Publishers Weekly
02/28/2022
At Jemison Elementary, Black fifth grader Jillian is creative but shy, and has a hard time speaking up, especially since classmate Rashida, also Black, sets the standard for the rest of the class, down to how individuals dress and wear their hair. When Jillian finishes her problem first during a math game but opts to not answer in a timely fashion, she feels dejected, and tries to find the courage to conquer her social anxiety. “Being shy is one thing. Hiding is something else,” her late grandmother used to tell her, and—determined to live her life by her beloved Grammy’s advice—Jillian dons bright clothes and does her best to stand out. Her buoyed confidence secures Jillian a spot in the school Mind Benders competition, and just like the chicks incubating in her class, Jillian learns to break out of her own shell in a healthy, positive way. Debut author Collier offers an expressively told, inspirational novel that considers grief, chronic illness of a family member, and anxiety while showcasing the power of practicing love, empathy, and self-determination. Ages 8–12. Agent: Danielle Chiotti, Upstart Crow. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"Jillian perfectly encapsulates the contradicting feelings of adolescence, and her attempts to forge her own path and find her identity will be instantly relatable to anyone who has ever felt shy or small.” — School Library Journal
“A heartwarming novel about developing the courage to stop hiding.” — Kirkus Reviews
“This relatable and emotional novel reminds readers that everyone might be fighting their own private battles and that losing or failing at something doesn’t mean you’re not a winner.” — Booklist
"This first-person narrative introduces a brilliant, self-actualized preteen. . . . Readers will cheer for Jillian as she is finally able to break out of her own shell." — Horn Book Magazine
"A tender tale of self-acceptance and friendship, this title is an excellent pick for middle graders grappling with the big questions surrounding identity, expression, and the beauty of our different paths of growth." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Debut author Collier offers an expressively told, inspirational novel that considers grief, chronic illness of a family member, and anxiety while showcasing the power of practicing love, empathy, and self-determination." — Publishers Weekly
"A heartwarming story of friendship, facing your fears, and learning to believe in yourself!" — Claribel A. Ortega, author of Ghost Squad
"With a heroine who is brave, compassionate, and true to herself, Just Right Jillian, is a new classic in the making." — Christina Soontornvat, Newbery Honor-winning author of A Wish in the Dark
"Just Right Jillian masterfully weaves several themes together: overcoming one's fears, learning to speak up and stand out, friendship, grief, and STEM. Readers will root for Jillian from the very beginning to its heartwarming end.” — Janae Marks, Author of From The Desk of Zoe Washington
“Jillian stole my heart and had me cheering with every turn of the page. Wise and full of hope, this is a middle-grade novel to treasure.” — Lisa Lewis Tyre, author of Last in a Long List of Rebels and Hope in the Holler
“This book was a joy from beginning to end!” — Anika Noni Rose, actress and voice of Princess Tiana.
"In a novel reflecting deep understanding of social anxiety and the grounding power of creativity, Jillian gradually reveals more of who she is to her classmates, including her colorful personal style and talent for weaving. They, in turn, prove eager to get to know her." — CCBC Choices 2023
Horn Book Magazine
"This first-person narrative introduces a brilliant, self-actualized preteen. . . . Readers will cheer for Jillian as she is finally able to break out of her own shell."
Janae Marks
"Just Right Jillian masterfully weaves several themes together: overcoming one's fears, learning to speak up and stand out, friendship, grief, and STEM. Readers will root for Jillian from the very beginning to its heartwarming end.”
Claribel A. Ortega
"A heartwarming story of friendship, facing your fears, and learning to believe in yourself!"
Christina Soontornvat
"With a heroine who is brave, compassionate, and true to herself, Just Right Jillian, is a new classic in the making."
Lisa Lewis Tyre
Jillian stole my heart and had me cheering with every turn of the page. Wise and full of hope, this is a middle-grade novel to treasure.
Booklist
This relatable and emotional novel reminds readers that everyone might be fighting their own private battles and that losing or failing at something doesn’t mean you’re not a winner.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"A tender tale of self-acceptance and friendship, this title is an excellent pick for middle graders grappling with the big questions surrounding identity, expression, and the beauty of our different paths of growth."
Booklist
This relatable and emotional novel reminds readers that everyone might be fighting their own private battles and that losing or failing at something doesn’t mean you’re not a winner.
Anika Noni Rose
This book was a joy from beginning to end!”
School Library Journal
12/01/2021
Gr 4–7—Fifth-grader Jillian dislikes standing out so much that she ends up losing a class competition, because winning would mean drawing attention to herself. When the opportunity comes up for her to compete in the school-wide Mind Bender competition, Jillian thinks she'd better skip it—but what if being invisible isn't what she wants, after all? With the help of her loving parents, supportive teacher, and some surprising new friends, Jillian discovers she is so much more than she ever knew. Jillian perfectly encapsulates the contradicting feelings of adolescence, and her attempts to forge her own path and find her identity will be instantly relatable to anyone who has ever felt shy or small. Different aspects of the story work together to drive the plot and create well-developed supporting characters who bring their own challenges and subplots. Readers will particularly enjoy the plot line of Jillian's class incubating eggs, and they will delight in seeing how the hatching chicks are a metaphor for Jillian's own emergence from her shell. Jillian is Black, and the vast majority of her classmates and neighbors are BIPOC. VERDICT Readers will feel a fast kinship with Jillian, who is right at home in any library seeking authentic coming-of-age stories about developing self-confidence.—Kristin Brynsvold, Tuckahoe Elem. Sch., Arlington, VA
Kirkus Reviews
2021-11-30
Jillian tries to keep her promise to her grandmother to be more confident in herself.
Shy and intelligent Jillian is trying to just blend in with the other fifth graders—wearing the same hairstyle and dull-colored clothes as the others and doing her best to be quietly invisible. Her grandmother encouraged her not to hide who she was, but it has been almost a year since Grammy died, and Jillian just can’t manage to find herself, let alone be herself. After she finishes first in a math game in class but ultimately loses because she can’t speak up, Jillian is wracked with anxiety and wonders how she can stop herself from disappearing. Her teacher encourages her to enter the school’s annual academic competition, and when her classmate says she could never win, Jillian decides to challenge herself to break free from the fears that are holding her back. Jillian, her family, and most of the students at her school are Black. The way debut author Collier writes about death, grief, and chronic illness—Jillian’s mother has lupus—is excellent; the language used to describe the characters’ experiences, confusion, and range of emotions is perfectly age appropriate. This novel celebrates those who struggle with social anxiety, and many young readers will be able to identify with the characters in this highly relatable story.
A heartwarming novel about developing the courage to stop hiding. (Fiction. 8-12)
