all very layered, and Ollie was flawed and felt so real. I just really connected with them. They made mistakes but I was with them the entire time. This book was such a great journey. I loved seeing Ollie grow into themselves, make better friends and stand for themselves and everyone around them. This was also really funny at times. I just had an amazing time with this one and it made me feel all the things. I could not recommend it more. I cannot wait to read whatever Jess Callans writes next!

As puberty looms on the horizon, Ollie isn’t sure where they fit. They don’t fit in with their hockey friends anymore, and they don’t understand their now boy-crazed best friend. When they’re asked to write an essay about what it means to be a woman, they take it upon themselves to interview the women in their life. Hoping it will help them figure out their own identity.

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Ollie In Between by Jess Callans to review! I was immediately drawn in by the cover for this one, and I’m always on a quest to read more middle grade. As a debut novel, I was super impressed by this one!

Callans perfectly captures the experience of puberty when you’re in middle school. That feeling of confusion, anxiety, and feeling like everyone else knows more than you do. I can imagine that those feelings are magnified when you’re also questioning your gender identity, and there are a lot of middle grade readers who will feel seen by Ollie.

Outside of identity, this is also a book about friendship and finding new friends who accept you for you who are. Middle school is a notoriously hard time for that, and shifting friend groups isn’t the most fun thing in the world. Ollie navigates this in this book, eventually finding somewhere they fit in.

In the current state of book banning, this book is such an important story. Callans hits all the right notes for a middle school story, and I can’t wait to recommend it when it comes out in April.

Fantastic read! Great representation, wonderful examples of healthy friendships, and a beautiful depiction of just being (you). Highly recommend for all people in the LGBTQIA+ community and those who wish to support them. Can't wait to read more from this author.

This is one of the best books I've read about puberty for middle graders since the book it was inspired by - Are You There God, It's Me Margaret? But so many other themes besides puberty are explored in a thoughtful and inclusive way, including gender identity, coming out, growing apart from friends, bullying, and the question Ollie sets out to learn more about, what it means to be a woman.

I read it so quickly and was so impressed by the depth of the story and character development. More thoughts to come, but it's definitely going to be a title I recommend wholeheartedly to all readers.

overall an enjoyable story about a middle schooler exploring their gender identity. i thought ollie's feelings and confusion towards their gender were very realistic and found the conversations about womanhood interesting. i found the friendships in the book to be very well written. ollie has two (former) friends and i appreciated the complexity in how they were portrayed. also really liked how ollie being mixed race (persian & white) came into place every once in awhile. one thing i will note is that the main plot is about ollie's gender identity and if you are not interested in books with queer characters where them being queer is most of the plot, I might not recommend ollie in between. but other than that a solid read.

I was thrilled to read such a wonderful book. The story is told by the point of view of Ollie, a thirteen year old girl. All the emotions are there because Oliie is not sure if she wants to be a boyu or ior neither. There is a lot of fear, emotionns and cinfusionm as Ollie tries to find her pllace without losing her world. I recommend this book for all readers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC,

"Ollie in Between" is a thoughtful exploration on the themes of growing up. Author Jess Callans explains in the included author's note that the book began as a contemporary response to Judy Blume's "Are you there God? It's Me, Margaret". "Ollie in Between" tackles the unique challenges of facing the world as a non-binary young person, as well as coming to terms with the loss of a parent, shifting friend dynamics, and family expectations. The structure and mood of Blume's classic are evident here, however Callans successfully creates an original character in the titular "Ollie". As they conduct interviews for a school project on growing up, Ollie gradually learns that few of us know all of the answers.

This is a charming read, one easily recommended to mature MG or YA readers.

I think this book will be important for the right readers. It's written in an accessible way and Ollie is a character I think a lot of middle schoolers could relate to or learn from. The friendship dynamics (and the role of cell phones) was well done. The whole journey of the book was satisfying and heart-felt.

I think I expected a slightly different tone based on the cover. I expected something more poignant, introspective, and tender. The writing style felt pretty unobtrusive, but in a slightly generic way, and at times the transitions between topics were a little abrupt. Ollie's "It's fine" attitude about what they were going through made sense, but it kept me at a distance from them. I wanted to feel more for Ollie.

And this is something I've noticed in a lot of MG or YA books that deal with real-world issues: the messages in this book were right on, but sometimes their articulation felt a little ham-fisted. I think kids deserve to have issues written in a way they actually speak about and conceptualize them. I have a bit of a pet peeve about adult verbiage in kids' books. For instance, right at the start, Ollie states their awareness of book banning, that books about race, gender, and sexuality are the most frequently banned. This language--the wording and Ollie's understanding of it--felt like an adult speaking through the child main character's mouth.

Content warnings-
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Grief, Outing, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Body shaming, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Deadnaming and Self harm

To start my review: this is such an incredible book to be published right now. Queer kids will always exist and I'm so glad that there's so much queer literature for kids being published. That being said, I just personally wish this had been a bit more hopeful. There's a lot of content warnings that I noted (the book didn't offer any) and there's a lot of despair and darkness as Ollie navigates their gender identity, middle school, grief of a parent, and what is pointing to be undiagnosed autism (although the book never explicitly mentions it). While there is hope sprinkled throughout the book, there wasn't enough for me personally.

I did enjoy that the author included Ollie getting their first period. It's a time that's stressful and can be embarrassing for everyone who goes through it, so I really enjoyed seeing all their friends and family stepping in to help them feel more comfortable.

Lastly, I kind of wish their neurodivergence had been explored more. Sure, Ollie's journey figuring out their gender is the main story, but every single aspect of it is influenced by the way they see the world through a non neurotypical way. For example: constantly not thinking anyone else makes sense, copying faces and phrases as a way to fit in, not liking change, thinking other people's smiles are fake.

This is such a wholesome novel! Ollie is going through what is debatably the worst time in a person’s life (puberty) and everything is changing. But Ollie learns to find the people who make them feel like they belong and gains the courage to just be. I love Ollie so much. Their character is extremely relatable and their gender journey is touching for people of all ages. What an incredible story about growing up and discovering who you are!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the eARC, but it did not affect my review in any way!

Just as Ollie In Between began as the author’s MFA homework exercise to write a letter to his past self, twelve-year-old Ollie’s story starts with a homework assignment: write an essay about what it means to grow up. As Ollie navigates middle school bullying, unwelcome puberty, and a sudden barrage of gender stereotypes, they decide to take this assignment into their own hands and ask: What does it mean to be a woman?

I’m glad that in 2025—despite the increase in book bans and anti-trans legislation—I can recommend plenty of middle grade novels for trans tweens. Among my favorites are Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff, Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo, and Dear Mothman by Robin Gow. So when I received an advance reader copy of Ollie In Between, I was excited to discover what new perspectives Jess Callans would bring to this small but growing collection for tweens.

The novel immediately begins in a gender-separated health class, with Ollie having to read their technically anonymous question in front of the class: “What happens if you don’t want to become a woman?” The students’ laughter and the teacher’s quick dismissal that it’s “just biology” convinces Ollie that to survive middle school—and probably the rest of their life—they’re going to have to figure out what it means to be a woman since it seems they don’t have a choice in the matter.

It’s a little heartbreaking but also impressive how Ollie takes matters into their own hands. Ollie’s mom died when they were only eight years old, so they don’t have a parent they can talk to about what it was like going through the same kind of puberty. Instead, Ollie goes out of their way to interview various women in their life, trying to understand what it means to feel like a woman. Unfortunately, Ollie quickly realizes that no one has the answer they’re looking for. Ollie makes a good point: “If there isn’t anything specific that makes someone a woman, then how is anyone supposed to know how to do it right?”

But even if no one can “teach” Ollie how to be a woman, having all of these different, older characters reflect on what it means to be women in their own ways leads to some interesting insights and a diversity of perspectives:

“I think some people might say that womanhood has a lot to do with the way the world interacts with that anatomy, good or bad. How you’re perceived by others.”

— Mrs. Mylonas, Ollie’s friend’s mom.

“I think girlhood is trying to understand how to be a woman, like any woman or the right woman, and womanhood is figuring out what being a woman means to you. Undoing all of that stuff that you thought was right, but was only for everyone else.”

— Lila, Ollie’s older sister who’s graduating college.

“Being a woman is looking at all of what is expected of you—which is a lot, as I think you know—and finding yourself through all the noise. . . . [I miss my family] every single day. But I do not miss how it felt to act around them.”

— Ms. Atando, Ollie’s English teacher who’s estranged from her Nigerian family.

These interviews, interwoven in the larger narrative of Ollie figuring out who they are, really stood out to me as a reader. A major part of Ollie In Between is that there are mentors everywhere—and they don’t have to have the same lived experience as you to give you something to think about. Ollie talks to mothers, child-free women, adults who always loved their femininity, and others who grew into it—and even though Ollie eventually concludes that they’re definitely not a girl, it’s these conversations that help them realize that girlhood isn’t an intrinsic part of who they are, while it is for others.

There’s plenty more to explore in Ollie In Between—a beautiful relationship between siblings who’ve found ways to live without their mom’s advice as they grow up. A busy, single dad who’s supportive, but often doesn’t know how to include his late wife’s Persian culture in his children’s lives. A trans classmate who had to change schools because of bullying. And finally, Ollie is strongly characterized as autistic and possibly asexual, though it’s up to the readers to spot the signs themselves. Occasionally, I wished that there was time to dig deeper into the many interesting character relationships in this short book, but for a middle grade novel under three hundred pages, Jess Callans is already doing a lot.

Ollie In Between is an emotional rollercoaster that doesn’t shy away from the tough (and bloody) realities of first periods and middle school bullying but also shines a light queer community and guidance from trustworthy adults. While at times it felt a little preachy, I reminded myself while reading that everyone learns about the pink tax and sexism for the first time—so of course some aspects are going to feel over-explained to an adult reader. Overall, I’m glad this book exists in the world and it’s going to be a wonderful, unique addition to your rainbow library!

I feel seen. I’ve been questioning where I fall on the gender spectrum too and what that means to me.
Ollie’s dealing with new changes and the ever impending womanhood is looming, but is that what Ollie wants? This is explored in the health class essay assigned to the class.
I loved Ollie discovering their inner human amid the challenges of friendships and puberty.

Thank you for this e-arc!