Jackie and Milo have been best friends and neighbors forever. But this year, they start middle school, and they start to grow apart. Milo wants to try playing soccer and has his teammates to hang out with. Jackie, hurt and lonely, tries to make friends with some other kids, but she is labeled the "weird" kid for not caring about boys and makeup. So she comes up with the idea of writing love letters to herself from a 'secret admirer' to make herself seem more interesting. Hurt feelings and jealousy make the matters more complicated, and pretty soon, Milo and Jackie are both miserable.
Middle school is rough, and Jessixa Bagley has written a very relatable book about trying to be someone you aren't to make friends. Any kid will be able to relate.

3.5

Dear Jackie is an interesting take on what a girl might do to fit in with the new social expectations of middle school. Jackie's "friends" won't stop pestering her about liking somebody and they and Jackie's mother insist that she dresses like a boy and should look more like a girl even though Jackie is just fine exactly how she is.

I wish there was a bit more remorse from the mom. She was constantly forcing Jackie to try to change who she was and to be friends with Adelle (who was frankly a bully, not a friend), because Adelle fits the mom's idea of what a girl should be.

I cannot buy that Jackie and Adelle were ever friends. They only spent time together because their moms wanted them to. They did not get along, had extremely little in common, and Adelle was constantly mean to Jackie and embarrassed her in front of the entire school.

I liked that there was occasionally a bit from Milo's POV so the reader could see how he was struggling with trying to find new friends too.

The art style is not my favorite, but I didn't notice anything wrong with it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.

Netgally ARC
Expected publication September 9, 2025

This middle grade graphic novel took me way back to the middle school note sharing days of trying to fit in. I can only imagine how much more complex it is now with technology. Anyway, a diverse group of friends/frenemies navigating societal expectations at home and at school, including leaving admiration notes to yourself in effort to be more liked. Not a far fetched idea, but it backfires.

This charming coming-of-age story features a variety of twists and turns that brought me back to writing letters when I was in middle school. Middle school antics ensue as two tweens, Milo and Jackie, navigate the halls of a new school. Milo and Jackie have been friends since they were little and have grown up together. Will the woes of middle school tear them apart or bring them closer? Dive into this thoughtful coming-of-age story that explores the challenges that middle schoolers face.

Author Jessixa Bagley does a wonderful job diving into the challenges tweens face while navigating middle school. This novel brought me back to when I was in middle school without a phone and unable to text my friends. We used to write letters to crushes in hopes they would notice us. Once, in middle school, I wrote a letter to my crush and was mortified when I realized he'd rejected me in front of his friends. As a tween, it is so hard to navigate those new feelings and emotions. Author Jessixa Bagley does a great job of allowing the reader to explore new feelings with Jackie. Jackie must learn to navigate new territory both at home and school. She must learn how to handle her new emotions and learn to open up to her parents about the challenges she is facing. The author is sensitive to recognizing that not all tweens are comfortable talking with their parents and teaches youth how to navigate those difficult conversations.

Great read for tweens entering middle school! Highly Recommend!

Jackie is tired of being judged for the way she looks, the way she dresses, her lack of interest in discussing boys. She gets the "brilliant" idea to become her own secret admirer. Explores themes of community and friendship.

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced reader’s copy of Dear Jackie by Jessixa Bagley and Illustrated by Aaron Badgley.

Middle school is THE WORST! Jackie and Milo have been best friends for literally ever, so nothing should change that while they start middle school, should it? As Milo gets more into sports and makes new friends, Jackie begins to feel left behind. Hijinks and adventures ensue as each try their best to navigate middle school, their new friends, and their own friendship.

As many of the other reviews have stated, this is the perfect read for fans of Raina Telgemeier, as well as Kayla Miller, Jerry Craft, and Jennifer L. Holm. Middle grade readers will relate to the situations that Jackie and Milo find themselves in and understand that they are not truly alone as long have they have good friends.

Actual rating 3.5⭐

Jessixa Bagley captures the complexities of middle school with a whole lot of awkwardness and heart.

Readers who enjoy realistic fiction will love Dear Jackie for its authentic exploration and navigation of friendships, crushes (and lack thereof), and gender norms. There is a diverse cast of characters, further highlighting that this experience is a universal one.

This middle grade graphic novel came onto my radar when I received a digital ARC from NetGalley. In this book Jackie is friends with Milo but social dynamics, peer pressure, and gender norms enter the middle school scene. I’m not going to lie, this book has a LOT of cringe and awkwardness but there’s so much truth in that painful part of life. This is a book worth talking about with a tween as they navigate external expectations, fitting in and staying true to themselves.

Of all the middle grade books I've ever read, this one captures the angsty, embarrassed, obsessive, self-deprecating pre-teen hormone takeover than any other one I've read to date. Is it cringy? Absolutely! That's kind of the point. Do the characters make bad choices in the name of trying to fit in/be liked/be popular? You betcha! Again, that's kind of the point. Overall, I felt like this was pretty true to the pre-teen experience, at least it seems to match both my own and my current pre-teen child's though perhaps with much less extreme action taken on both our parts. But the unnecessary drama and the "Everything I'm feeling is the most anyone has ever felt and no one in the world can understand me." bit seemed spot on to me.

I liked seeing the parents apologize and try to do better in this book. In general, I love seeing books for kids where the adults act like human beings who can make mistakes and then change like any other character (and human) can/should.

I also really liked the older sibling character. I think its important for kids to have role models like that in their lives and also to show people like that in stories for kids.

And lastly, I like that this book kinda showed that many of the problems middle-schoolers face are things that sort of have to get better gradually over time. That's a difficult thing to face at that age. This book could have maybe leaned into that a little bit more, but I also get that in a story for kids who can relate to the escalating problems in the first 90% of the book, its important to show that there is a happy ending at the end. It implies that there can be a happy ending for the reader too eventually.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to any preteens you know who feel like they're having a hard time fitting in, especially if its mostly because they have their own unique personality (not because they are marginalized as that's not so much a theme in this book even though the representation in this book is quite good). It could also be somewhat of a healing read for any older (than middle grade) folks who had a tough time in their own pre-teen years.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's publishing for early copy for review*

This had a decent story, but the art style was not my favorite. I do think this would be perfect for any child entering middle school.and scared about that journey.

MG coming of age graphic novel about a young girl, Jackie, who is pressured by her parents and "friends" to be more girly and interested in dating when she really couldn't be bothered. To complicate things her further, her best friend since infancy is increasingly giving in to peer pressure to fit in with the jerky boys on his soccer team. While Jackie doesn't appear to be gender diverse, her elder brother is and they provide useful support and advice over the course of Jackie's sixth grade year.

Dear Jackie was such a sweet exploration of the sixth grade experience. Everyone around Jackie seems suddenly obsessed with their crushes and worried about their own image. Jackie is fine not caring about these things, but no one around her accepts this. Desperate to fit in, Jackie starts using a typewriter to leave secret admirer notes in her locker. If someone has a crush on her, then maybe she can escape the teasing and scrutiny from so many of her peers. Meanwhile, her best friend is now trying to fit in with his new soccer team. He struggles, but neither he nor Jackie know how to communicate about it with each other.

I loved the gentle way this book dove into the way we express our identities and our gender. In middle school, the perceived gender divide can suddenly seem so vast, and acceptable expression can seem like such a thin ledge in comparison. Additionally, so many kids are pressured to have crushes, and Jackie is a reminder that it’s okay to not be there yet (or ever).

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I will be adding this graphic novel to my middle school class library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dear Jackie is a cute and quick read depicting best friends, Jackie and Milo, through snapshots of their first year of middle school. Jackie is a tomboy. She’s not interested in boys or makeup or wearing dresses and skirts. She just wants to hang out with Milo and play video games and read comic books all day. Heading into middle school doesn’t have to mean they change with it. But everyone around her keeps trying to change her — how she dresses, what hobbies she partakes in, even who she hangs out with.

Her character, in many ways, felt very reminiscent of me when I was around that age. I didn’t care about dating or wearing frilly dresses or who likes who in school. I was always extremely uncomfortable in my own skin whenever I tried to dress differently than what was my normal. I didn’t want to change anything either, even though I was entering a whole new school. I didn’t need a wider pool of friends, because the ones I had suited me just fine. So I completely understood a lot of her thought processes throughout this novel, even though many of them had me peeking through my fingers because 24-year-old me now knows only disaster awaits.

Every time Jackie tried to conform, it backfired. There’s a lesson there. Stay true to yourself. You’ll find the people who are for you in due time. And don’t be so afraid of change. It might pleasantly surprise you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great graphic novel. The story was so well done and the graphics were amazing. This will be a great kids book.

Jessixa Bagley and Aaron Bagley do a terrific job of showing that not all kids are ready to embrace hormones and crushes at the same time. Likewise not all kids prioritize gender expectations; this graphic novel highlights the importance of respecting that individuals know themselves - yes even tweens. I have a nibling with a thirteenth birthday coming up, a pre-order confirmation of Dear Jackie will be one of her presents, as the book comes out a few weeks later, the gender and tween struggles is something I want to share with them, and hope they share with their friends as well.
Dear Jackie is a middle grade graphic novel following Jackie and her best friend Milo as they start the new adventure of middle school: sixth grade. The two are neighbors with silly jokes, secret spy missions, and a history of being best friends, but the new world of middle school throws their friendship in different directions as they explore other interests, make or try to make new friends, and face the gendered peer pressure of all things tween. This is particularly hard on Jackie when all her peers and her parents insist on always trying to change her. Jackie is constantly frustrated they they all keep telling to dress more “girly / cutesy,” and that because she doesn’t care about looking they way others want her to looks she is not as mature as her peers. Milo is enjoying hanging out with the guys on the football team, but he misses Jackie. He also doesn't know what to do when they say things he disagrees with, like teasing Jackie.
Jackie turns to her older sibling Jabari - very cool, nonbinary, but away from home and at college for the first time - through letters and video calls. Jabari even lets her use their typewriter. Which is when Jackie begins to write herself letters from a secret admirer; maybe if her friends think someone likes her they will stop trying to change her.
The characters are not always lovable. But they are familiar. No one makes the right choices all the time, especially with mixed messaging being thrown their way. Jackie pushes through, with help from her older sibling who is navigating being accepted and tolerated as nonbinary, but not understood by their parents. While not a main character, Jabari’s presence and encouragement of Jackie was my favorite piece of the story.

Content Warning:
Bullying
Gendered expectations

This is a good graphic novel about the big feelings, confusion, questioning, and growing pains that come with going to 6th grade.
I will be recommending this title to my fellow librarians.

Dear Jackie is a must read graphic novel. Jackie is trying to navigate middle school, friendships, and family such a relatable story. I could not put this book down.

Middle school is undeniably rough, and Dear Jackie captures that tumultuous time with empathy and nuance. Jessixa Bagley, along with illustrator Aaron Bagley, paints a realistic picture of early adolescence—awkward friendships, internal identity battles, and the ache of feeling out of place. There’s a lot to appreciate here, particularly in how the story affirms that young people can and do find their way through these growing pains, even if that process is messy.

The graphic novel centers around Jackie, a middle schooler who crafts fake love letters to herself in an attempt to gain popularity. It’s a clever premise that opens the door to deeper themes: the longing to belong, the compromises we make to be seen, and how easily authenticity can be lost in the fog of peer pressure. The story's slow shift from comic mishap to emotional introspection is handled with care, and Aaron Bagley’s illustrations match the narrative beat for beat—expressive, colorful, and tuned in to the story’s emotional currents.

There are some beautiful, sincere moments here. Jackie’s struggle with her shifting friendship with Milo is relatable and sensitively drawn, and the subplot involving her sibling’s journey with parental acceptance and LGBTQIA+ identity adds meaningful depth and representation. These threads give the book weight and resonance, especially for readers navigating similar experiences.

That said, Dear Jackie isn’t without its flaws. Jackie herself is a complicated protagonist—realistic, yes, but often frustrating. Her decisions, particularly how she treats those closest to her, can be hard to watch unfold without more thoughtful reflection or accountability. At times, the book rushes through important emotional turning points, with conflicts resolving quickly and without the deeper unpacking they seem to call for. While that may mirror the unpredictable and impulsive nature of middle school emotions, it leaves some of the character growth feeling a bit unearned.

Ultimately, Dear Jackie is a solid addition to the middle-grade graphic novel genre. While it wasn’t quite the right fit for me as an adult reader, I can easily see middle schoolers connecting with Jackie’s journey—her missteps, her heartache, and her attempts to figure it all out. It’s an imperfect but heartfelt story that reminds readers that growing up is rarely smooth, but it’s always worth it.

Middle school is rough. And Jessixa Bagley’s, alongside illustrator Aaron Bagley, Dear Jackie does an exemplary job of portraying just how rough middle school can be. But, even though this time in a child’s life is full of its ups and downs, it helps to know that not only are none of us alone here, but everyone has the ability and resilience to work through and find themselves along the way.

I had such a grand time reading this beautiful graphic novel, fully feeling for Jackie in all the struggles she faced as middle school brought about a ton of changes. From her best friend suddenly finding a whole new group of friends with his soccer buddies to the frustrations of not having the same likes and feelings as the other students around them. Even the perils of navigating parental relationships when expectations don’t take into account who the child is as a person are some of the most painful and difficult experiences for newly teen kids to go through.

Dear Jackie encapsulates so excellently the experience of growing up slowly, but surely. It delves into the discomforts that come from not fitting in, the inevitable friend fights we all experience at one point or another, the fallout that occurs when our actions have negative consequences, and the perils that come when—let’s face it—some kids are just plain mean. There’s also a side plot with Jackie’s sibling, relating to parental acceptance of an LGBTQIA+ child that was handled with care and portrayed realistically, something I know will help kids experiencing those feelings a little, both in visibility and connection.

This is unquestionably the sort of book that I’d be thrilled to recommend to students and families alike. I hope everyone who reads it finds catharsis in the pieces they can relate and connect to.

A rounded up 3.5. I loved that it dealt with notes and had the directions in the back for folding a note.