Name: Hazel’s Theory of Evolution
ISBN: 9780062791177

Lisa Jenn Bigelow

The Thing About Jellyfish meets Raymie Nightingale in this tender middle grade novel from Lisa Jenn Bigelow, acclaimed author of Drum Roll, Please. Hazel knows a lot about the world. That's because when she's not hanging with her best friend, taking care of her dog, or helping care for the goats on her family's farm, she loves reading through dusty encyclopedias. But even Hazel doesn't have answers for the questions awaiting her as she enters eighth grade. What if no one at her new school gets her, and she doesn't make any friends? What's going to happen to one of her moms, who's pregnant again after having two miscarriages? Why does everything have to change when life was already perfectly fine? As Hazel struggles to cope, she'll come to realize that sometimes you have to look within yourself--instead of the pages of a book--to find the answer to life's most important questions.

Hazel’s Theory of Evolution

The Thing About Jellyfish meets Raymie Nightingale in this tender middle grade novel from Lisa Jenn Bigelow, acclaimed author of Drum Roll, Please. Hazel knows a lot about the world. That’s because when she’s not hanging with her best friend, taking care of her dog, or helping care for the goats on her family's farm, she loves reading through dusty encyclopedias. But even Hazel doesn’t have answers for the questions awaiting her as she enters eighth grade. What if no one at her new school gets her, and she doesn't make any friends? What’s going to happen to one of her moms, who’s pregnant again after having two miscarriages? Why does everything have to change when life was already perfectly fine? As Hazel struggles to cope, she’ll come to realize that sometimes you have to look within yourself—instead of the pages of a book—to find the answer to life’s most important questions.

Hazel's Theory of Evolution

Nessa Luna

This was such a fast read, I couldn't put it down. I loved Hazel and her family so so much. (view spoiler)[I do kind of wish the words asexual and aromantic were actually mentioned in the book, however I understand (after reading the author's note) why they were not included. I am happy for some aro/ace rep in a middle grade book, at least! (hide spoiler)]

Meghna Sunny 

Y'all I'm in tears right now. In a lot of ways, Hazel's asexuality and aromanticism were such a small part of this book but god I wish I had this rep as a kid. I wish I had someone like Mimi who could recognize what I was(n't) feeling and tell me "There are so many good ways to be in this world." I love that even if Hazel doesn't fully get it yet, Mimi is still determined not to let it go unsaid because she'll get it eventually. And she'll remember that conversation and know her mom supports her and who she is and what she wants and just. This is some damn fine aroace rep for kids. I'm not gonna get over it anytime soon.

Like this is basically everything I've wanted to see in a kid's book since I figured out my sexuality. Representation at all stages of life is so. fucking. important. Finding your place in the world and a full understanding of yourself is so hard when you don't know what all the options are. When no one tells you it's okay to just opt out. That other people's experiences don't have to be your own. I'm just so glad this book exists for kids today. It's a gift to the world that I'm so grateful we were given.

Maria Luiza

I read this book while trying to overcome a reading slump and it couldn't have come in a better time. Despite being a middle grade book it touched on a lot of really powerful and important subjects, and also I don't think I have ever read a book with so much representativeness, and one that comes fluidly and you can tell is not because the author wanted to reach a quota. The characters feel like real people, and their struggles are also real.

(view spoiler)[
  

  
Go on. This is the happy ending you've been waiting for.

Except it's not the end. It's just the beginning.

Wrong again. It's the middle. We're twigs on a three that's been growing for billions of years, and we'll keep stretching and branching and budding and leafing as long as we live.

  

 (hide spoiler)]

All the characters are really well rounded and beautifully written. I could relate a lot to Hazel, even being ten years older than her, because I feel like even as adults we go through the same fears and anxieties she has as a child, and we can find comfort in seeing how she dealt with her problems. This book just feels like a cozy cup of tea on a rainy day, inside a half ton with a lot of goats bleeping outside. Beautifully written.

Tania Joana da Silva Monteiro

This was a hard book to read sometimes. Because it talks about grief and that isn't an easy subject. But it is really well done and it explores the very different kinds of grieves and how important all of them are. Our main character has real flaws and she tries to change some, tries to hide some for the people she loves and sometimes she doesn't try because that is how she is and others consider it a flaw but she doesn't. Also I truly appreciate that she seems like a true teen who is interesting in knowledge, and not an older person' s mind in a younger character. I also love the diversity in this story! It is everywhere, but not in your face. The characters talk about that diversity, not like a taboo, but how much more there is in this world. I am not a fan of Becca at all, but I adored Carina. I believe this can be an important read for many people.

Hazel’s Theory of Evolution

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