Forsooth

by Jimmy Matejek-Morris

Thirteen-year-old Calvin knows he's destined to be a star. . . if he can just stop making embarrassing mistakes onstage, like getting stuck on a single line―"Forsooth!"―during the school play. The summer after seventh grade, he's hoping for a fresh start. All he has to do is prove himself as an actor and fix the awkwardness with his friends that started after the play. But nothing's going according to plan. His parents don't get his love of performing. His best friend is moving on without him. And he might have a crush that could change everything. Surrounded by drama on all sides, Calvin will have to go off script if he's going to be a real friend and be true to himself.

Genres: Middle Grade, LGBT, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Theatre

360 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2023

About the author

Jimmy Matejek-Morris grew up in New Jersey as the middle child of five kids. He enjoys musical theater, Muppets, ice cream, and action figures. When he is not writing books and screenplays for kids and young adults, you can find Jimmy peeking through the blinds in hopes of spotting baby bunnies or exclaiming “FREE SEED” so the hungry birds know he has remembered to fill the feeder. He currently lives in Massachusetts with his husband, Scott, and a very well-dressed poodle-Pomeranian named Rudy.

He has a BA in Film and English from Cornell University and an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons College. He can be found on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram @jmatejekmorris

Reviews

[Anniek · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book unfortunately didn't work for me at all. It fell completely flat for me. Mainly that's because to me, the lighthearted, humorous tone of the book really clashed with the story. I kept expecting to feel an emotional response to what was happening, but because the tone stayed so humorous, I didn't end up feeling what the main character was supposedly feeling.

[Seras23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. This book is precious. It’s so good, and beautiful, and sweet, and sad. Kennedy drove me nuts because she was so awful to Calvin, and Calvin just worshiped her. Poor little sweet naive Calvin. Jonah and Blake were both so sweet and precious too, though not as naive or clueless as Calvin sometimes is. This book is truly filled with wonderful characters, including several I haven't mentioned. And the author’s note at the end is also heart-wrenching. I think this book could be so very valuable to kids like Calvin. I hope this book will be widely held in libraries and shared among friends.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and sweet, I laughed and I cried and felt all sorts of feels for Calvin and his friends/family. Also pretty cool to see my partner’s name in the Acknowledgements!
Hope that Jimmy finds more to tell us.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Calvin is best friends with Kennedy and Jonah, but things start to become problematic when he has a disastrous performance in Cinderella. Kennedy is Cinderella, and Jonah is the prince. Calvin is a footman who blows his lines (the titular "forsooth") and "ruins" the play. When Calvin sees Jonah and Kennedy kissing afterwards, it strikes him oddly, but the really upsetting thing occurs later, on the last day of school. When yearbooks are signed, Kennedy uses the opportunity to tell Calvin that she's leaving to move to New York City to live with her mother and go to a performing arts school. Calvin is devasted. In the wake of this announcement, he develops some new friends, including Kennedy's rival, Maia, and neighbor Blake. Calvin's mother makes him go to choir practice at the Catholic church, and Maia hopes to get the solo. After another disastrous occurrence, the priest gives the solo to Calvin. He keeps that information to himself, especially since Maia is helping him and Jonah put together a film that they hope will encourage Kennedy to move back. Calvin is anxious about many things, and Blake, whose father suffers from anxiety, teaches him some valuable coping skills. Calvin is attracted to both boys, but his Catholic upbringing makes him want to deny this. His older sister is dating a boy, and keeping it secret because the parents are so strict, so he knows he can't tell them, even though his father seems to be oddly understanding at several points in the book. Jonah is studying for his bar mitzvah, and trying to find a way to honor his deceased father at the ceremony. Calvin helps him, but also has moments with Blake. When Maia finds out about the solo, that new friendship is in danger of falling through. The whole summer is very tense for many reasons, and when Kennedy comes back to visit (after blocking both Calvin and Jonah from her social media after realizing they like each other), things get very dramatic. Will Calvin be able to figure out what it is that he wants from his family and friends so that he has the support he needs to be his authentic self?
Strengths: This captured the progession of middle school romances in a very realistic way-- a whole lot of the process is just figuring out if the other person likes you, and if they do... what do you even do? Layering this on top of a theater background gives it some form, and the addition of friend drama is perfect, because losing at least one friend in middle school is almost guaranteed. There should probably be a few more middle grade books with families who are religious, but it is becoming increasingly rare for families to have religious affiliations. The interactions with Calvin and his parents and sister are quite interesting. The inclusion of Kennedy's social media "fame" will make this even more appealing to young readers.
Weaknesses: This had a LOT of angsty drama. I wish that there had been more of an underlying plot that dealt with something other than Calvin figuring out his identity or his relationship with his friends and family.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Better Nate Than Ever or Pancholy's Nikhil Out Loud.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Lerner Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Calvin is a typical seventh grader struggling to figure out who he is. Readers meet him at an embarrassing moment in his life when he falls off the stage during a performance. The story then jumps seventy-three days to the last day of school. Immediately, we see the friend dynamics come into play and start to see what will unfold in the book. Readers follow along for the summer and see the angst and crises involved among middle school friends. Matejek-Morris offers a view from Calvin's perspective so readers don't learn as much about his friends. They can feel a bit one-dimensional at times as seen through Calvin's point of view. Calvin is a likeable character and readers will connect with his struggles to see himself and figure out what he wants in life. Too often, one of his friends worked to make him feel smaller so she could be the star. He is oblivious to other friends who see him for who he is and know he can shine.
I wish the story had developed some of the other characters as well but understand the focus on Calvin. I appreciate the way the author addresses relationships and affirms that people need time to figure out who they are drawn to.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really identified with the confusion the main character was feeling through the book between family expectations, friend expectations, and his own growing sense of identity, which he ultimately began to be able to separate from those around him. Actually, despite the main character's feeling of being dishonest in so many ways, it seemed to me that he was the most honest of all of his family and friends; his real issue was that he took everyone else at face value and hadn't yet learned that what people way is not always what they really think.

[Dustin & Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

FORSOOTH, a brand new MG book by Jimmy Matejek-Morris is, as a dear new friend would say, FUH-REAKING fantastic! Such a hilarious, heartwarming story and an immensely important book (at an extremely important time). Representation matters more than ever, and stunning books like #Forsooth (and wonderful kids like Calvin) are truly what the world needs right now. 💜

[Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it went above and beyond all my expectations. I loved the suspense and seeing the main character discover all these things about himself, and seeing him grow into who is really is.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forsooth: DNF. Just wasn't grabbing my attention.

[Nikolas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can relate to Calvin so much. I was literally going through the exact same thing at 13

[Kristin SH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my heart! What a wonderful, sweet book. You don't have to be a theatre kid to love this book (although if you are, you will appreciate it at an even higher level). Navigating feelings for your best friend, and stepping out of the shadow of a "best friend" who hasn't been a great friend to you, are topics that anyone in middle school can relate to.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forsooth! I forgot sometimes that Calvin isn’t real because he and his friends feel so authentic. Calvin is having a rough summer, after single-handedly ruining the school play, he needs to make it up to his friends, while navigating a new friendship that leaves him with unexpected feelings. Readers will laugh with Calvin and cringe along side him. Great middle grade read!

[Danielle Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful read. Jimmy captures all the worries and excitements of a first queer crush. I couldn’t put this book down because I was so interested in how Calvin’s summer would turn out. No spoilers but you don’t want to miss you in this book.