The Beautiful Something Else, Ash Van Otterloo
The Beautiful Something Else, Ash Van Otterloo
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

The Beautiful Something Else

Author: Ash Van Otterloo

Narrator: Em Grosland

Unabridged: 8 hr 28 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/16/2023

Synopsis

Full of humor and heartbreak, this story about a nonbinary character navigating a binary world is perfect for fans of Alex Gino and Kyle Lukoff.It's exhausting trying to be the perfect daughter. Still, getting good grades without making any waves may be the only way to distract from the fact that Sparrow Malone's mother is on the verge of falling apart. Which means no getting upset. No being weird. No standing out for the wrong reasons.But when Mom's attempts to cope spiral out of control, Sparrow is sent to live with Aunt Mags on a sprawling estate full of interesting, colorful new neighbors. And for the first time, trying to fit in doesn't feel right anymore. Even Sparrow's shadow has stopped following the rules.As Shadow nudges Sparrow to try all the scary, exciting things Mom has always forbidden, Sparrow begins to realize something life-changing: They don't feel like a girl. Or a boy. And while this discovery is exciting, now Sparrow must decide whether to tell everyone-their new family and friends, not-so-secret crush, and, most importantly, their mom-the truth, especially if it means things change forever.

About Ash Van Otterloo

Ash Van Otterloo is the author of Cattywampus. When they're not writing and freelance editing, they love gardening, hiking, exchanging playful banter, and collecting folklore stories. A longtime resident of the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, they now live in Washington with their spouse and four feral children.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sam

I would give this book 25 stars if I could!! No notes. Literally, I have no notes at all. I genuinely think this book healed part of my Baby!Sam's soul. Not even in the gender way, because lord knows I didn't realize I was trans by 12, but in terms of parenting, Sparrow and Baby!Sam would have had a......more

Goodreads review by Anna

Wow. This was stunning. Middle grade books that feature queer kids messing up and fixing things and then finding people who will love them for them are my fucking kryptonite. They wreck me every time. Sparrow is just a kid trying to fix everyone else's problems. They are trying to be the best daught......more

Goodreads review by Andrew

More queer MG please!! Great character creation, development, and storyline. Great job addressing addiction, trauma, coping, etc… EXCELLENT job using a wide variety of queerness without overdoing it. Every identity was incredibly intentional and well applied. Storyline was really good. I loved watch......more

Goodreads review by Shannon

A great middle grade novel that tackles some heavy issues including having a parent with addiction problems and coming out as nonbinary. Told with a touch of magical realism and a great cast of secondary and found family. This was good on audio and perfect for fans of Alex Gino, AJ Sass and books li......more

Quotes

Praise for The Beautiful Something Else:* “Libraries and schools will want to fight to keep this beautiful book in their collections.” -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review"This is the loveliest example of finding yourself I've ever read. Hands down, I would recommend this for all gender identities and all ages...This book will save lives." -- Kate Larson, bookseller at Ballast Book Company"An endearing celebration of the value of queer community and family." -- Alex Gino, Stonewall Award-winning author of Melissa“The writing sings and the characters soar. I cheered for Sparrow on every page.” -- Natalie Lloyd, New York Times bestselling author of A Snicker of Magic"A character-driven novel that touches on navigating generational trauma, personal growth, and queer identity in circumstances both dire and abundantly safe." -- Publishers WeeklyPraise for Cattywampus:"Deftly weaving elements of magic and nature with a story of adolescent change, debut author Van Otterloo conjures a timeless contemporary fantasy." -- Publishers Weekly"A spirited debut." -- Kirkus Reviews"Lively and entertaining! Ash Van Otterloo delivers spooky fun and an essential new kid-lit character in this spirited debut." -- Ingrid Law, Newbery Honor-winning author of Savvy"It is southern, witchy, magical fun about friends and family and the histories that connect us and haunt us. The dialogue is fireworks... The subtle creepiness won't scare you (too bad), but the vibrant, beating heart of this story will haunt you for a good long time." -- Natalie Lloyd, New York Times bestselling author of A Snicker of Magic

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