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Summary
Summary
Astronomy-loving Calliope June has Tourette syndrome, so she sometimes makes faces or noises that she doesn't mean to make. When she and her mother move yet again, she tries to hide her TS. But it isn't long before the kids at her new school realize she's different. Only Calliope's neighbor, who is also the popular student body president, sees her as she truly is--an interesting person and a good friend. But is he brave enough to take their friendship public?
As Calliope navigates school, she must also face her mother's new relationship and the fact that they might be moving--again--just as she starts to make friends and finally accept her differences.
Ellie Terry's affecting debut will speak to a wide audience about being true to oneself.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-Terry's middle grade debut is about one girl's urgent search for true friendship and a sense of home. Constantly on the move after her father's death, Calliope June Snow (Calli) arrives in St. George, UT, with her lovelorn mother, a few suitcases, and an egg carton rock collection. Exhausted by her inability to fit in and tired of always being the new girl, Calli, who has Tourette syndrome (TS), seeks solace in a connection to her neighbor Jinsong, the student body president and an expert pitcher. The novel is a duet, with perspectives from both Calli and Jinsong. Written in a patchwork of prose poetry and free verse, Terry's narrative deftly represents the reality of TS in its fullness. It works to deconstruct common misconceptions, such as that those who have TS have a propensity to swear, and sheds light on the raw confusion and the frightening nature of a physical experience that is utterly unpredictable. However, Jinsong's efforts to defend and protect Calli feel somewhat truncated and predictable. Calli's final act of generosity toward Beatriz, one of her tormentors-offering her the gift of forgiveness, symbolized by a laminated poppy flower-appears both neat and unconvincing. Though the book has some flaws, the tale of a young woman with TS coming of age is an important literary perspective yet untold for a middle grade audience. VERDICT This exploration of Calli's neurological disorder and her struggle to find her place will stay in the hearts and minds of readers for a long time; a good addition for most collections.-Alpha DeLap, St. Thomas School, Medina, WA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Terry's debut novel thoughtfully traces the fragile emotions of two seventh graders: Calliope, a girl painfully self-conscious about having Tourette syndrome, and Jinsong, a popular boy she meets in her new town. Calliope is tired of moving every time her mother "breaks up/ with one of her crazy boyfriends." Having just settled in St. George, Utah, she's glad to make friends with Jinsong, who lives in her apartment complex. But Jinsong begins distancing himself from Calliope when her uncontrollable impulses become more prominent and she becomes the target of cruel jokes at school. "Sometimes my tics/ are like gentle whispers,/ asking me to do things,/ to say things.... But other times they're like a/ SHOUT!/ Jumping out so loud and strong/ I could never hope to/ stop them," she explains. Meanwhile, Jinsong is torn between standing up for Calliope and preserving his status. Terry, who has Tourette syndrome herself, offers enormous insight into an often-misunderstood condition, writing in verse for Calliope's chapters and prose for Jinsong's. Her poetic explorations of Calliope's anxiety and Jinsong's moral struggles are honest and moving. Ages 10-13. Agent: Steven Chudney, Chudney Agency. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
In this sweet and sometimes sad story, readers follow middle-schoolers Calliope and Jin. Callie moves often, any time her mom gets out of a relationship and decides to start somewhere new. Jin's in student council and one of the popular boys at Callie's new school, as well as her new neighbor. She has Tourette's syndrome, exacerbating the anxiety and loneliness she feels, which is compounded by the fact that she never stays in one place long enough to make a friend. Jin is torn between maintaining his reputation and getting closer to Callie, whom he's immediately attracted to. Terry, who herself lives with Tourette's syndrome, movingly draws from her own experience as she describes Callie's experiences and behaviors. The narrative alternates between Callie's and Jin's perspectives, with Callie's chapters in affecting, varied poems and Jin's in plain prose and e-mails. This heartfelt, multivoice story with a meaningful message about friendship and acceptance is perfect for kids who appreciate realistic, character-driven stories, such as Rebecca Stead's Goodbye Stranger (2015).--Pino, Kristina Copyright 2017 Booklist