A thoughtful novel with a rare exploration of coming out as asexual.
Fourteen-year-old eight-grader Lizzie is going through a lot of change. Her family has moved to a new house after a neighbor harassed and assaulted her mother; her brother has moved away to college; and Lizzie’s friends seem suddenly focused on crushes and dating. Lizzie, however, has no interest in boys, girls, or other crushes. She wonders if it’s “weird” that she doesn’t “like” anyone, even though she’s already gotten her period and her best friend, who has a boyfriend, hasn’t.
A lesson in science class about asexual reproduction then leads her to explore online and learn what asexuality means for humans; she discovers a whole community of asexual people. Having a name for her identity is a revelation. But when she tries to discuss this with her mom, her mom doesn’t hear what she’s trying to say; when she approaches her science teacher, the woman tells her it will just take time to find someone.
Lizzie also starts attending a self-defense class with her best friend, trying to address her lingering fears after the assault on her mother, and begins thinking about issues of victimhood and blame. Her growing confidence manifests itself as she works to make those around her believe her asexual identity is real. She ultimately finds support as she opens up to people and takes the reins of her own empowerment.
Author Karen Wilfrid, who is also asexual, has based Lizzie’s story on aspects of her own experience, and it shows in the careful but never preachy exploration of asexuality. This is a welcome addition to the small number of other middle grade books with asexual protagonists.
Lizzie and her family read as White. One boy in her class wears a skirt, and two other girls in her school are dating each other.
