Review: Just Shy of Ordinary
Just Shy of Ordinary
by A.J. Sass
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2024
Category: Middle Grade
Reviewer: Kathryn Hall
Buy at Bookshop.org
Shai is the only child of a single mother, living in a warm communal household in Wisconsin. In addition to the usual problems of adolescence, Shai has an anxiety disorder, and change is difficult for them. Shai enters public school for the first time after being home-schooled, is skipped a grade due to academic achievement, starts high school, misses their best friend, gets a new haircut, makes new friends, starts to understand their gender identity and sexuality, develops disfiguring eczema, and worries. So much worry. Their mother doesn't seem to want to answer Shai's questions about their past, and mom’s new career will likely mean that they will have to move. An antisemitic incident occurs, but Shai has supportive family, friends, and teachers as well as personal strengths. Shai enjoys writing and poetry and is able to understand what they need to do in order to feel better.
This is an excellent middle grade novel by one of my favorite queer Jewish authors. A.J. Sass creates believable, fully rounded characters with quirks, faults, and good hearts. Several of the characters are LGBTQ+. I highly recommend this, and his other works, especially Ellen Outside the Lines.
Judaism is an important theme in the book. Shai's maternal grandparents are loosely observant Jews who belong to a Reform synagogue. Shai's mother was raised Jewish, but since Shai's birth has not participated in Jewish life. Shai has had minimal exposure to Judaism, but in trying to understand their own identity becomes interested in exploring their Jewish heritage. Both Jewish and non-Jewish readers will be able to appreciate their experiences.
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Reviewer Kathryn Hall is a retired pediatrician, lifetime member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, volunteer librarian for her synagogue and for her local LGBT+ center, and active in her local PFLAG chapter. She has a special interest in Jewish children's literature with LGBT+ content. She lives in Central California with her husband, the youngest of her three children, and two of her eight grandchildren.
Shai is the only child of a single mother, living in a warm communal household in Wisconsin. In addition to the usual problems of adolescence, Shai has an anxiety disorder, and change is difficult for them. Shai enters public school for the first time after being home-schooled, is skipped a grade due to academic achievement, starts high school, misses their best friend, gets a new haircut, makes new friends, starts to understand their gender identity and sexuality, develops disfiguring eczema, and worries. So much worry. Their mother doesn't seem to want to answer Shai's questions about their past, and mom’s new career will likely mean that they will have to move. An antisemitic incident occurs, but Shai has supportive family, friends, and teachers as well as personal strengths. Shai enjoys writing and poetry and is able to understand what they need to do in order to feel better.
This is an excellent middle grade novel by one of my favorite queer Jewish authors. A.J. Sass creates believable, fully rounded characters with quirks, faults, and good hearts. Several of the characters are LGBTQ+. I highly recommend this, and his other works, especially Ellen Outside the Lines.
Judaism is an important theme in the book. Shai's maternal grandparents are loosely observant Jews who belong to a Reform synagogue. Shai's mother was raised Jewish, but since Shai's birth has not participated in Jewish life. Shai has had minimal exposure to Judaism, but in trying to understand their own identity becomes interested in exploring their Jewish heritage. Both Jewish and non-Jewish readers will be able to appreciate their experiences.
Are you interested in reviewing books for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze? Click here!
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