Alex Gino

Eleven-year-old Rick Ramsey has generally gone along with everybody, just not making waves, even though he is increasingly uncomfortable with his father's jokes about girls, and his best friend's explicit talk about sex; but now in middle school he discovers the Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities can express themselves--and maybe among them he can find new friends and discover his own identity, which may just be to opt out of sex altogether.

Rick

Sarah Sammis

Having the characters as middle schoolers now — even young ones (as sixth grade is still elementary school for our school district) is a huge improvement. The issues are grayer. Characters take sides and argue the nuances of their personal experiences. Adults listen to the children and even apologize when they're wrong or their information is outdated. Basically, Rick addresses all the things I took issue with when I read George.

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Izza

3.5 stars | this is a great middle grade book 💖

"Profound, moving, and - as Charlotte would say - radiant, this book will stay with anyone lucky enough to find it." - Publishers Weekly, starred review for GEORGE Rick's never questioned much. He's tagged along with his best friend Jeff, even when Jeff's acted like a bully. He's let his Dad joke with him about girls, even though it makes him feel uncomfortable. Everyone around him seems to think that they've figured him out. But the truth is, Rick hasn't given his own identity much thought. Now Rick's in middle school, and it's a place of new possibilities. With the help of his new friends that he meets at the Rainbow Spectrum club, Rick embarks on a journey to find out who he truly is. An inspiring story about finding your place in the world.

Rick: A George Novel

Sheena

This was a fine read and despite the notion that someone was out to get out lead heroine Abigail, there was much action or suspense to completely win me over. I will notate I did like the dynamic between Abby and Rick, and their whole enemies/friends turned lovers bit but its just… it lacked that something something to make this an excellent read. Nevertheless, this was a swoon worthy read filled with some fun banter, mature romance, steamy moments, and strong leads that would definitely peak your interest.

This book honestly hit me so hard in the best ways. The idea of a 6th grader actually having the vocabulary, space, and support to explore the idea that he might be aroace?? Absolutely amazing. I'm so glad that kids are going to be able to turn to books like this when they start asking their own questions about their identities and what they do and don't feel. All of Rick's relationships, from his friendship with Jeff, to his burgeoning understanding of his grandfather, to the divide in understanding between him and his parents, to his new friendships in the Rainbow Spectrum, are just so well-written and realistic. I'm so happy Rick has a supportive adult in his life that accepts however Rick chooses to describe himself but I also think it's appropriate that he has to deal with adults who don't get it. Because that's life. Sometimes talking about your identity with someone is like talking to a brick wall and you can't change them, but you can set your boundaries and make yourself as clear as possible. I also loved seeing Melissa again! There was just so much to love with this book and I'm so very very glad it exists.

Flavia Louise

Alex Gino writes the types of books that you know will be extremely powerful in the hand of young (queer) kids.

Luna

if i had this book when i was rick’s age ... that would’ve saved me a lot of suffering. the way gino writes about asexuality and allyship (“allyship is something you do. not something you are” because allies are not the A in lgbtqiap+ !!!) was amazing. i cried multiple times. everything about this felt perfect, but i really wanted to see resolution (read: apologies) within rick’s family. i wish there was a sequel or even an epilogue just so i can see someone correct rick’s dad and sister on their views about asexuality and how 11 is “too young” to know if you’re ace (or any other non-hetero and cis identity) but it’s not too young to know if you’re straight. that resolution would’ve made my heart very happy, but i still absolutely love everything else about this.

Kath Lau

This was an educational read (both for kids and adults) which I truly enjoyed. I loved the cameos and the idea of the Rainbow Spectrum club! The relationship between Rick and his grandfather was also precious! Who doesn't want a cosplaying grandpa? It was great that this book has ended in a very good and positive way but there were some issues that I wished were explored more. Overall, this was a great story about finding your identity especially at a very young age.

Bruno Darío

From the award-winning author of George, the story of a boy named Rick who needs to explore his own identity apart from his jerk of a best friend. Rick's never questioned much. He's gone along with his best friend Jeff even when Jeff's acted like a bully and a jerk. He's let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn't given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out. But now Rick's gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school's Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that . . . understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones. As they did in their groundbreaking novel George, in Rick, award-winning author Alex Gino explores what it means to search for your own place in the world . . . and all the steps you and the people around you need to take in order to get where you need to be.

Bella

I think this book was an amazing, well written way to speak about a character trying to figure out their sexuality. It was a great book about a subject hard to teach to kids, but written for kids. I would recommend this book to ages 11 and up!

Lysh (She/Her)

As I started this, I found it slow-going, but it picked up and the messages within were so incredibly important. I think this book does a great job of raising a discussion around respectful language and actions, particularly within a middle grade context. It's not necessarily how middle grade students speak, but it certainly models appropriate discourse around identity and acceptance of others.

**Please note that I am not an own voices reviewer. I encourage you to seek the views of own voices reviewers and prioritise them over my own.**

Kate

Oh this was so very wonderful. My heart is extremely full right now. 

Having finished and adored George, I found myself desperately wanting more of Alex Gino's empathetic, hopeful work and this did not disappoint. (I think I may have even enjoyed it slightly more than George?) This book is filled with heart, empathy and acceptance in a way that shines brighter in middle grade than any other age/genre. I adored Rick's character and his journey of self discovery, self acceptance and self respect. I loved how he had the courage to not only seek information (he's questioning aro-ace) but to speak up about his findings and stand his ground, despite people trying to fight against him. Rick's relationship with his Grandpa made me ridiculously happy and watching his confidence grow throughout the book was a joy to read.

In terms of being a book for young readers, I thought it did a beautiful job at introducing a wide range of gender identities and sexualities (and how to respectfully discuss them) in a way that was easy to understand and take in. I also thought the way it handled toxic friendships was done brilliantly and could work as a wonderful guide of sorts for young readers on setting boundaries and reporting wrong doings. 

All in all, this book was an utter delight and made me hopeful that, with books like these being place in the hands of young readers, the future generation will me a kinder and more accepting one.

TW: homophobia, transphobia

Rick

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