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Reviewed by: Colleen Woods, Middle School Librarian Title: Gut Reaction Author: Kirby Larson & Quinn Wyatt Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 4-8 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic Fiction
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Loss of a parent (father) Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I chose this book because I liked that the main character was dealing with a chronic illness (Crohn's) that kids may not know a lot about. If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
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Review:
Gut Reaction was written by well-known middle grade author Kirby Larson (Hattie Ever After), and her daughter Quinn Wyatt. Quinn has Crohn's disease and was able to add her accurate insight as to what it was be like being a young person, trying to figure out what was wrong with you.
Gut Reaction starts off as our main character, Tess Medina, moves with her family to a new town at the start of 8th grade. Tess loves to bake, a trait she inherited from her father, who owned and operated a bakery before his passing three years prior. Tess tries to hold his memory near and dear by continuing to bake, despite the recent stomach pain she's been experiencing. When the opportunity arises to enter a junior baking competition, Tess thinks it will be the perfect way to honor her late Dad, as he was present at the last competition Tess entered. Meanwhile, she's struggling to make friends at her new school, and the list of foods to avoid is getting longer and longer as her stomach issues worsen. Despite the fact that readers (and Tess) do not yet know what she's suffering from, you get a first-hand glimpse at the pain, the worry, the needing to know if a place you're going to has a bathroom, the embarrassment she feels. It's heartbreaking! However, a new group of friends begins to form, who provide a wonderful system of support.
At the end of the novel, the authors include a note that reads:
"In writing this story, we wanted to support the Quinns and Tesses of the world dealing with various hard-to-talk about conditions- by saying it's okay to talk, even about the embarrassing stuff. And for those blessedly unaffected by physically or mental health challenges, we hope this story offers insights that may foster greater understanding, empathy, and kindness."
LOVE!!
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