Jude Saves the World

February 15, 2023
Middle schoolers navigate friendship and identity. Twelve-year-old Jude Winters is out as nonbinary to their mom and gay best friend, Dallas, and changed their name at school, but they aren't out more widely, and this is most distressing when they visit their old-fashioned grandparents. When former soccer star Stevie is friend-dumped by the popular and malicious Tessa, rumors spread that it's because she has a crush on another girl, and Jude and Dallas invite her into their friendship. Underrepresented identities are given a welcome highlight; unfortunately, the story is undermined by thin plotting and limited character development. Jude often needs support for their ADHD and muses that their fatness makes them less legible as nonbinary. Dallas seamlessly fits the trope of the angelic Black best friend, and his race is only mentioned when it feels convenient for the story. The treacly dialogue involves middle-aged-sounding middle schoolers patting each other on the hand, affirming each other's identities through dialogue that feels unrealistic for the age group, and saying that they love each other, while most characters' growth journeys feel unearned and contrived. Although the author's note indicates the intention not to reveal Jude's gender assigned at birth, readers will be able to infer it from an early scene; as a result, there is a missed opportunity to explore the ways their gender assignment has impacted how Jude moves through the world. Well intentioned but forgettable. (glossary, resources) (Fiction. 9-13)

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March 6, 2023
Jude Winters, a white 12-year-old who’s nonbinary and bisexual, feels completely safe only with best friend Dallas Knight, who is gay and Black. Even so, when white-cued schoolmate Stevie Morgan, a former soccer star, is ousted from a popular clique, and rumors swirl that she’s queer, Jude and Dallas offer their friendship. Having a second pal, especially one as fun as Stevie, changes Jude’s life for the better and inspires Jude to create a safe space for marginalized people in their hometown. At the same time, Jude’s ADHD makes it difficult to concentrate in the classroom, and they’re frustrated with their worried mom’s request that they not come out to her parents, leading to misgendering and deadnaming by their grandparents. How can Jude make a difference when so many things are out of their control? Jude is an endearingly earnest narrator, and their supportive bond with Dallas—which debut author Riley contrasts against a toxic former friendship of Stevie’s—models healthy, consensual, enthusiastic camaraderie. Though the novel’s many elements never completely coalesce, the kids eventually find a broader LGBTQ support network, learning more about queer history and identities along the way. It’s a gently inclusive, relationally positive read that touches on symbiotic associations. An author’s note and queer glossary conclude. Ages 8–12. Agent: Andrea Walker and Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary Agency.