Nothing Ever Happens Here

by Sarah Hagger-Holt

"This is Littlehaven. Nothing ever happens here. Until the spotlight hits my family."

Izzy's family is under the spotlight when her dad comes out as Danielle, a trans woman. Izzy is terrified her family will be torn apart. Will she lose her dad? Will her parents break up? And what will people at school say? Izzy's always been shy, but now all eyes are on her. Can she face her fears, find her voice and stand up for what's right?

Genres: Middle Grade, LGBT, Queer, Audiobook, Transgender, Fiction, Contemporary

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2020

Reviews

[Kai Spellmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-felt, touching middle grade novel about a small town girl whose parent comes out as a trans woman. While the situation felt simplified at times, it was nevertheless a beautiful story about family, friendship and kindness. I hope this finds its way into many children's (and parents') hands.

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[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people are trans, Get Over It
Some people are gay. Get Over It
Some people are bi. Get Over It
Some people are straight. Get Over It
Some people are asshole especially the ones who scream out loud the phrase 'Love is Love' but belittle the others who are in the same community. Don't blame the straights for every single thing that goes wrong within the community. Look in the mirror! You want respect, then give it first. And the straight, shut your gob before I shut it for you.

United we stand, against assholes

Brilliant book, I bought it solely because of this -

"I hope we will see more LGBT characters in all kinds of books– from picture books to adventure stories, romance to sci fi."

You are a beautiful person Ms.Sarah Hagger Holt

[KatForsyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young people these days are so lucky that books like this exist. I didn’t “need” them, per se, since I always identified as cis and straight, and obviously every book I read as a child or teen was filled with people like me. But I still wish we’d had stories like this, about LGBT families, just to normalise it. And especially for my contemporaries who felt different and excluded, to see themselves represented. And for the bullies and ignorant people to learn from. 🌈

[halfirishgrin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've heard a lot of really rave reviews of this book, from friends and strangers alike. But I really couldn't make it through the whole book. There is a lot of misgendering of the trans character, and just in the first few pages transphobic slurs show up on the page (there are ways to tackle slurs in books for children, but I don't think trans kids need to read horrific slurs about them in a book that is supposed to be about a family dealing with someone in their midst transitioning). There's also a point where the MC asks the trans character if it's okay to still call her "Dad" and her response is essentially she can call her anything she wants.

I can appreciate what this book is trying to do, I suppose. But it feels to me like it's been written for cis readers to be able to sympathise with trans people, not for trans people to have a story about them, or even for trans people to read a story that is safe or comfortable for them.

I'm not trans so I guess take it all with a grain of salt, but I have searched and have only been able to find one review by a trans person on here.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing Ever Happens Here is a really lovely book, that will be a huge help and comfort to families and an excellent way for people to learn. Izzy, Jamie and Megan all adapt to the change in their family in different but valid ways and their love and eventual acceptance for Dee was very touching to read. I also loved seeing them find their own passion and self confidence improve as they realise their Dee is happier living openly as her true self. I think adults as well as children would do well to read this book and challenge themselves to be more open minded, warm hearted and generous people. Reading improves empathy and this book shows that all families are valid and beautiful.

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely, wonderful book. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt emotional while reading, but this caught me off guard. It was sweet, real and complex. The characters were easy to like and relate to. It also shows how important it is to speak up, and how destructive shame is. This story really cheered me up!

[A.R. Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing I want to be clear about when reviewing this book is I am transgender. I am trans masculine rather than a trans woman like Dee and I'm certainly not a parent but I am coming from a background of someone who has come out as trangender to family and friends and I am reviewing this book with my own life experience in mind.

If you want to read books about trans people I will always always recommend you pick books by trans authors. That said, if you are going to pick a book about trans people written by a cisgender author, this one is a good choice.

There was a lot of controversy last year about a book with a similar premise: a cis author writing about a trans woman coming out from the point of view of a cisgender family member. Boyne's book drew a lot of criticism from the community for the outright offensive approach and lack of consultation with real trans people. I am pleased to say that Hagger-Holt did not make the same mistakes as Boyne.

This book takes an honest approach to what it's like to have a family member come out and begin transitioning while always being respectful towards the trans people involved. Not every member of Dee's family is accepting at first but they all come to understand and love her for who she is by learning more about the trans community and just what it means to be transgender.

This was a wonderful middle grade contemporary that I flew through and I'd absolutely recommend it. In fact I am considering buying this book for my younger brother who was a little way off beginning primary school when I came out and began transitioning.

I’d also like to take a moment to recommend some trans authors who readers who enjoyed this book should check out. Alex Gino, Lucas Hasten, and Lisa Bunker write middle grade books. For older readers Meredith Russo and Anna-Marie McLemore are a must read. And if you’re interested in non-fiction C.N. Lester’s Trans Like Me and Trans Britain edited by Christine Burns explore many of the same issues Nothing Ever Happens Here does and more besides.

Content Warnings: bullying, transphobia, misgendering

[Pavitra (For The Love of Fictional Worlds) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds

Disclaimer: A physical copy was provided via Usborne YA and the Author in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.

A beautiful middle grade fiction that is written simply that puts across a very important message to its readers without ever becoming over the top preaching or even boring!

Izzy, our tween protagonist lives a very ordinary life in an ordinary town, where nothing exciting ever happens. All she hopes is that this new school year is going to be a brilliant year with her best friend, Grace by her side; trying out to be in the school’s production.

The ordinary world of Izzy is rocked to its core when her father announces that there is something wrong with him; that he feels wrong in his own body; and that while he has been struggling with his own identity for years; he has finally taken the step to rectify it – by transitioning into Danielle.


While it is a difficult decision for Danielle, it is freeing for her – but seen through the eyes of her daughter, Izzy, who KNOWS that this will rock her life; her unassuming life in school, in this town, a town which is likes it’s ordinary life; and ridicules anything that is considered to be “different” from what is normal.

It is very easy to relate to Izzy, and not begrudge her, her own emotions that run rampant – her reluctance to understand why her father is feels more comfortable more as a woman; how it has affected her friendship with her best friend and the ridicule she has to face in her school – but in the end, it takes a little perspective and a some understanding to believe that humans are humans; and love stays love no matter what form it comes in!



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[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good realistic fiction book to have in the middle school library. Izzy's father comes out as transgender, ready to transition in 2 days time from announcing this out of the blue. Understandably, Izzy and her older sister struggle with not only having to process major changes at home but are upset about the timing of the decision. Izzy just got a starring role in a musical at school, and she'd like the world to revolve around her at the moment, which is totally age appropriate. While this reader and the rest of town had something to say about the selfishness of the decision, the girls come around, deal with the bullies, and become little social activists due to supportive friends and trustworthy adults in the community.

Hopefully, this book will allow children in this position to see that they're not alone, and there's a lot of vicarious counseling (words of wisdom) that the reader can take comfort in. Middle-schoolers who just want a good realistic fiction story who think that there are no LGBTQIA+ people in their small towns may have some awakening, empathy, and tolerance at least for families that are a bit different from the norm. I'm not sure how much understanding a reader was supposed to get about people who are transgender, though. It's more about the experience of having someone in your family come out and the attention it brings on the kids in school.

Overall, I liked it, even though it took me a while to warm up to it. It's a title that one should definitely have in their public school library.

P.S. I haven't read many books set in schools in the UK, and it took some getting used to the school jargon and everyday terms that are so different from American English.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a moving British middle grade novel featuring Izzy, a young girl whose father comes out as a trans woman and the way that impacts Izzy's family and school life. Perfect for fans of Different kinds of fruit by Kyle Lukoff and good on audio narrated by Jodie Mitchell.

[ﾟ･:*✿Paola✿*:･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆4.5

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A middle grade feel-good read. I just wanted something warm and fuzzy and this hit the spot. The narration was perfect.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give this to any kid Y7 and above who has someone close to them who is 'coming out' as Trans or undergoing gender reassignment. This book has an ending full of love and acceptance, for anyone worried.

[Feargal · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is grooming children to cooperate and please their fathers. I hate to think how this could do damage to vulnerable kids.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echt een heel mooi verhaal over hoe Izzy omgaat met de transitie van haar vader.

[Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really important story about accepting who you are, no matter what anyone else says. This quickly turned into one of my favorite books. I really recommend reading this.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Izzy has landed one of the main parts in her school play, Guys and Dolls, and is excited to be able to share the news with her family. But when she gets home, instead of sharing her news and having everyone be excited for her, her dad takes the spotlight by announcing to the family that he's transgender and will be starting to transition to female and using she/her pronouns.

While Izzy's 5-year-old brother accepts the news without a problem, 12-year-old Izzy and 16-year-old Megan struggle with the news initially. But, as they struggle with the news at home, navigating concerns like what to call dad now that dad isn't...dad anymore, and what the news means for her parent's marriage, the two girls also have to struggle with what will happen when the news gets out at school. Izzy also faces many difficulties with the bullies at school, especially once the news gets out at school.

This book is a wonderful addition to the growing group of LGBTQ+ literature. Even when there is still a lot of bigotry and pushback against anything trans, books like these are being published - stories in which LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages exist. In this book, as in real life, there is pushback from some in the community, but I really enjoyed reading this story. It is wonderful to see LGBTQ+ individuals being represented, being present, and just being. As Megan puts it at one point:
Some people are trans. Get over it.
Some people are gay. Get over it.
Some people are bi. Get over it.
As more and more of these books are published, normalizing the existence of all people, more kids will see themselves represented in books, and that is a wonderful goal.

For this book, I listened to the audiobook version, which is narrated by Jodie Mitchell. She did a fabulous job with the narration, drawing me in almost immediately, and really seemed to capture the thoughts and feelings Izzy was struggling with. So, whether you read or listen to this book, I think you will enjoy it.

I do think it needs to be stated that there is quite a bit of misgendering by Izzy and Megan early in the book, after their Dad has come out to them, as they struggle with the news. While there are those who might say this misgendering is terrible, I do think its inclusion is authentic. Not every child whose parent comes out as trans is going to be able to jump immediately to trans-affirming language and behavior. Most of the misgendering occurs when Izzy and Megan are talking to each other about their dad and what name they should now use since "dad" doesn't seem appropriate anymore. So, while there is misgendering, it feels authentic and appropriate given the situation.

This book joins a group of others that I have read recently featuring LGBTQ+ individuals: Rick by Alex Gino, The Pants Project by Cat Clarke, Ana on the Edge by A. J. Sass, and The Greatest Superpower by Alex Sanchez for middle grades and The Witch King and The Fae Keeper by H. E. Edgmon for older teenagers and adults. All of these have been absolutely fabulous at telling the stories of non-cis individuals and providing characters for LGBTQ+ children and teenagers to identify with in the books they read and I have loved reading each one of them. I also look forward to reading more books with LGBTQ+ characters just existing within the pages; stories in which their gender identity or sexual 0rientation has little or no bearing on the plot, where they can simply exist, just like they do in real life.

As a final thought, though I've already mentioned this above, this book is absolutely wonderful. In fact, it is one that I can see myself going back to and reading or listening to again. So, it should come as no surprise that I am recommending this book as one to read.

[Emma Norris · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a shockingly insensitive book that I consider grooming. As a child of a trans parent I became increasingly disturbed reading this. In the book, any child who doesn’t believe what the dad says about being trans isn’t ‘clever’. The book is littered with references to Stonewall, a charity which is mostly financed by the trans lobby which is the writer’s employer. The charity has been criticised for the aggressiveness in its campaigning on trans issues. There is a huge diversion into the issue of transitioning children, which the book is 100% in favour of.
The mother is a cypher who seems to just value loyalty above anything else. the children just want to make their father happy. There is no model of how a child can navigate their confusion and grief at what is going on.
On top of that, the prose is awful. No one speaks like a real person. The children’s voices in particular are very badly done. This is simply propaganda by a well-funded trans organisation and it does a disservice to women and children affected by this issue.

[Claire Wynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was an opportunity missed. The book is written by a Stonewall representative and their rather narrow 'message'/teaching runs through it; it rapidly becomes impossible to believe the characters or their experience, and she does a poor job of creating a believable experience from the point of view of the main character. It's more a propaganda leaflet than a story, and all roads lead to acceptance and protection of the parent; there's little empathy for or exploration of other ways of feeling about this very controversial issue. I'd hate it to be handed out to children going through parental transition as it seeks to tell them how they should feel (like they don't know that already in the current climate). Would not recommend.

[Robin Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really sensitive and thoughtful book - it feels very real and very lovely. (8+)

*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*

[Chloe Ogg · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy read and it made me cry

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight of the bat I was drawn to this book with its delightful cover but when I read the blurb I knew it is a book that I want to hold in my hands and devour, love and shout about until I can’t anymore.
We always see and hear about people wanting diverse books and I agree, I want diversity in books. But I want the diversity to be real and written well. I hate it when you read a book and the author’s only way of writing about a diverse character is to have “this character was different” on every page. No I don’t need you to nag it at me, I want to read it in a realistic and heartfelt way. Y’all know what I’m saying? I want to read about it and not have it bitch slap me every five minutes like a nagging hubby. If I wanted to be nagged I would hang out with the hubby instead of reading, y’all know what I’m saying?!?!
Nothing ever happens here was full of heartfelt moments, and it is the diversity I was craving and Hagger-Holt, showed and wrote to us this diversity in a sweet and eye opening way.
Diversity (YASSSS) and beautiful cover aside, this was delightful. I actually can’t flaw it, and I love picking at a good flaw like a zit, but this beauty was primed and fabulous! The characters were realistic and relatable. You have Izzy, the glue between her siblings, someone who is calm and collected but always puts others needs above her own. You have the older sister, who is takes the situation in anger, and takes that frustration out on the world and then you have the youngest brother, who just wants everyone to be happy and loved.
It was refreshing to see something written so beautifully about something that some people still find a taboo topic and not generally discussed in books, films or well anywhere. While the story is based around Izzy’s dad deciding to live his life as her truly wanted, as a female, it also focuses on family and how to ban through the rough patch and the change that is coming.
I just loved it okay?? I can’t help it. It was amazing and I needed and craved this!!!

[Sophie (RedheadReading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet middle grade about fighting back against bullies and understanding gender identity. I would say this is more geared towards a cis readership, with the aim of helping them understand the concept of transitioning, both for the individual and the other people in their life. There is a lot of misgendering, transphobic slurs are explicitly included, and a lot of time is spent on Izzy processing Danielle's transition so it does focus heavily on her issues with it. That's not to say that trans readers won't enjoy this book, the fundamental message at the heart is one of acceptance, but nearly everyone in this book does react negatively to Danielle's transition so that may not be the most enjoyable experience for some readers. I personally wish we had spent a bit more time portraying what the experience must have been like for Danielle. Towards the end Izzy does start to appreciate how isolated and lonely she must have felt, but I just wish there was a little more focus given to balance out the conflict that permeated the rest of the novel.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Izzy thinks her life is boring. Turns out not to be true. She and her friend Grace are given starring roles in the school’s Christmas production, Guys and Dolls. When her Dad drops the bombshell that he is transitioning to become not Daniel but Danielle, Izzy’s world rocks. This is a brilliant study of early teens and their friends, the bullying they endure, the strength and loyalty of their friendships and the pull of family ties. I read it in just two days. It’s full of characters you care about and the pace is just right. It’s a book intended for Young Adults but, as always, a good book is a good book – and this is!

[Melvin Boom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows that being trans doesn't always end up with being disowned by your family and your friend leaving you. This actually is the first book that properly shows a trans character being accepted. The representation is amazing and the characters are to die for (especially Jamie).

I really like the fact that this book is middle-grade, because these kinds of topics are still not frequently explored in middle-grade. Just another reason why I love this book.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade novel about a "dad" who comes out as a trans woman (i.e. my life story), told from her middle school daughter's perspective. This family's experience isn't exactly like mine has been, but I think this book mostly gets it right? (I'll forgive the Caitlyn Jenner references based on when this was written.)

Anyway, I appreciate this most of all because it features something very rare in trans lit: an adult trans woman who is living a normal adult life and has a family and all those things. We need more representation like this. 👍

[Mab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of a family where one parent comes out as trans felt really special. It's got a gentle realism to it that makes it both comforting and a genuinely brave book, and the characters are deeply endearing. I hope it finds its way into the spaces where it's needed.

Book #75 of my project to read more children's books.

[David Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing Ever Happens Here is such a great book. Clear, compelling, and brimming with empathy. A copy should be in every primary school across the country. Highly recommended.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think they should teach this book in schools! It was so good and just so real, the character development was amazing! And loved the art piece at the end! GET OVER IT! (Reference to the art piece in the book)

[Jaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous - well written and so well handled. I love this book and will be suggesting it to everyone I know.