In the Role of Brie Hutchens...

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Pub Date 30 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 04 May 2022

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Description

A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2020

An own-voices LGBTQ novel from the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, about eighth grader Brie, who learns how to be true to herself and to her relationships with family, friends, and faith.


Introducing Brie Hutchens: soap opera super fan, aspiring actor, and so-so student at her small Catholic school. Brie has big plans for eighth grade. She’s going to be the star of the school play and convince her parents to let her go to the performing arts high school. But when Brie’s mom walks in on her accidentally looking at some possibly inappropriate photos of her favorite actress, Brie panics and blurts out that she’s been chosen to crown the Mary statue during her school’s May Crowning ceremony. Brie’s mom is distracted with pride—but Brie’s in big trouble: she has not been chosen. No one has, yet. Worse, Brie has almost no chance to get the job, which always goes to a top student.
 
Desperate to make her lie become truth, Brie turns to Kennedy, the girl everyone expects to crown Mary. But sometimes just looking at Kennedy gives Brie butterflies. Juggling her confusing feelings with the rapidly approaching May Crowning, not to mention her hilarious non-star turn in the school play, Brie navigates truth and lies, expectations and identity, and how to—finally—make her mother really see her as she is.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2020

An own-voices LGBTQ novel from the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, about eighth grader Brie, who learns how to be true to herself and to her...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781616209070
PRICE $16.95 (USD)
PAGES 272

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Average rating from 74 members


Featured Reviews

ARC provided by NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

"Brie never felt ready, no matter how many times she had to say the words. She hoped that Kennedy would figure out how to do it on her own time. She hoped that when she did it, it would be because she was ready. Not because she felt pressured to."

so i am... crying. jsdfsh no one is surprised. i knew i would love this book because i love Nicole's writing and i adore her other book, Hurricane Season, which is one of my favorite books of all time, and middle grade sapphic novels in general have a special place in my heart. i think this is because i wish i had known i was sapphic myself earlier on, and had gotten to enjoy some stories, experiences and feelings earlier. but anyways.

so this book follows brie, a passionate thirteen year old who loves soap operas and dreams of one day being an actress. she has a crush on a girl in her class, kennedy, and also struggles through an awkward and complicated relationship with her mother.

to be honest, when i read that this story would be set in a catholic church, i was scared, for reasons i'm pretty sure you all know and understand. BUT i had no reason to be, afterall. this is one of the things i appreciate the most in this book, because despite it being a catholic school, the support that the teachers offer brie is astounding. and heartwarming. and relieving. and so wholesome. and so is the support shown by her friends and her family, even though it takes her mother longer to come to terms with brie's sexuality.

speaking of, brie's mother is... flawed, even though she says she tries her best. her relationship with her daughter is quite strained and awkward. her invading brie's privacy was one thing i could not forgive, no matter how much i tried. she is not bad, she never stops caring for and supporting her daughter, and eventually comes around, but she could have dealt better with the whole situation.

it's really hard for me to write this review because so, so many things hit very close to home. so here are other aspects that i loved, that i will just mention briefly:

- the teachers encouraging brie and the other students to question their faith, never scolding them for doubting and always trying to guide them
- brie's mom making sure that brie knows consent is important
- brie never pressuring kennedy about coming out
- everyone apologizing for their mistakes and owning up to them

PLEASE read this book, it's such an important story and so heartwarming. my review does not do it justice, but maybe after i detach myself a little from it, i'll manage to be more coherent. anyways, thank you Nicole for another beautiful story. really looking forward to the next one!

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Melleby follows her fantastic debut, Hurricane Season, with this phenomenal story. In the Role of Brie Hutchins helps fill the need for more upper MG stories. This one will engage and speak to readers examining their own identities. The author expertly handles the main character’s evolving relationship to religion, her family, and her sexuality. Highly recommended.

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Brie loves soap operas. It’s been a way for her to bond with her mom for years. But now Brie has a secret. She googled Kelly Monaco’s name (a soap opera star) and found topless photos. And thing is: Brie likes them.

Her mom walked in on Brie discovering this, but Brie slammed the laptop shut quickly before her mom could realize it. In attempts to distract her mom, she told her that she was picked to crown Mary, a big deal at her Catholic school. But it’s not even true.

Brie quickly begins her mission to earn to that top spot, becoming a better student than she ever has before. As she begins this mission though, she struggles as her mom takes on more hours at work, as she continues to hide that she likes girls, and as she tries to earn that spot to crown Mary.

This book can be a little bit tough at times to read. [Spoiler] Brie is outed to her mom, and her mom doesn’t respond that well. It’s heartbreaking to read, even though it’s realistic for many people.

But the book is beautiful. It takes you in to the story quickly, and you will root for Brie throughout the whole story.

In the Role of Brie Hutchens releases April 21, 2020.

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I heard about this book from the publishers at "Book Buzz" and I knew I had to read it!

As someone who is both in the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as working for the Catholic church (as a teacher as well as many other positions), I felt that this had potential to being a great book. I am glad to say, I was not mistaken.

Brie was such a great character, and it was wonderful watching her grow into herself. There were many points in which I thought she was going to be a "Mary Sue" type character, and have everything work out 100% how she wanted it to. Thankfully this was not the case at all. Even though there were many wonderful things that happened, Brie went through a lot of realistic struggles through the course of this book that helped make her the great character that she is.

At first I was worried that this would be a very niche theme for a book, but I was glad to say that was not the case. I am looking forward to buying this for my library when it comes out and recommending it to teens who are looking for a good LGBTQIA+ read.

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