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Slouch
The highly anticipated, standalone follow-up to the USA Today bestseller Jawbreaker, this funny, fresh, and incredibly relatable middle-grade novel is about a tall girl navigating friends, family, self-esteem, and boundaries—perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier.Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly 5’10” in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height—even Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something—maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw even more attention to her lanky frame.A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it—until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too—which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all.From breakout author Christina Wyman, Slouch is a new must-read story about growing up and growing into yourself, inch by inch. It’s ideal for readers who love Raina Telgemeier, Kelly Yang, Gordon Korman, and other endlessly funny and deeply heartfelt books that tackle big topics and universal coming-of-age experiences alike.Don’t miss Christina Wyman’s hit debut Jawbreaker, which Publishers Weekly calls “Smile meets Wonder.”
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2024
41 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Christina Wyman
3 books45 followersChristina Wyman is a writer and teacher living in Michigan with her husband and silly rescue cats named Alfred and Greta Cannoli―not to mention the raccoons, owls, and hummingbirds that occupy a tree outside their bedroom window. She grew up in a tiny apartment with her family in Brooklyn, New York, where she dreamed of becoming a writer. Her work has been published in New York Magazine, The Washington Post, Elle, Ms. Magazine, the Guardian, and other outlets. When she’s not writing, you can find her stocking up on chocolate or trying to convince her husband to adopt more cats. Most recently, she’s developed a passion for eating strawberry jam straight out of the jar.
Christina is the USA Today-bestselling author of the middle-grade novels Jawbreaker, Slouch, and Breakout. Her upcoming novel, “Breakout,” is a fresh and funny middle-grade novel about a girl with chronic acne figuring out how to feel good in her own skin, and is available wherever books are sold, including through local independent bookstores. Her runaway debut hit, “Jawbreaker,” is a middle-grade book that follows a seventh-grader with a craniofacial anomaly, and is a Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2023. Her sophomore novel, “Slouch,” about a tall girl navigating friends, family, self-esteem, and boundaries, is a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year.
Christina is the USA Today-bestselling author of the middle-grade novels Jawbreaker, Slouch, and Breakout. Her upcoming novel, “Breakout,” is a fresh and funny middle-grade novel about a girl with chronic acne figuring out how to feel good in her own skin, and is available wherever books are sold, including through local independent bookstores. Her runaway debut hit, “Jawbreaker,” is a middle-grade book that follows a seventh-grader with a craniofacial anomaly, and is a Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2023. Her sophomore novel, “Slouch,” about a tall girl navigating friends, family, self-esteem, and boundaries, is a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
November 12, 2024
Read this with my son, who is in 5th grade. While I imagine the target audience is more for girls, he was really engaged and interested and I found it was a great story to build his awareness of things girls and women routinely experience (the male gaze, sexual harassment) and other things that are more universally applicable (child predation, body consciousness, middle school social dynamics, being a good friend, when not to keep a secret, also debate club!).
100% recommend to parents of middle school children to read together.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
100% recommend to parents of middle school children to read together.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
The first thing that people notice about seventh grader Stevie Crumb is that she is 5'10", and they always feel a need to comment on it. Her older brother, Ryan, is slightly taller than she is, but he's a high school basketball player. Her parents, who weren't able to go to college because they had Ryan right after high school, go to all of his games, and don't seem to care much about what Stevie does as long as she supports Ryan, too. Money is tight in the household, and they eat a lot of pasta. There seems to be money for new shoes and clothes for Ryan, but not always for Stevie, who has grown enough that herr new pants are short and tight, so she often steals Ryan's sweats to wear to school. She gets along fairly well with Ryan, although he'll do annoying things like asking her to do extra credit homework for him for $5. Stevie's best friend, Arianna, is fashion obsessed, and lives in a bigger, fancier apartment on one of the upper floors in the New York City apartment building. When Arianna goes home sick, Stevie has to take the train home alone, and notices that men, some older than her father, are starting to violate her personal space and make inappropriate comments. The first time it happens, she asks her father to meet her at her stop, but doesn't tell him about the occurrence because she's afraid that he won't let her take the train alone. Stevie's parents have mentioned that she needs an activity, and when she hears Mrs. Crenshaw and the school Opinionators discussing debate topics, she ends up joining their debate team. This means less time with Arianna, who is starting a business selling bracelets on Instagram without telling her parents. It also means that she has to take the train alone more and more. Fiona is the student who wanted to start the debate team, and she is quite mean, telling Stevie that she doesn't want anyone else on "her" team, calling her Crumb-Dumb, and making fun of her height and clothing behind her back. On the bright side, Cedric is welcoming and friendly, and Stevie rather likes him. When she tells Arianna, her friend says that she can't like Cedric because he's shorter than she is. Arianna runs into problems with her business, taking pictures in a forbidden ally and even meeting strangers who say they want to buy her bracelets. This concerns Stevie so much that she tells her parents, and Arianna is angry with Stevie for a while. She eventually understands, and offers to go to the first debate with Stevie because she is bored with being grounded. Stevie has prepared well for the debate, but is so uncomfortable with her I'll fitting outfit and so intimidated by the fancy private school that she completely blows her debate and forfeits for the team without asking them. Her parents weren't at the debate, choosing instead to go to a scrimmage of Ryan's. Stevie finally has a talk with her parents, and tries to get them to understand that it's not okay for family friends to make comments about her body, even if they seem complimentary, that she needs their emotional support, and that she has to have a bare minimum of clothing that fits and makes her feel comfortable in order to be able to go to school and get things done.
Strengths: Like this author's Jawbreaker, Stevie's family is struggling to pay bills, which is a situation not often depicted in middle grade novels. While Max Plink had one parent who had problems and a very bad relationship with her sister, Stevie's parents are doing a good job at trying to support their children; they just don't fully understand Stevie's needs, and do change when she talks to them. I also liked that she and Ryan generally get along, even though she resents him. There are some very interesting scenes where Stevie grapples with her height; she lets Arianna cut her hair (with disastrous results) because it will "make her look shorter" and she practices different postures. I loved that Mrs. Crenshaw was also tall, and wish that the two of them would have talked more. The balancing act that the parents have with money will be familiar to many children; Stevie and her brother have most of what they need, but there's always the chance that they might lose the apartment, that they won't be able to pay to have the car fixed, or that things like new clothes and shoes will have to wait until the next pay day. This also realistically addresses the sexual harassment that many young girls face, and has an informative author's note about her own experiences. There's also a lot of good information about the effects of social media and safety concerning it, and Arianna's story is a realistic, cautionary tale.
Weaknesses: I almost wish Stevie hadn't completely crumbled (sorry!) at the debate at the fancy school, because I think completely disastrous performances are rare in reality, but the scene does have the appeal of the old Seventeen Magazine "Was My Face Red" column. I also wish that we had seen Stevie stand up for herself at least once; if doing so on the train is too dangerous, perhaps she could have called out a "complement" or two, giving readers an example of tactics they might employ.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who found Bradley's Fighting Words, Dee's Maybe He Just Likes You or Carter's How to Be a Girl in the World informative, and is the only other book I can think of the addresses the challenges of being particularly tall, other than Bauer's 2002 Stand Tall.
8/27/25- I have to say that the print version of this book is something my students find daunting. Not only is it over 300 pages long, but the print is TINY. I've had innumerable students, drawn in by the cover, pick up the book, open it up, and immediately put it back. This was not something I noticed when reading the E ARC.
Perhaps we need a middle grade book that shows girls how to stand up to people who say inappropriate things to them. This issue is no doubt tied to many factors, like family socioeconomic status, educational level, race, and culture, but I hope that women are doing a better job of teaching girls how to (when safe) talk back to people who give them a hard time. This was also a good title to point out that it's bad practice to comment on someone's physical appearance, even if it is supposedly complimentary. I try to tell students nice things to hopefully brighten their days, but try to limit myself to the colors they are wearing or something specific about garments (I love the cable pattern on your sweater!), because those things are choices that students have made.
The first thing that people notice about seventh grader Stevie Crumb is that she is 5'10", and they always feel a need to comment on it. Her older brother, Ryan, is slightly taller than she is, but he's a high school basketball player. Her parents, who weren't able to go to college because they had Ryan right after high school, go to all of his games, and don't seem to care much about what Stevie does as long as she supports Ryan, too. Money is tight in the household, and they eat a lot of pasta. There seems to be money for new shoes and clothes for Ryan, but not always for Stevie, who has grown enough that herr new pants are short and tight, so she often steals Ryan's sweats to wear to school. She gets along fairly well with Ryan, although he'll do annoying things like asking her to do extra credit homework for him for $5. Stevie's best friend, Arianna, is fashion obsessed, and lives in a bigger, fancier apartment on one of the upper floors in the New York City apartment building. When Arianna goes home sick, Stevie has to take the train home alone, and notices that men, some older than her father, are starting to violate her personal space and make inappropriate comments. The first time it happens, she asks her father to meet her at her stop, but doesn't tell him about the occurrence because she's afraid that he won't let her take the train alone. Stevie's parents have mentioned that she needs an activity, and when she hears Mrs. Crenshaw and the school Opinionators discussing debate topics, she ends up joining their debate team. This means less time with Arianna, who is starting a business selling bracelets on Instagram without telling her parents. It also means that she has to take the train alone more and more. Fiona is the student who wanted to start the debate team, and she is quite mean, telling Stevie that she doesn't want anyone else on "her" team, calling her Crumb-Dumb, and making fun of her height and clothing behind her back. On the bright side, Cedric is welcoming and friendly, and Stevie rather likes him. When she tells Arianna, her friend says that she can't like Cedric because he's shorter than she is. Arianna runs into problems with her business, taking pictures in a forbidden ally and even meeting strangers who say they want to buy her bracelets. This concerns Stevie so much that she tells her parents, and Arianna is angry with Stevie for a while. She eventually understands, and offers to go to the first debate with Stevie because she is bored with being grounded. Stevie has prepared well for the debate, but is so uncomfortable with her I'll fitting outfit and so intimidated by the fancy private school that she completely blows her debate and forfeits for the team without asking them. Her parents weren't at the debate, choosing instead to go to a scrimmage of Ryan's. Stevie finally has a talk with her parents, and tries to get them to understand that it's not okay for family friends to make comments about her body, even if they seem complimentary, that she needs their emotional support, and that she has to have a bare minimum of clothing that fits and makes her feel comfortable in order to be able to go to school and get things done.
Strengths: Like this author's Jawbreaker, Stevie's family is struggling to pay bills, which is a situation not often depicted in middle grade novels. While Max Plink had one parent who had problems and a very bad relationship with her sister, Stevie's parents are doing a good job at trying to support their children; they just don't fully understand Stevie's needs, and do change when she talks to them. I also liked that she and Ryan generally get along, even though she resents him. There are some very interesting scenes where Stevie grapples with her height; she lets Arianna cut her hair (with disastrous results) because it will "make her look shorter" and she practices different postures. I loved that Mrs. Crenshaw was also tall, and wish that the two of them would have talked more. The balancing act that the parents have with money will be familiar to many children; Stevie and her brother have most of what they need, but there's always the chance that they might lose the apartment, that they won't be able to pay to have the car fixed, or that things like new clothes and shoes will have to wait until the next pay day. This also realistically addresses the sexual harassment that many young girls face, and has an informative author's note about her own experiences. There's also a lot of good information about the effects of social media and safety concerning it, and Arianna's story is a realistic, cautionary tale.
Weaknesses: I almost wish Stevie hadn't completely crumbled (sorry!) at the debate at the fancy school, because I think completely disastrous performances are rare in reality, but the scene does have the appeal of the old Seventeen Magazine "Was My Face Red" column. I also wish that we had seen Stevie stand up for herself at least once; if doing so on the train is too dangerous, perhaps she could have called out a "complement" or two, giving readers an example of tactics they might employ.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who found Bradley's Fighting Words, Dee's Maybe He Just Likes You or Carter's How to Be a Girl in the World informative, and is the only other book I can think of the addresses the challenges of being particularly tall, other than Bauer's 2002 Stand Tall.
8/27/25- I have to say that the print version of this book is something my students find daunting. Not only is it over 300 pages long, but the print is TINY. I've had innumerable students, drawn in by the cover, pick up the book, open it up, and immediately put it back. This was not something I noticed when reading the E ARC.
Perhaps we need a middle grade book that shows girls how to stand up to people who say inappropriate things to them. This issue is no doubt tied to many factors, like family socioeconomic status, educational level, race, and culture, but I hope that women are doing a better job of teaching girls how to (when safe) talk back to people who give them a hard time. This was also a good title to point out that it's bad practice to comment on someone's physical appearance, even if it is supposedly complimentary. I try to tell students nice things to hopefully brighten their days, but try to limit myself to the colors they are wearing or something specific about garments (I love the cable pattern on your sweater!), because those things are choices that students have made.
December 10, 2024
This book actually gave me a mindset of humility and aspiration!
December 29, 2025
This book reads like the after-school specials we grew up with in the 90s, and I'm here for it. It approaches very real and relatable issues that often come with adolescence, and it is brave enough to touch on heavier subjects without feeling too didactic. I read this aloud with my son, who is in 6th grade. I am so happy that it prompted many discussions about self-esteem and awareness of the challenges that kids (especially girls) face when it comes to body image stereotypes, autonomy, and personal safety. This book is great on its own, but it is EXCELLENT as a starting point for meaningful conversations with young readers, and I love it so much for that.
Want to read
June 15, 2024SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK!!!
February 4, 2025
"I like this book because I can totally relate to it. I'm one of the tallest in 7th grade, and was the tallest in 5th and 6th grade, and it seems like everyone is always looking at me." -Cadee, age 12
Read
August 3, 2025needed this as a kid. tall girls are COOL
April 10, 2025
This book made me cry :’) It was incredibly relatable for me, as I’m taller than most kids at my school. Stevie’s story was easy to follow along with, and I’m glad there are books talking about important subjects like this.
December 7, 2024
Love the sport of debate being added into the story
October 19, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of Slouch by Christina Wyman.
This book follows a 12 year girl who has recently sprouted up and people are starting to pay attention to her. Stevie Crumb has long legs and wears highwater pants due to her sudden growth spurt. Suddenly men are taking notice and commenting on her appearance which makes her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Her parents are struggling financially. She overhears them arguing over money quite often. Stevie's older brother is on the high school basketball team and her parents are obsessed with his basketball season and making sure he has the proper fitting uniform and shoes. When Stevie joins the debate team she asks for clothes that fit her properly but her parents blow her off not seeing how important this is to her.
This book deals with unwanted attention, feeling left out, the dangers of social media, not having enough money, stranger danger, riding public transportation by yourself as a teenager, working parents, big city living and so much more. It felt quite intense at time but it has a good message.
This book follows a 12 year girl who has recently sprouted up and people are starting to pay attention to her. Stevie Crumb has long legs and wears highwater pants due to her sudden growth spurt. Suddenly men are taking notice and commenting on her appearance which makes her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Her parents are struggling financially. She overhears them arguing over money quite often. Stevie's older brother is on the high school basketball team and her parents are obsessed with his basketball season and making sure he has the proper fitting uniform and shoes. When Stevie joins the debate team she asks for clothes that fit her properly but her parents blow her off not seeing how important this is to her.
This book deals with unwanted attention, feeling left out, the dangers of social media, not having enough money, stranger danger, riding public transportation by yourself as a teenager, working parents, big city living and so much more. It felt quite intense at time but it has a good message.
May 14, 2024
Slouch is a novel about a tall 12 year old girl navigating friends, family, self-esteem, and boundaries most teens face as minors.
Stevie Crumb, like most adolescents, doesn’t want to stand out. Problem is, she’s nearly 5’10” in seventh grade, so she towers over her peers and much of the school staff as well. To Stevie, it seems, all anyone wants to talk about is her height. Her parents want her be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother, Ryan. She cares not one thing for basketball and any other sport, frankly. But Stevie has a keen desire to be good at something, just not something that draws even more attention to her lanky frame.
Then, quite by accident, Stevie learns her middle school has a debate team. She, out of curiosity, joins in on a meeting and thinks this may be her niche. After all there is a acute fellow debater named Cedric. But alas, he’s shorter than she is, a fact her best friend is so kind to point out!
Then you have are Stevie’s clothes which she is out growing super fast. Even her brother calls her Flood Watch due to her pants stopping well above her ankles. Yes, another reason to stand out. It seems there is always money for Ryan’s basketball attire and expensive shoes but Stevie is asked to make do because the parents, after living expensive in the city have no money left for her. This fact infuriated me with the patents. I understand being on a-tight budget, but funds could have been shifted around to buy their daughter proper clothing.
Another plot in the Stevie saga is her subway rides to school and debates. Looking more like a high schooler than a twelve year old, men on the subway start making comments about her body. This is of course annoying, but also scary and unsafe.
Then her friend lands herself in a stranger danger situation and when Stevie’s parents happen to find out, they tell best friend Arianna’s parents and now she won’t speak to her.
Lots going on in Steve’s life and you reader will want to be there for every second of it!
Slouch, by Christina Wyman is a new must-read story about growing up and growing into yourself, inch by inch. There is a lot of heart in this story that tackles big topics and universal coming-of-age issues in a very tactful manner for Middle grade readers.
Then you have are Stevie’s clothes which she is out growing super fast. Even her brother calls her Flood Watch due to her pants stopping well above her ankles. Yes, another reason to stand out. It seems there is always money for Ryan’s basketball attire and expensive shoes but Stevie is asked to make do because the parents, after living expensive in the city have no money left for her. This fact infuriated me with the patents. I understand being on a-tight budget, but funds could have been shifted around to buy their daughter proper clothing.
Another plot in the Stevie saga is her subway rides to school and debates. Looking more like a high schooler than a twelve year old, men on the subway start making comments about her body. This is of course annoying, but also scary and unsafe.
Then her friend lands herself in a stranger danger situation and when Stevie’s parents happen to find out, they tell best friend Arianna’s parents and now she won’t speak to her.
Lots going on in Steve’s life and you reader will want to be there for every second of it!
Slouch, by Christina Wyman is a new must-read story about growing up and growing into yourself, inch by inch. There is a lot of heart in this story that tackles big topics and universal coming-of-age issues in a very tactful manner for Middle grade readers.
January 12, 2025
I was excited to read this book. The author does a terrific job of portraying a young girl looking to belong to an activity and choosing debating. She portrays how other students think positively about Stevie (the main character), while Stevie generally doubts herself. I think this happens ALL the time in middle schools. It is hard for students to see the positives about themselves at this age with so much self-comparison to their peers. I thought the way her relationship and the dangers of social media and the subway were handled were excellent. However, for students that do not take public transportation, parts of it could be alarming because it would not be in their experience at all. The social media piece did a great job of explaining the dangerous parts of social media and why parents worry about its use. I enjoyed how debating was viewed as a sport. I know a lot of students that don't want to be athletes, but want to have an activity and be respected. I loved that this happened for Stevie. Lastly, I liked that Stevie had a small crush on her team mate and that never really evolved into anything. Because that happens a lot. It is true to middle school. Mrs. Crenshaw was an excellent model and demonstrated that although teachers do their best, we are constantly learning from our mistakes and might approach things differently in the future. While I felt it exhibited a young person's mindset very accurately, I am not sure that some young people would not find the narrator a bit whiny - she is very ego-centric. Being tall is such a negative for her, which is interesting, but in my family, my son has been so ashamed and bothered by being short. I feel like he totally would not be able to understand her viewpoint. He has always wanted to play basketball - and she is tall and everyone mentions it to her - but she has no interest. Also, while I love how she works out her friendship with her best friend, Ariana, in my experience, most middle schoolers are not mature enough to handle friendships the way they do. However, it was a model of how things should work. Overall, a fantastic book! I had it rated a 4 and moved it to a 5 because it is really making me think about a lot of different things, and I believe that I will be thinking about it for a long time.
January 22, 2025
If you are looking for a book packed with great discussion topics, SLOUCH by Christina Wyman is for you. Aimed at a middle grade audience (but could be used for high school as well), SLOUCH takes on multiple topics top of mind for many teens and even their parents and teachers.
Stevie Crumb is the tallest in her class. She's taller than the girls and also the boys. Everyone expects her to play sports, especially basketball, but she's not interested at all. Her brother Ryan is a basketball player with dreams of playing in college with a full scholarship. Their parents are also hoping for that since it will be the only chance he'll have to go to college.
Money is always tight, but Stevie notices that Ryan has whatever he needs for basketball - new shoes, new shorts, whatever he needs. At the same time, Stevie must wear Ryan's hand-me-downs if she wants pants that aren't too short or too tight. She's growing, but when she points this out to her mother, she is told she'll have to wait until there is some extra cash in a few weeks.
Stevie stumbles across a meeting of the school's debate team. She is immediately interested in joining the group. Maybe her parents will like the fact that she is competing in something, even if it isn't a sport.
Staying after school for debate practice means taking the train home later than usual and often without her best friend. Stevie becomes uncomfortable when older boys and even men start making comments about her physical appearance. Several of them even touch her as they pass her to leave the train. Keeping this information to herself doesn't feel right, but her parents are so focused on Ryan's basketball and their money problems, she can't find the right time to bring it up.
SLOUCH is full of Stevie's problems - bullying, family dynamics, social media issues, best friend dilemmas, and scary threats to her physical safety. Readers will take an instant liking for Stevie and root for her to find all the answers she needs.
Stevie Crumb is the tallest in her class. She's taller than the girls and also the boys. Everyone expects her to play sports, especially basketball, but she's not interested at all. Her brother Ryan is a basketball player with dreams of playing in college with a full scholarship. Their parents are also hoping for that since it will be the only chance he'll have to go to college.
Money is always tight, but Stevie notices that Ryan has whatever he needs for basketball - new shoes, new shorts, whatever he needs. At the same time, Stevie must wear Ryan's hand-me-downs if she wants pants that aren't too short or too tight. She's growing, but when she points this out to her mother, she is told she'll have to wait until there is some extra cash in a few weeks.
Stevie stumbles across a meeting of the school's debate team. She is immediately interested in joining the group. Maybe her parents will like the fact that she is competing in something, even if it isn't a sport.
Staying after school for debate practice means taking the train home later than usual and often without her best friend. Stevie becomes uncomfortable when older boys and even men start making comments about her physical appearance. Several of them even touch her as they pass her to leave the train. Keeping this information to herself doesn't feel right, but her parents are so focused on Ryan's basketball and their money problems, she can't find the right time to bring it up.
SLOUCH is full of Stevie's problems - bullying, family dynamics, social media issues, best friend dilemmas, and scary threats to her physical safety. Readers will take an instant liking for Stevie and root for her to find all the answers she needs.
November 22, 2024
Standing up for yourself when it counts
Wyman has an eye for detail and a willingness to tackle complexity that makes her books stand out in their realism. I was a fan of her first book Jawbreaker, and though this book felt a little slower at the start than her debut, it wasn’t long before it became just as compulsively readable. I recommend this to tweens and teens, those who want to understand them, and anyone who has ever been one — so pretty much everyone old enough to read it. There are some hefty themes in here around sexual harassment and class, alongside some of the more traditional kid lit themes of sibling rivalry, friendship, and building self-confidence. This reflects how life operates — nothing exists in a vacuum and it made me viscerally remember what it felt like to be that age, when comments from well intentioned friends and family members about your body blended in with leery looks and come ons from creepy strangers to create a recipe for feeling, as the author puts it, exposed. I also thought the take on learning how to communicate and set boundaries was really well done. The lead characters learn lessons about these topics that I didn’t learn until well into adulthood while staying true to the voice and emotional tenor of the protagonists. I find it frustrating when kids in movies or books suddenly start sounding like adults, but this doesn’t happen even as the characters learn lessons in emotional maturity that I got a couple decades later than I would have liked. I hope that reading this means more young people don’t have to wade through years of therapy in adulthood before learning how to communicate and disagree in healthy ways. And I bet more kids will join debate team due to this book, for better or worse. Overall, a fantastic sophomore effort. Can’t wait for the next one.
Wyman has an eye for detail and a willingness to tackle complexity that makes her books stand out in their realism. I was a fan of her first book Jawbreaker, and though this book felt a little slower at the start than her debut, it wasn’t long before it became just as compulsively readable. I recommend this to tweens and teens, those who want to understand them, and anyone who has ever been one — so pretty much everyone old enough to read it. There are some hefty themes in here around sexual harassment and class, alongside some of the more traditional kid lit themes of sibling rivalry, friendship, and building self-confidence. This reflects how life operates — nothing exists in a vacuum and it made me viscerally remember what it felt like to be that age, when comments from well intentioned friends and family members about your body blended in with leery looks and come ons from creepy strangers to create a recipe for feeling, as the author puts it, exposed. I also thought the take on learning how to communicate and set boundaries was really well done. The lead characters learn lessons about these topics that I didn’t learn until well into adulthood while staying true to the voice and emotional tenor of the protagonists. I find it frustrating when kids in movies or books suddenly start sounding like adults, but this doesn’t happen even as the characters learn lessons in emotional maturity that I got a couple decades later than I would have liked. I hope that reading this means more young people don’t have to wade through years of therapy in adulthood before learning how to communicate and disagree in healthy ways. And I bet more kids will join debate team due to this book, for better or worse. Overall, a fantastic sophomore effort. Can’t wait for the next one.
October 29, 2024
I enjoyed the book. The writing flowed easily and was a good example of family and friends relationships. If I had a child growing up that seemed worried about the way they look, I would have them read this book. It had some really great examples of talking things out with friends and finding a good way of communication. So many times teens, and tweens just hold things in and won't talk about things that are bothering them. I was impressed the Stevie finally started expressing her feelings to her parents and helping them to understand how she felt. I was also impressed how Stevie and Arianna were able to talk to one another instead of hiding secrets. It really was the best thing I learned from reading this book- how communicating- instead of hiding how you feel- helped strengthen their relationship. It does take that kind of care from both people tho- to make things work. The book also brought out the problem of men's behavior toward young women- with some good tips on how a young girl could act. I think the strongest point though in this book was when Stevie and Arianna were walking down the hall and they saw Fiona- crying-an arch enemy- and Stevie stopped to talk to her. When Fiona finally told what was happening- it was almost the same thing that Stevie was going through. This book really could be read to start a conversation with a group of girls that might not be getting along- teaching them that others might be suffering too despite their bad and unkind behavior. I could really see this being used by a school counselor and a group of students struggling with friends and expectations.
July 4, 2024
Towering over her classmates, twelve-year-old Stevie is subjected to unwanted comments about her body by family, friends, and strangers. Residing in an apartment in Brooklyn with parents living paycheck to paycheck, a brother on the high school basketball team who gets whatever he wants, and a best friend ten flights up in her building, Stevie feels like everything is more important than she is.
This isn’t just another “poor me” teen angst book; watching Stevie “grow” and find her voice was magical. Stevie responds to many situations with wisdom beyond her years which young readers may find unbelievable (but something to which they should aspire), and some with the childishness of her age, an apt portrayal of pre-teen existence. Responses to these situations by Stevie and Arianna are mostly healthy responses, and it also indicates what they learned from the experience.
Themes throughout the book are timely and relevant to today’s youth, with many predictable outcomes. The teachable moments come hard, fast, and obvious. Adults reading with the intended audience can open some conversations based on these situations, their reactions, and emotions.
My favorite phrases are "information diet" and "play stupid games, win stupid prizes"
This read is good for the tween audience, for anyone struggling with ever having been bullied and subjected to microaggressions, or anyone who has ever been a bully, there is a character for everyone with whom to relate.
This isn’t just another “poor me” teen angst book; watching Stevie “grow” and find her voice was magical. Stevie responds to many situations with wisdom beyond her years which young readers may find unbelievable (but something to which they should aspire), and some with the childishness of her age, an apt portrayal of pre-teen existence. Responses to these situations by Stevie and Arianna are mostly healthy responses, and it also indicates what they learned from the experience.
Themes throughout the book are timely and relevant to today’s youth, with many predictable outcomes. The teachable moments come hard, fast, and obvious. Adults reading with the intended audience can open some conversations based on these situations, their reactions, and emotions.
My favorite phrases are "information diet" and "play stupid games, win stupid prizes"
This read is good for the tween audience, for anyone struggling with ever having been bullied and subjected to microaggressions, or anyone who has ever been a bully, there is a character for everyone with whom to relate.
July 4, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
Once again, following Jawbreaker, Wyman delivers a fantastic telling of self consciousness and self worth and how school and family dynamics play a strong roll in each.
Stevie faces being poked and prodded about her height along with unwanted attention from adults on the train, while also feeling invisible to her family as her athletic brother’s needs gets prioritized over hers.
It’s stories like these that have that real world feel that a kid needs every once in a while to let them know, hey, this is kind of what I’m going through too. Books like these might give a kid the confidence they need to speak up about similar experiences be it at school or at home.
It helps kids step into the real world as they approach their teenage years, years full of changes in more ways than one.
And for adults, it gives us that throwback to times where we possibly felt these ways or had these experiences and maybe didn’t get to express ourselves or find the courage, help, or outlet needed at the time, but shows us we weren’t as alone as we thought.
All in all, another great read for all ages, and I throughly enjoyed it.
My one peeve was honestly with Arianna calling her parents by their first names to Stevie, it seemed odd and took me a moment to realize it was her parents she was talking about.
Once again, following Jawbreaker, Wyman delivers a fantastic telling of self consciousness and self worth and how school and family dynamics play a strong roll in each.
Stevie faces being poked and prodded about her height along with unwanted attention from adults on the train, while also feeling invisible to her family as her athletic brother’s needs gets prioritized over hers.
It’s stories like these that have that real world feel that a kid needs every once in a while to let them know, hey, this is kind of what I’m going through too. Books like these might give a kid the confidence they need to speak up about similar experiences be it at school or at home.
It helps kids step into the real world as they approach their teenage years, years full of changes in more ways than one.
And for adults, it gives us that throwback to times where we possibly felt these ways or had these experiences and maybe didn’t get to express ourselves or find the courage, help, or outlet needed at the time, but shows us we weren’t as alone as we thought.
All in all, another great read for all ages, and I throughly enjoyed it.
My one peeve was honestly with Arianna calling her parents by their first names to Stevie, it seemed odd and took me a moment to realize it was her parents she was talking about.
October 14, 2024
It didn't move quick enough for me but that's not to say the content isn't wonderful. It reminds me of the important averageness of the story like Barbara Dee where the topics that are most important aren't often "sensationalized". In this story, Stevie is above average height which means men are paying attention to her and making unnecessary comments that she's older than she is and it's hard to find a way to stand up for herself. That's coupled with her family relegating her feelings to the corner often because they're worried about finances and spend too much time building up the older brother rather than Stevie's confidence.
So she finds a hobby that might work- debate team. But even then she's got competition from a few classmates who think she's overstepping her bounds. And now she's got a love interest, notably shorter than she is, which her friend likes to bring up regularly.
I like that debate team is featured and the family dynamic which isn't often shared. Stevie finding her voice was an important element in the book, it just took a little too much time (for me) to get there.
So she finds a hobby that might work- debate team. But even then she's got competition from a few classmates who think she's overstepping her bounds. And now she's got a love interest, notably shorter than she is, which her friend likes to bring up regularly.
I like that debate team is featured and the family dynamic which isn't often shared. Stevie finding her voice was an important element in the book, it just took a little too much time (for me) to get there.
March 4, 2025
Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly 5’10” in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height—even Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something—maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw even more attention to her lanky frame.A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it—until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too—which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Cute story with real life problems addressed. Reading this would be a great jumping off point for conversations about body image, strangers, expectations, comparison...it is filled with topics that would be relevant to a middle grade tween.
Cute story with real life problems addressed. Reading this would be a great jumping off point for conversations about body image, strangers, expectations, comparison...it is filled with topics that would be relevant to a middle grade tween.
Read
May 16, 2024Seventh grader, Stevie, wants to be seen by her parents and brother, Ryan. All her parents time, attention, and limited resources go to Ryan's basketball playing, in unrealistic hopes that he secures a college scholarship. Also, Stevie is 5'10" tall and she wears a size 10 shoe. Everyone thinks she should play basketball and comments on her height and her maturing body. Add to that a best friend, Arianna, that strives to become a social media influencer with a predictable situation that unfolds, a crush on Cedric, and a newly formed debate team at her school and you have the setting for the book. Unfortunately, this has too many didactic moments. All the issues dealt with in this book are important ones. Educators, counselors, and parents will find ample opportunities to find discussion starters while reading this. Stevie is a very likable character and young readers will be cheering for her all the way through the book. The ending was hopeful but not as satisfying as it could have been. Not sure what young readers will think. 2.5 stars
July 26, 2024
Another pitch-perfect tween read from Wyman.
"Freakish giant" Stevie Crumb is sick of always standing out for the wrong reasons: she's way taller than her peers, even the boys; and her clothes never fit right. At home, she feels almost invisible, eclipsed by her older brother's basketball aspirations. Stevie is thrilled to learn that her middle school offers a Debate Club; finally, here's a chance for her to be part of a team that needs her mind more than her body. But joining the club sows a rift between her and her BFF and means that she has to take the train home by herself--with all the unwanted attention from creepy older Brooklynites.
This is a powerful friendship story and an honest look at financial precarity, growing bodies, and family favoritism--but more than that, it's a necessary treatise on how to be female in the modern world, and what privacy and consent mean in the digital age. Read it and pass it on.
"Freakish giant" Stevie Crumb is sick of always standing out for the wrong reasons: she's way taller than her peers, even the boys; and her clothes never fit right. At home, she feels almost invisible, eclipsed by her older brother's basketball aspirations. Stevie is thrilled to learn that her middle school offers a Debate Club; finally, here's a chance for her to be part of a team that needs her mind more than her body. But joining the club sows a rift between her and her BFF and means that she has to take the train home by herself--with all the unwanted attention from creepy older Brooklynites.
This is a powerful friendship story and an honest look at financial precarity, growing bodies, and family favoritism--but more than that, it's a necessary treatise on how to be female in the modern world, and what privacy and consent mean in the digital age. Read it and pass it on.
October 14, 2024
I am super annoyed by middle-grade books written with an agenda. Just tell a story and let the nuance float through! Kids are smart and empathetic. Give them some credit. I only got through about a quarter of the book before giving up. Normally, I stick with books through to the end--especially if the publisher is trusting me with an advanced copy, but I would rather not wallow through the ruminations of a preteen who thinks the world is against her and she is powerless to improve her situation. Somebody tell me Stevie's big coming-of-age moment is dropping the victim story and learning to live with confidence and joy. I want to read about her enforcing appropriate boundaries and believing in growth and change rather than blaming the evil misogynistic world for her problems. If this big change truly happens in the book, maybe it's worth trudging through the, "woe is me" first chapters to experience the lovely transformation with her.
November 5, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wyman does it again! Another well-written realistic fiction geared toward middle-grade kids who are feeling anxious about everything!
Wyman does a great job writing protagonists who are well-rounded and flawed, but ultimately good. Stevie struggles with figuring out who she wants to be, while struggling with her parents and their lack of income to provide for her. I like how no one's really a "villain" in Wyman's books, just human and flawed. Her parents aren't really trying to be antagonistic, but they aren't helping Stevie's situation. It isn't until Stevie stands up for herself that they listen to what she has to say. It was really bittersweet.
And no, this is not a graphic novel--though the cover makes it look like one. It's still an excellent chapter book!
Side note, I still don't think Stevie should be friends with Arianna...she's not a great friend...
Wyman does it again! Another well-written realistic fiction geared toward middle-grade kids who are feeling anxious about everything!
Wyman does a great job writing protagonists who are well-rounded and flawed, but ultimately good. Stevie struggles with figuring out who she wants to be, while struggling with her parents and their lack of income to provide for her. I like how no one's really a "villain" in Wyman's books, just human and flawed. Her parents aren't really trying to be antagonistic, but they aren't helping Stevie's situation. It isn't until Stevie stands up for herself that they listen to what she has to say. It was really bittersweet.
And no, this is not a graphic novel--though the cover makes it look like one. It's still an excellent chapter book!
Side note, I still don't think Stevie should be friends with Arianna...she's not a great friend...
June 18, 2025
This book had potential but ultimately let me down. In this fictionalized version of some of her own experiences as an exceptionally tall kid in middle school, Wyman tells the story of Stevie, a character who has also appeared in an earlier companion story, who's dealing with a recent growth spurt, parents who favor her brother, money problems for the family that seem to keep her in pants that no longer fit, a best friend making poor choices, a snooty bully at school, and an attempt to find something she's passionate about. That description makes it sound like a lot but Wyman weaves it all together well. My problem stems from the incredibly lackluster and downright frustrating responses from all of the adults in Stevie's life. Stevie shows growth in the narrative but the adults remain infuriatingly selfish and yet forgiven by Stevie. Can you tell that I found all fo the adults rather unlikeable? I do not recommend this book.
September 2, 2024
I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.
Stevie is tall. The tallest girl in 7th grade. Her clothes don't fit. People keep making comments about her body, and whether it's creepy guys on the subway or her best friend saying boys don't like tall girls, it hurts, Her parents are focused on her brother's basketball career and his chance at a college scholarship. When she discovers the debate team, she might actually have a chance to stand out, not just stand up....maybe.
Every kid who has had the experience of not fitting in will find Stevie relatable and connect to this book. It's also nice to see debate get love and attention. And, finally, this is a good introduction to internet safety for kids, without being too preachy about it. Overall, this is an excellent book that would be a great fit for school libraries and classrooms.
Stevie is tall. The tallest girl in 7th grade. Her clothes don't fit. People keep making comments about her body, and whether it's creepy guys on the subway or her best friend saying boys don't like tall girls, it hurts, Her parents are focused on her brother's basketball career and his chance at a college scholarship. When she discovers the debate team, she might actually have a chance to stand out, not just stand up....maybe.
Every kid who has had the experience of not fitting in will find Stevie relatable and connect to this book. It's also nice to see debate get love and attention. And, finally, this is a good introduction to internet safety for kids, without being too preachy about it. Overall, this is an excellent book that would be a great fit for school libraries and classrooms.
February 17, 2025
Stevie Crumb is the tallest girl in the seventh grade, and as a middle schooler, she's not comfortable being taller than most of her peers. She's especially not comfortable with the unwanted attention her height brings, especially from adults who either tell her she should be out for basketball or leer at her on the subway. In a basketball-crazed family, Stevie wants to escape the sports expectation and practically stumbles onto the school debate team. Her confidence grows with debate, but she still deals with many typical middle school problems. It is the dealing with problems aspect that tips this book into the Big Life Lessons trap that fiction for this age group often drifts towards, but it is still a great story on finding your voice. Speaking of voice, for those who might add this to a clean classroom library, there is at least one instance of less than clean language.
October 17, 2024
3.5 stars. 7th grader Stevie is a lot taller than all of her friends. And no, she doesn't want to play basketball like her brother. When she finds something she likes - debate - she is upset that her parents don't seem to care. She lives in NYC and her parents are struggling to stay afloat, which means Stevie doesn't have clothes that fit her properly (even though they spend money on her brother.) The book not only addresses being tall but also unwanted attention from men, especially on the subway. I didn't like that part of the book as much as the school/family/friendship stuff - it seemed added on and didn't flow as well. But 5th and 6th graders will find much to relate to in this book. ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.
October 28, 2025
Supposedly for ages 8-12, I disagree that this contemporary novel is for 3rd graders. 4th, definitely 5th to 7th grade is good. Stevie is in 7th grade, and encounters unwanted attention and touch from men on the train. This book is about much more than that, and the struggles with feelings you get when even family members and friends focus on your body. It's also about finding something you enjoy, outside of others' expectations. It's about friendship and boundaries, family relationships, dealing with financial issues, a first crush, and more. It was so hard to put down, and even though the plot was just about a normal life, parts of it were very suspenseful and tense. I guess there's plenty of tension in normal life issues! It was so good.
September 2, 2024
Stevie’s brother Ryan plays high school basketball. Their parents expect Ryan to get a college scholarship, and expect the whole family to support him by coming to the games. Stevie is 6’, and is very tired of people asking her if she plays basketball. She happens to find out about the debate team in her school, and realizes that she likes debate. Her friend Ariana is impulsive and makes some bad choices, making Stevie promise not to tell. Stevie is getting unwanted attention from creepy men on the subway. Even loved ones feel that they can comment on her body. Stevie uses the skills she is learning in debate to stand up tall for herself and express her feelings.
January 7, 2025
This is a Young Teens novel which I absolutely adored! Being one of the tallest people in my public school experience brought with it a lot of low self esteem. This author does a wonderful job of showcases how difficult it is for young girls to take what society dishes out about being a tall girl. This story also does a fabulous job of bringing awareness to the problem of Boys and Men in society feeling like they can comment on girls body and being predators on them. Since it is set in New York city, it's even a greater problem in an urban environment. I wish I had been able to read this when I was young. It would surely have helped. Bravo Christina Wyman!
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