Too Bright To See
$8.99 USD
paperback
It’s the summer before middle school and eleven-year-old Bug’s best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. For Moira, this means figuring out the right clothes to wear, learning how to put on makeup, and deciding which boys are cuter in their yearbook photos than in real life. But none of this is all that appealing to Bug, who doesn’t particularly want to spend more time trying to understand how to be a girl. Besides, there’s something more important to worry about: A ghost is haunting Bug’s eerie old house in rural Vermont…and maybe haunting Bug in particular. As Bug begins to untangle the mystery of who this ghost is and what they’re trying to say, an altogether different truth comes to light–Bug is transgender.
Kyle Lukoff is the author of many books for young readers. His debut middle-grade novel, Too Bright To See, received a Newbery honor, the Stonewall award, and was a National Book Award finalist. His picture book When Aidan Became A Brother also won the Stonewall. He has forthcoming books about mermaids, babies, apologies, and lots of other topics. While becoming a writer he worked as a bookseller for ten years, and then nine more years as a school librarian.
★ ”Smart and thought-provoking…. Through Bug’s journey to self-realization and self-acceptance, and the wonderfully nuanced understanding of gender he comes to, Lukoff provides a tender rumination on grief, love, and identity.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “Equal parts unsettling, heartwarming, and satisfying…a nuanced and compelling exploration of gender, friendship, and family.” –Booklist, starred review
★ ”Lukoff’s three primary themes—gender identity, grief, and ghostly hauntings—work in elegant harmony despite the load. Lukoff navigates Bug’s journey of identity and discovery with grace, welcoming…A hopeful examination of grief and gender, and a good ghost story to boot.” –School Library Journal, starred review
Boston Globe Best Book of 2021
TIME Best Children’s Book of 2021
Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2021
New York Public Library Best Book for Kids of 2021
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book for 2021
NPR Best Book of 2021 PW Best Book of 2021
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2021
Kirkus Best Book of 2021
School Library Journal Best Book of 2021
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