Note: Some of the concerning content, such as advertising non-children’s graphic novels from the author in a children’s book are repeated here. Please read our review of the original books (Stepping Stones and Apple Crush) as well to get the full picture.
The older gay farmer characters appear again in this story (see previous reviews). This time there is a reference to when they “got together”. In addition, in this book an odd character appears for a short time. They have the face of a boy, but are wearing very effeminate earrings. We find out their name is Selena. This feels a lot like how the previously mentioned farmer relationship was hinted at in an initial book and then ramped up in the second and third book.
Early in the book we find out that Andy, one of Jen’s mom’s boyfriends daughters, is studying for her Bat Mitzvah. This key plot aspect of this book comes as a surprise because to this point the family has shown an almost complete lack of any type of connection to Judaism (or any connection to God). And in fact even here throughout the prep and event itself there seems to be an intentional step to avoid including God in any way. In a similar way, a couple families mention just deciding to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, again with no tie to the original significance.
In an odd Q&A type section, the author says, “when you are a kid, especially a girl or part of another marginalized group, you get a lot of dismissal from adults, and I wanted to explore that.”
Additional concerning items:
There is a comic series called “Lovely” which gets described as “about these ladies in skinny skirts falling in love with guys in suits”. There is also a magazine called “TweenTalk”.
Two adults are shown kissing.
Andy (girl) says she will work and her future husband will stay home with the kids.
Jen says she looks like a “paranormal expert”.
The term “hot friend” is used as are flippant uses of “oh my god”. “Jerk” also appears. Jen refers to her mom’s boyfriend as a “twerp”.
There are conversations around killing animals for food (never too graphic)
In the acknowledgements the author thanks her child for sneaking a flashlight into bed to read