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Frankie & Bug
In the debut middle grade novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman comes a poignant and powerful coming-of-age story that follows a young girl and her new friend as they learn about family, friendship, allyship, and finding your way in a complicated world.
It’s the summer of 1987, and all ten-year-old Bug wants to do is go to the beach with her older brother and hang out with the locals on the boardwalk. But Danny wants to be with his own friends, and Bug’s mom is too busy, so Bug is stuck with their neighbor Philip’s nephew, Frankie.
Bug’s not too excited about hanging out with a kid she’s never met, but they soon find some common ground. And as the summer unfolds, they find themselves learning some important lessons about each other, and the world.
Like what it means to be your true self and how to be a good ally for others. That family can be the people you’re related to, but also the people you choose to have around you. And that even though life isn’t always fair, we can all do our part to make it more just.
It’s the summer of 1987, and all ten-year-old Bug wants to do is go to the beach with her older brother and hang out with the locals on the boardwalk. But Danny wants to be with his own friends, and Bug’s mom is too busy, so Bug is stuck with their neighbor Philip’s nephew, Frankie.
Bug’s not too excited about hanging out with a kid she’s never met, but they soon find some common ground. And as the summer unfolds, they find themselves learning some important lessons about each other, and the world.
Like what it means to be your true self and how to be a good ally for others. That family can be the people you’re related to, but also the people you choose to have around you. And that even though life isn’t always fair, we can all do our part to make it more just.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 12, 2021
52 people are currently reading
5978 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Forman
41 books25.1k followersAward-winning author and journalist Gayle Forman has written several bestselling novels for young adults, including the Just One Series, I Was Here, Where She Went and the #1 New York Times bestseller If I Stay, which has been translated into more than 40 languages and in 2014 was adapted into a major motion picture.
Gayle published Leave Me, her first novel starring adults in 2016 and her latest novel, I Have Lost My Way, comes out in March of 2018.
Gayle lives with her husband and daughters in Brooklyn.
Gayle published Leave Me, her first novel starring adults in 2016 and her latest novel, I Have Lost My Way, comes out in March of 2018.
Gayle lives with her husband and daughters in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
July 27, 2021
Get ready to transport yourself back to the 1980s when a very different world was dealing with tolerance and acceptance. Pre-teens knew very little about being gay... AIDS was discovered... and the concept of a transsexual was mostly a new thing. Of course, there has always been homosexuality and the idea of feeling different than those around you, but a 10-year-old had zero if any chance of truly being themselves back then. Frankie and Bug show us what it's like to live that unfamiliar life in a time where you might get murdered for being different just as easily as people died of drug overdoses in the latter part of the decade.
Pegged as a very young adult / middle-grade novel, there is a lot to learn even for adults (like me). Even for a very tolerant person (like me). Even for someone who is 'different' too (like me). I've read a few of Gayle Forman's books in the past and enjoyed them. Recently, a colleague mentioned that (s)he was a cousin of Forman's, and it reminded me I should read more of her books. I saw this one and figured it would be the perfect way to get back on the saddle. What a great way to remember her adorable attention to detail and ability to draw out a reader's emotions.
Unlike her past books (If I Stay), I did not cry at this one... but again, it's emotional at the middle-grade level. It was a different kind of heart-wrenching-tugger. Frankie lives in Ohio, but her father dislikes that she acts and dresses like a boy. Frankie's mother sends her to live with an uncle in California, where even though they are more liberal, it's not a completely safe place. There's even a serial killer called the Midnight Marauder lurking about. Frankie arrives and to everyone else, Frankie is Philip's nephew. Because inside, Frankie has always felt like a boy even though he was born with a female's body. At 10... in the 1980s... this is not an understood thing. Nor is it really spoken about. But Frankie meets Philip's neighbor, Bug, and things suddenly change.
On the flip side in Bug's world, she's going through some stuff too. Her mother works for the mayor and is raising her two kids by herself. Bug has an older brother, Danny, who needs to watch his sister this summer while Mom's working. Normally they go to camp but that's not an option this year. She's half Salvadoran, but some in the town think they're Mexican, and therefore they are often teased. Bug's smart, and she pushes through it, and when Frankie arrives, a whole new view of the world develops. She accept Frankie as a boy, later learns he's technically a girl in their world at that time, and tells everyone else to grow up. Who cares!? Exactly... the best attitude to have. If it doesn't impact you, then let it go. :)
I'm not preaching tho, this is a book review. Truthfully, its a wonderful story with a little bit of sadness, happiness, fear, and confusion. I liked the book a lot. I wished it pushed the envelope a bit further. But it's really important and has an excellent approach to telling the story without speaking from a pulpit. I could see it opening a few readers' eyes to a different perspective. There is substance but not so deep that it stops you from also just enjoying that this is a story about friendship and what it means to support one another. I can't wait to read another Forman book this summer now!
Pegged as a very young adult / middle-grade novel, there is a lot to learn even for adults (like me). Even for a very tolerant person (like me). Even for someone who is 'different' too (like me). I've read a few of Gayle Forman's books in the past and enjoyed them. Recently, a colleague mentioned that (s)he was a cousin of Forman's, and it reminded me I should read more of her books. I saw this one and figured it would be the perfect way to get back on the saddle. What a great way to remember her adorable attention to detail and ability to draw out a reader's emotions.
Unlike her past books (If I Stay), I did not cry at this one... but again, it's emotional at the middle-grade level. It was a different kind of heart-wrenching-tugger. Frankie lives in Ohio, but her father dislikes that she acts and dresses like a boy. Frankie's mother sends her to live with an uncle in California, where even though they are more liberal, it's not a completely safe place. There's even a serial killer called the Midnight Marauder lurking about. Frankie arrives and to everyone else, Frankie is Philip's nephew. Because inside, Frankie has always felt like a boy even though he was born with a female's body. At 10... in the 1980s... this is not an understood thing. Nor is it really spoken about. But Frankie meets Philip's neighbor, Bug, and things suddenly change.
On the flip side in Bug's world, she's going through some stuff too. Her mother works for the mayor and is raising her two kids by herself. Bug has an older brother, Danny, who needs to watch his sister this summer while Mom's working. Normally they go to camp but that's not an option this year. She's half Salvadoran, but some in the town think they're Mexican, and therefore they are often teased. Bug's smart, and she pushes through it, and when Frankie arrives, a whole new view of the world develops. She accept Frankie as a boy, later learns he's technically a girl in their world at that time, and tells everyone else to grow up. Who cares!? Exactly... the best attitude to have. If it doesn't impact you, then let it go. :)
I'm not preaching tho, this is a book review. Truthfully, its a wonderful story with a little bit of sadness, happiness, fear, and confusion. I liked the book a lot. I wished it pushed the envelope a bit further. But it's really important and has an excellent approach to telling the story without speaking from a pulpit. I could see it opening a few readers' eyes to a different perspective. There is substance but not so deep that it stops you from also just enjoying that this is a story about friendship and what it means to support one another. I can't wait to read another Forman book this summer now!
October 17, 2021
Perhaps it was knowing everything these young characters were about to live through, perhaps it was the beautiful, hopeful message at the end of the story or perhaps watching Squid Game last week broke me as a human being but I fully sobbed when I finished this book.
Set in late 1980s Venice Beach, this picture of a young girl's summer as she struggles with her older brother growing away from her, and the arrival of Frankie starts off a summer of discovery for the two friends, with a realistic glimpse of Queer culture that was clearly meticulously researched.
The trans rep in this is so good, Gayle stated that she is a cisgender white woman but talked to, and clearly listened to, people with the lived experience. Bug's family is Salvadoran and this seemed to be well written too, but I can't say for certain as I'm not own voices.
This story is wrapped up perfectly, however I would absolutely read a whole series of Frankie & Bug's summer adventures, they were such vivid, memorable characters that leapt off the page. I absolutely, positively recommend this book.
Set in late 1980s Venice Beach, this picture of a young girl's summer as she struggles with her older brother growing away from her, and the arrival of Frankie starts off a summer of discovery for the two friends, with a realistic glimpse of Queer culture that was clearly meticulously researched.
The trans rep in this is so good, Gayle stated that she is a cisgender white woman but talked to, and clearly listened to, people with the lived experience. Bug's family is Salvadoran and this seemed to be well written too, but I can't say for certain as I'm not own voices.
This story is wrapped up perfectly, however I would absolutely read a whole series of Frankie & Bug's summer adventures, they were such vivid, memorable characters that leapt off the page. I absolutely, positively recommend this book.
June 28, 2022
Frankie & Bug need to be protected at all costs. I absolutely adored them both.
October 19, 2021
Bug is a tween growing up in the late 1980s. It's the summer and for Bug, the summer has always been about the beach that is until plans change this year. Normally her brother, Danny, watches her and they go to Venice Beach together, but this summer is different. Danny is now a teenager and doesn't want to hangout with his little sister day in and day out. Naturally, he would rather hangout with his friends. This obviously crushes Bug, because not only does she look forward to summer days at the beach, she is also disappointed that her brother has pushed her aside. Bug's mother has good news though. Her best friend who lives upstairs has his nephew, Frankie, visiting for the summer and he is the same age as Bug. At first, things are awkward between Bug and Frankie, but eventually they hit it off. Together they hope to solve the crime of the Midnight Marauder, a serial killer who has been targeting their area. However, things quickly go from a more relaxed "investigation" to a more serious once when Phillip, Frankie's uncle, is attacked. Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman is a brilliant coming-of-age story about two friends with the whole summer ahead of them, but it is actually a lot more than your usual summer reader. Readers will appreciate the subtle messages throughout and Forman's expert way of dealing with difficult, yet timely issues. Frankie & Bug is such a memorable read.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
November 24, 2021
[4.5 stars]
there are some middle grade books that ring true, and are enjoyable to read at any age, and this is one of them.
i immediately felt at home following bug, a ten year old girl who just wants to enjoy her summer and spend time at the beach. she has a delightful innocence that makes me long for childhood again. her older brother, danny, is fourteen and has become a moody teenager who needs his space away from her (although their sibling relationship still ends up being adorable as anything.) insert a found family aspect with the other adults who live in their apartment, and viola! we’ve found a feel-good book.
their neighbor philip’s nephew frankie is visiting for the summer. bug hopes it’s to save hers, as danny is no longer willing to babysit her and take her to the beach every day, but their friendship has a rather rocky start, as frankie is much more interested in solving a series of murders around their area than he is in splashing in the waves. but as children have a way of doing, they manage to work through their differences and become best friends (💖)
additional pluses of this book: without spoiling anything, there’s transgender, gay, and even genderfluid rep (!!!) the book artfully tackles difficult concepts like homophobia and racism in gentle ways that will make children feel empowered.
there are some middle grade books that ring true, and are enjoyable to read at any age, and this is one of them.
i immediately felt at home following bug, a ten year old girl who just wants to enjoy her summer and spend time at the beach. she has a delightful innocence that makes me long for childhood again. her older brother, danny, is fourteen and has become a moody teenager who needs his space away from her (although their sibling relationship still ends up being adorable as anything.) insert a found family aspect with the other adults who live in their apartment, and viola! we’ve found a feel-good book.
their neighbor philip’s nephew frankie is visiting for the summer. bug hopes it’s to save hers, as danny is no longer willing to babysit her and take her to the beach every day, but their friendship has a rather rocky start, as frankie is much more interested in solving a series of murders around their area than he is in splashing in the waves. but as children have a way of doing, they manage to work through their differences and become best friends (💖)
additional pluses of this book: without spoiling anything, there’s transgender, gay, and even genderfluid rep (!!!) the book artfully tackles difficult concepts like homophobia and racism in gentle ways that will make children feel empowered.
October 14, 2021
I loved this one! Although the author is a cisgender white woman, it felt like she did a ton of research and really talked and listened to others as she put together this story about a transgender boy and a biracial girl in Venice Beach, CA during the late 1980s. Interestingly, this book takes place in the same time period as another book I just finished reading, the second Aristotle and Dante book. This book definitely tackled many instances of injustice and how marginalized people find their space in this world. While the story begins with Bug as a naive and somewhat bratty kid, I love how she grew in her maturity and understanding of how things were for others, which included her family, even her awful aunt. While this book definitely tackled some serious topics, I felt that it held back a little, probably because of the age of the target audience. In spite of this, I totally appreciated this story as an adult and believe that this book should be in school libraries. This is my third book by this author and I look forward to discovering more books by her.
February 25, 2022
A powerful middle grade novel set during one summer in 1980s LA at the height of the AIDS crisis and the reign of the Midnight Marauder. Frankie and Bug are two characters that will live in my heart forever! Their friendship over the summer is so tender as they bond over trying to track and catch this serial killer, while also trying to learn how to make sense of a world filled with hate - hate for queer people, immigrants and so many others.
This story has such a great message of acceptance and love and learning that our differences don't need to divide us. Highly recommended, especially in light of the rising transphobia around the world (not to mention anti-immigrant sentiments). Great on audio narrated by no less than the imitable Stockard Channing!!
CW: transphobia, hate crimes, homophobia
This story has such a great message of acceptance and love and learning that our differences don't need to divide us. Highly recommended, especially in light of the rising transphobia around the world (not to mention anti-immigrant sentiments). Great on audio narrated by no less than the imitable Stockard Channing!!
CW: transphobia, hate crimes, homophobia
January 17, 2022
PRO: Likeable characters are featured in this coming-of-age story. The main character's mother and neighbors are mouthpieces for words of wisdom and good advice.
CON: Too many potentially unknown (to the target audience) and controversial issues are included--homosexuality/homophobia, AIDS, transgender, racism, gender bias, family dysfunction, violence. The author explains them in an introductory and child-friendly way; there are too many for one story.
The book came off as quite didactic.
A mystery about a serial killer is woven in, but seemed unsatisfactory despite many pages used to describe the children's attempt to solve this crime.
Better suited for middle school and older, although the main characters are 10 and 11.
CON: Too many potentially unknown (to the target audience) and controversial issues are included--homosexuality/homophobia, AIDS, transgender, racism, gender bias, family dysfunction, violence. The author explains them in an introductory and child-friendly way; there are too many for one story.
The book came off as quite didactic.
A mystery about a serial killer is woven in, but seemed unsatisfactory despite many pages used to describe the children's attempt to solve this crime.
Better suited for middle school and older, although the main characters are 10 and 11.
August 25, 2021
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Mimi Koehler
Forman’s middle-grade debut Frankie and Bug is melancholic and bittersweet with an uplifting conclusion that shows readers, young and old, that while ignorance may breed ignorance, the same can also be said for acceptance and love. Illustrating how far we have come in terms of equality, this look back will certainly take readers by surprise.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
Forman’s middle-grade debut Frankie and Bug is melancholic and bittersweet with an uplifting conclusion that shows readers, young and old, that while ignorance may breed ignorance, the same can also be said for acceptance and love. Illustrating how far we have come in terms of equality, this look back will certainly take readers by surprise.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
February 22, 2022
A cute, short read that tackled a lot of issues (racism, colorism, transphobia, homophobia) in a digestible way for its young audience to understand. Nothing spectacular, but not every book needs to be. Bug was an endearing lead and the supporting cast was vibrant and fun--you can definitely feel the beach setting.
November 9, 2022
I read this book because somebody is challenging it in our library system, presumably because of its trans/LGBT content. While the circumstances are regrettable, I loved this story of growing up, and found families, and acceptance. I will personally be promoting this book to anybody I can think of. I think our system needs another copy, actually.
November 29, 2021
Frankie & Bug is a sweet Middle Grade story about the reluctant friendship between two kids forced to spend the summer together. The book follows Frankie and Bug as they try to solve the mystery of a serial killer in their town. But the more important aspects of the story are the things they learn about family, friendship, and identity.
The book takes place in 1987 and features LGBTQ+ characters. So there is talk of homophobia, transphobia, and the attitudes that people in the 80s had about AIDS. I think it’s brought up in a way that is appropriate for Middle Grade readers. However, there were times when I felt like more explanation was needed for the characters to fully understand, but it passed by so quickly in the story.
The story of the serial killer felt like it was taking away from the rest of the story. The page time dedicated to it felt over the top. If that part of the book was decreased then maybe the other sections of the story wouldn’t have felt so rushed. The synopsis is all about coming of age, learning to be your true self, and being an ally. So it was confusing that so much of the book is dedicated to a mystery plot that's never fully realized.
The book takes place in 1987 and features LGBTQ+ characters. So there is talk of homophobia, transphobia, and the attitudes that people in the 80s had about AIDS. I think it’s brought up in a way that is appropriate for Middle Grade readers. However, there were times when I felt like more explanation was needed for the characters to fully understand, but it passed by so quickly in the story.
The story of the serial killer felt like it was taking away from the rest of the story. The page time dedicated to it felt over the top. If that part of the book was decreased then maybe the other sections of the story wouldn’t have felt so rushed. The synopsis is all about coming of age, learning to be your true self, and being an ally. So it was confusing that so much of the book is dedicated to a mystery plot that's never fully realized.
June 28, 2022
Frankie and Bug are such cute friends and this was a pretty great story about them forming that relationship. Bug was going through a lot of changes that summer, getting older and realizing that the world can be difficult. She and Frankie didn't have much in common at first and clashed a lot, but Bug is actually pretty good about keeping her cool and understanding others and things ended up working out.
This is a middle grade read, but deals with some difficult issues, like transphobia, homophobia, and murder. It's not overly graphic, but these are ten year-olds and I felt bad that they would have to encounter such hate at a young age. It was nice that Bug's mom and Frankie's uncle were supportive, having adults in your corner makes a huge difference.
The book goes quickly and has plenty of cute moments to balance out the heavy. A great read for Pride month!
This is a middle grade read, but deals with some difficult issues, like transphobia, homophobia, and murder. It's not overly graphic, but these are ten year-olds and I felt bad that they would have to encounter such hate at a young age. It was nice that Bug's mom and Frankie's uncle were supportive, having adults in your corner makes a huge difference.
The book goes quickly and has plenty of cute moments to balance out the heavy. A great read for Pride month!
September 15, 2023
This book was really good!
It has a lot about finding who you are. Frankie was sent down to Bug for the summer and Bug doesn't necessarily like him. She thinks that he's boring and she's annoyed that her summer is now ruined. But what she soon discovers is that Frankie is transexual and his parents don't like him for it. He feels really alone and it breaks my heart that some children feel this way. I love how Frankie learns that he is special in his own way and that there is a whole community full of wonderful people just like him.
It has a lot about finding who you are. Frankie was sent down to Bug for the summer and Bug doesn't necessarily like him. She thinks that he's boring and she's annoyed that her summer is now ruined. But what she soon discovers is that Frankie is transexual and his parents don't like him for it. He feels really alone and it breaks my heart that some children feel this way. I love how Frankie learns that he is special in his own way and that there is a whole community full of wonderful people just like him.
October 21, 2021
Stockard Channing is the narrator!!
The main story of a 10yo girl struggling with changes in her life as her older brother begins his teen years is a good, relatable story.
That said, the authors drops in too many issues that feel forced, pushed in, competing and occasionally not on par with the time and place. For example, in addition to the “coming of age” type story there is racism issues, misogyny “you can’t bc you’re a girl” and a gay friend that’s beaten as HIV/AIDS rages (these side stories do work with the story and period), however there’s also a serial killer, family dysfunction, parent death, a transgender child, skinheads, etc.
To be clear, I’m all for positive-stories about trans kids but it feels very out of place here and all the other issues were tumbling on each other
I’m also unsure why the author felt I’m the story needed to be pinned down in Venice CA. It didn’t really work for the story. Beach town USA would have been fine. If you’re going to use a specific city during a specific time it should have relevance to the story and act as a background character imho. Here it just seemed tossed in for no reason except to anger me 😆
The main story of a 10yo girl struggling with changes in her life as her older brother begins his teen years is a good, relatable story.
That said, the authors drops in too many issues that feel forced, pushed in, competing and occasionally not on par with the time and place. For example, in addition to the “coming of age” type story there is racism issues, misogyny “you can’t bc you’re a girl” and a gay friend that’s beaten as HIV/AIDS rages (these side stories do work with the story and period), however there’s also a serial killer, family dysfunction, parent death, a transgender child, skinheads, etc.
To be clear, I’m all for positive-stories about trans kids but it feels very out of place here and all the other issues were tumbling on each other
I’m also unsure why the author felt I’m the story needed to be pinned down in Venice CA. It didn’t really work for the story. Beach town USA would have been fine. If you’re going to use a specific city during a specific time it should have relevance to the story and act as a background character imho. Here it just seemed tossed in for no reason except to anger me 😆
August 18, 2021
4.5 Fabulous historical fiction read about found family, friendship, being comfortable with yourself, the AIDS crisis, and the 1980s. I loved so many things about this book to include the dialogue, refugee parallel, and subtle voice to address tough topics. I would definitely recommend this book to my 6th graders since Forman discusses AIDS, prejudice, hate violence, and LGBTQIA+ issues in such a well presented 10/11 year old tone, yet I don’t think the ages of the protagonists would turn off my older readers.
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November 16, 2021This moving middle grade book has a lot to say about allyship and being true to yourself. The audiobook is fantastic, read by Stockard Channing. It gives me Ramona vibes because Channing also narrated that series, but also because it's about a young girl who doesn't know what she doesn't know, who's figuring things out and presented through a very child-focused lens. I found Bug's character development as she grows from a self-centered kid only caring about getting to do her favorite things over the summer to a more thoughtful, empathetic person to be really engaging and realistic.
August 11, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! It was a heartwarming story with complicated characters whose layers are revealed slowly throughout the book. Gayle Forman deals with some heavy topics in a way that is so accessible to children and normalizes all these different life experiences. Love love love! I’d give it six stars if I could!!! 🤩
January 6, 2024
Bug was darling, and I loved her and Frankie's friendship. Kids are happy to play with other kids, and usually don't care about details! The overall message was love and acceptance, but I wish it didn't teach it by having a brutal beating of a gay man. That makes me much more hesitant to recommend it, especially to anyone who is questioning if they are queer.
March 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this one! Frankie really is the bravest kid ever, and I enjoyed Bug’s transformation from self-absorbed to empathetic pre-teen. Plus, the audiobook is narrated by Stockard Channing! ❤️
March 23, 2022
This was so sweet and well done. And the audio read by Stockard Channing was great! I loved Bug and her spunky attitude and her coming of age in this story.
October 10, 2021
Bug (Beatrice) is really disappointed that her brother won't spend time with her anymore since he is growing up and developing friends of his own. Danny is now "Daniel" and wants his space. She is convinced her life is ruined and can't spend time at the beach like normal. In 1987, Venice Beach, Bug is now stuck with her landlady and her upstairs neighbor, Phillip. Things change when Phillip's nephew, Frankie comes to stay for the summer. Frankie is addicted to following the news about the Midnight Mauder, a serial killer roaming their area. If you know anything about this time in Los Angeles, it was truly the era of fear, with several serial killers on the loose.
When Phillip ends up in the hospital, Frankie and Bug switch their investigation from trying to solve the serial killer to try to find out what happened to Phillip. Things don't add up and family secrets start to spill out all around them. I still have trouble saying 1987 is now history since I remember that year very clearly when there were serial killers all over LA and racism and homophobia were on full display. The story is so reflective of that time period and these characters all bring it to life.
When Phillip ends up in the hospital, Frankie and Bug switch their investigation from trying to solve the serial killer to try to find out what happened to Phillip. Things don't add up and family secrets start to spill out all around them. I still have trouble saying 1987 is now history since I remember that year very clearly when there were serial killers all over LA and racism and homophobia were on full display. The story is so reflective of that time period and these characters all bring it to life.
May 8, 2025
Frankie & Bug
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.00/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 7
Overall Thoughts:
I'll admit that Bug did annoy me at times, but she did so in a way that was authentically childlike so I'm not super bugged about that. 😂 Some of the language in this book is a bit outdated. I'm not sure if that was a stylistic choice given that it was set in 1987 or not. That's my assumption, but it was still jarring to hear. I think the author could've gone about that a little better if that was her intention though. :/
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.00/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 7
Overall Thoughts:
I'll admit that Bug did annoy me at times, but she did so in a way that was authentically childlike so I'm not super bugged about that. 😂 Some of the language in this book is a bit outdated. I'm not sure if that was a stylistic choice given that it was set in 1987 or not. That's my assumption, but it was still jarring to hear. I think the author could've gone about that a little better if that was her intention though. :/
January 8, 2022
My favorite thing about this book was the setting. My childhood was spent in Southern California in the 1980s and I loved walking down memory lane. While the book also had some memorable characters and important themes, I feel the examples to support those themes are a little to "left" for me to add this to my classroom library.
January 22, 2025
for the non-traditional family theme
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Just started and found it's set in 1987. Not sure why except to give the kids more free time, less helicopter parenting? We'll see.
---
Ok done. Some of that, but actually Mama is pretty protective. Mostly it's the setting, Venice (Beach) in 1987. Lots of drama, almost melodrama but actually I remember skinheads, the gay plague, war in El Salvador, etc. It's all true. A very different kind of drama than we're experiencing right now, but the themes remain true.
For example 'found family.' Daniel and Bug have not only Mama, but also Hedvig and Philip.
People who attack are still "scared people who become scary people."
I love that an adult says about Frankie being
I love that the author shows how people are complicated, and that so are our feelings about and towards them. Like Aunt Teri.
And it's interesting to learn random things like LA is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
Highly recommended to people who read banned books.
---
Just started and found it's set in 1987. Not sure why except to give the kids more free time, less helicopter parenting? We'll see.
---
Ok done. Some of that, but actually Mama is pretty protective. Mostly it's the setting, Venice (Beach) in 1987. Lots of drama, almost melodrama but actually I remember skinheads, the gay plague, war in El Salvador, etc. It's all true. A very different kind of drama than we're experiencing right now, but the themes remain true.
For example 'found family.' Daniel and Bug have not only Mama, but also Hedvig and Philip.
People who attack are still "scared people who become scary people."
I love that an adult says about Frankie being
I love that the author shows how people are complicated, and that so are our feelings about and towards them. Like Aunt Teri.
And it's interesting to learn random things like LA is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
Highly recommended to people who read banned books.
July 31, 2024
3.5 stars This book was a lot, but good. I mean, Venice Beach in the 80’s? Yes please. It has a lot of hard hitting topics which are great for middle graders to read about, but I also felt it was too much packed into this one little book and there wasn’t enough summer play for Frankie and Bug
September 14, 2021
4.5 stars. Very thoughtfully handled story about queerness for the middle grade set. The concept is subtly woven into the story in an age appropriate manner. The book has a great message about the importance of being who we are meant to be even if it isn't always easy.
November 1, 2023
This summer 1987 is supposed to be just like the last and the ones before that when 10-year-old (almost 11) Bug spends the summer at the beach with her older brother Danny. Then Mom drops a bombshell. Danny, now 13 and going by Daniel, needs some space. Space from Bug? Unthinkable! The two have always shared a special bond. With the Midnight Marauder serial killer on the loose, Mom wants Bug safe indoors anyway. Her summer ruined, Bug promises to stay inside with her neighbor Hedwig or her other neighbor Philip even though it's boring and all she wants to do is go to the beach. Mom promises to save Bug's summer somehow. Her solution arrives in the form of Philip's nephew, Frankie, a weird, small kid who isn't interested in the beach, let along going swimming. Bug is furious at first but then the pair bond over the Midnight Marauder. They vow to catch the killer and become heroes. As secrets are slowly revealed, Bug starts to form a new plan, one that will keep Frankie in Venice forever. Then, a shocking crime hits closer to home and this time the hunt for the perpetrator is personal. Will Bug's unexpected summer be the best ever or worst ever?
This is a sweet, heartwarming book about found family. The message is that family is something you choose, not necessarily what you are born into. The first half of the story was really boring and I wasn't into it at all. The second half of the novel is really shines and the last few chapters are beautiful. The author did a really good job incorporating all the diverse elements to tell the story she wanted to tell without it feeling forced. The ending of the novel is unexpected. The whole story feels realistic in a gritty 1980s way. It's not a happy story but it's not a sad story either.
The "period" details are pretty good. I don't know anything about Venice, California but I vaguely remember my dad bringing home a "muscle beach" shirt once. I enjoyed meeting the quirky people who hang out at the beach. I certainly remember the AIDS crisis and the homophobia of the time. The characters live in an apartment building, a world away from my cozy suburban neighborhood. They don't have cable TV or computers or video games to pass the time. In the city, they don't really ride bikes or play outside either. Of course there's a serial killer on the loose so it's not super safe to play outside. The story also covers the other side of California that is better known- the movie stars, mentions of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous ("I'm Robin Leech") and waiting in line for hours to appear on a game show. Who's that guy hosting? Can you not name Bob Barker? This is the California I know about.
The characters were a mixed bag for me in the beginning but more appealing in the second half. I wasn't crazy about Bug at first. She was upset at change. I totally understand that and relate. I don't relate to her obsession with the beach (yet they tell me that when I was Bug's age and younger, at the same time, they couldn't get me to leave the beach). I don't have an older brother and relate more to Danny's feelings about his sister than Bug's feelings about her brother. I do relate to her friendship issues. I had school friends I never socialized with, friends at the beach I never saw except at the beach and friends from the neighborhood. Bug has a school friend and a friend who runs the ice cream stand at the beach. Bian is a refugee from war torn Vietnam and probably much older than Bug.
I think Bug was just uninteresting at first. Then she meets Frankie. Frankie, an undersized kid from Ohio with a kitchen haircut is not easy to impress. He doesn't care for the beach and refuses to go swimming. Bug is angry at the newcomer at first for ruining her plans. Frankie isn't very appealing either, at first. When his story is slowly revealed (I guessed but had help from the subject headings) he becomes far more likable. My heart went out to him. It's kids like Frankie that are the reason books like these NEED to be written and NEED to be read by every kid. Bug learns to think about someone other than herself for a change. She learns empathy and about a lot of grown up topics she was ignorant about.
I quibble a bit that Bug is VERY naïve for a 10 year old. I was a little younger, just 9 to Frankie's "almost 11") but I certainly remember learning about Ryan White in school and the AIDS epidemic (a little later though I guess, as the IMDB says "The Ryan White Story" came out in 1989.) and knew what "gay" meant. Bug practically lives at muscle beach where there are a wide array of quirky characters. I feel her naivete is a plot device to explain things to the reader who may be unaware of certain topics.
Daniel is a more relatable character for me. I'm the oldest and at 13, some space from my sister and brother, especially my sister would have been nice. Not being a boy, I can't relate to the interest in building muscles and growing a mustache but I understand puberty and adolescence. Bug does not. When more backstory is revealed, the motive behind Daniel's actions becomes more clear. It's not as simple as it seems. He is a wonderful big brother when it counts, though. I adore his relationship with Bug. It's super sweet. Mom is OK. She's a single mother trying her best to raise her kids on a limited income. She works long hours for the mayor's press office and with a serial killer on the loose, she's working long hours. Mom has had a tough time in life and has found a home and family in Venice. However, she keeps her kids shockingly ignorant. She considers them "too young" to understand tough topics but then they have questions and feel hurt that information was kept from them.
Aunt Teri rounds up the biological family. Mom's sister, she comes from a small town in central California, more suburban and with a more narrow society. She's very prejudiced against what she doesn't know. She thinks her sister can just pack up and move to a nicer area of LA where celebrities live! Uh celebrities live there because they have money! She doesn't understand how Mom, Danny and Bug have found family in their building and their neighborhood. Aunt Teri is the type who thinks family is related by blood only. She's rude to Frankie because he's not family. Yet Aunt Teri isn't all bad. She comes down to stay with the kids even though a serial killer is running around and takes them to do things SHE thinks are fun. She means well.
Hedwig, the landlady, is originally from Hungary. She's a terrible cook and sits around watching soap operas all day. Hedwig is open minded and kind even if she's slovenly at times. She tries to please people. I especially like Philip. He's a lot of fun! I can see why Bug likes him so much. Philip is fastidious. He enjoys keeping his apartment clean and making fresh food from scratch, make collages from old magazines and play the piano. Philip is good with kids and allows Frankie the freedom to roam and do what he wants without interference from adults. Another fun character is Flo from the beach. Each of these characters has a story to tell and those stories make the book special.
Yes there's a trans character and a gay character and one very minor non-binary but that's not the focus of the story. They feel natural in this setting, Venice, California 1987. There's absolutely no reason to ban a book for having LGBTQ+ characters. The racism bit isn't "critical race theory" (something not even taught in grade schools) and won't make kids feel "guilty" or "shame" about being white. It's ONE character's viewpoint and sharing other people's viewpoints but not necessarily everyone's viewpoints. The same with homophobia. It's 1987, in the midst of the AIDS crisis and MANY people, including President Reagan and his evangelical Christian cronies, are homophobic. There's a message about refugees too. Some discussion revolves around racism and elitism. Bug's parents were involved in forming the United Farm Workers union. Bug's father, Daniel, was from El Salvador and Bug's brother Danny takes after his father in looks. The children have never met their family in Latin America but Daniel Jr. (fka Danny) is taking Spanish lessons and getting in touch with his roots. The adults make sure to explain to kids that people are complicated. Some people can say cruel things but still show they're loving and caring by their actions. I really, really appreciated that message. I don't think Millennials and Gen Z understand that yet.
This book belongs on the shelves. It's unique and heartwarming.
In the back of the book there is are acknowledgements explaining how a white, cisgender woman came to write this book (with help), numerous resources about refugees (before the current war in Ukraine and the situation with Israel and Palestine). There is also a list of resources for LGBTQ+ readers and their families and an author's note.
Tough topics mentioned in this book:
A serial killer on the loose
Skinheads
brief mention of the Challenger disaster but not described in any detail
brief mention of Bug and Danny's dad being from El Salvador and a university professor who ran afoul of the government and had to leave. The dad later died in a car accident just before Bug was born.
racism
class differences
unions
Attack on adult character, explained to the kids as a mugging but adult readers will know what's going on.
This is a sweet, heartwarming book about found family. The message is that family is something you choose, not necessarily what you are born into. The first half of the story was really boring and I wasn't into it at all. The second half of the novel is really shines and the last few chapters are beautiful. The author did a really good job incorporating all the diverse elements to tell the story she wanted to tell without it feeling forced. The ending of the novel is unexpected. The whole story feels realistic in a gritty 1980s way. It's not a happy story but it's not a sad story either.
The "period" details are pretty good. I don't know anything about Venice, California but I vaguely remember my dad bringing home a "muscle beach" shirt once. I enjoyed meeting the quirky people who hang out at the beach. I certainly remember the AIDS crisis and the homophobia of the time. The characters live in an apartment building, a world away from my cozy suburban neighborhood. They don't have cable TV or computers or video games to pass the time. In the city, they don't really ride bikes or play outside either. Of course there's a serial killer on the loose so it's not super safe to play outside. The story also covers the other side of California that is better known- the movie stars, mentions of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous ("I'm Robin Leech") and waiting in line for hours to appear on a game show. Who's that guy hosting? Can you not name Bob Barker? This is the California I know about.
The characters were a mixed bag for me in the beginning but more appealing in the second half. I wasn't crazy about Bug at first. She was upset at change. I totally understand that and relate. I don't relate to her obsession with the beach (yet they tell me that when I was Bug's age and younger, at the same time, they couldn't get me to leave the beach). I don't have an older brother and relate more to Danny's feelings about his sister than Bug's feelings about her brother. I do relate to her friendship issues. I had school friends I never socialized with, friends at the beach I never saw except at the beach and friends from the neighborhood. Bug has a school friend and a friend who runs the ice cream stand at the beach. Bian is a refugee from war torn Vietnam and probably much older than Bug.
I think Bug was just uninteresting at first. Then she meets Frankie. Frankie, an undersized kid from Ohio with a kitchen haircut is not easy to impress. He doesn't care for the beach and refuses to go swimming. Bug is angry at the newcomer at first for ruining her plans. Frankie isn't very appealing either, at first. When his story is slowly revealed (I guessed but had help from the subject headings) he becomes far more likable. My heart went out to him. It's kids like Frankie that are the reason books like these NEED to be written and NEED to be read by every kid. Bug learns to think about someone other than herself for a change. She learns empathy and about a lot of grown up topics she was ignorant about.
I quibble a bit that Bug is VERY naïve for a 10 year old. I was a little younger, just 9 to Frankie's "almost 11") but I certainly remember learning about Ryan White in school and the AIDS epidemic (a little later though I guess, as the IMDB says "The Ryan White Story" came out in 1989.) and knew what "gay" meant. Bug practically lives at muscle beach where there are a wide array of quirky characters. I feel her naivete is a plot device to explain things to the reader who may be unaware of certain topics.
Daniel is a more relatable character for me. I'm the oldest and at 13, some space from my sister and brother, especially my sister would have been nice. Not being a boy, I can't relate to the interest in building muscles and growing a mustache but I understand puberty and adolescence. Bug does not. When more backstory is revealed, the motive behind Daniel's actions becomes more clear. It's not as simple as it seems. He is a wonderful big brother when it counts, though. I adore his relationship with Bug. It's super sweet. Mom is OK. She's a single mother trying her best to raise her kids on a limited income. She works long hours for the mayor's press office and with a serial killer on the loose, she's working long hours. Mom has had a tough time in life and has found a home and family in Venice. However, she keeps her kids shockingly ignorant. She considers them "too young" to understand tough topics but then they have questions and feel hurt that information was kept from them.
Aunt Teri rounds up the biological family. Mom's sister, she comes from a small town in central California, more suburban and with a more narrow society. She's very prejudiced against what she doesn't know. She thinks her sister can just pack up and move to a nicer area of LA where celebrities live! Uh celebrities live there because they have money! She doesn't understand how Mom, Danny and Bug have found family in their building and their neighborhood. Aunt Teri is the type who thinks family is related by blood only. She's rude to Frankie because he's not family. Yet Aunt Teri isn't all bad. She comes down to stay with the kids even though a serial killer is running around and takes them to do things SHE thinks are fun. She means well.
Hedwig, the landlady, is originally from Hungary. She's a terrible cook and sits around watching soap operas all day. Hedwig is open minded and kind even if she's slovenly at times. She tries to please people. I especially like Philip. He's a lot of fun! I can see why Bug likes him so much. Philip is fastidious. He enjoys keeping his apartment clean and making fresh food from scratch, make collages from old magazines and play the piano. Philip is good with kids and allows Frankie the freedom to roam and do what he wants without interference from adults. Another fun character is Flo from the beach. Each of these characters has a story to tell and those stories make the book special.
Yes there's a trans character and a gay character and one very minor non-binary but that's not the focus of the story. They feel natural in this setting, Venice, California 1987. There's absolutely no reason to ban a book for having LGBTQ+ characters. The racism bit isn't "critical race theory" (something not even taught in grade schools) and won't make kids feel "guilty" or "shame" about being white. It's ONE character's viewpoint and sharing other people's viewpoints but not necessarily everyone's viewpoints. The same with homophobia. It's 1987, in the midst of the AIDS crisis and MANY people, including President Reagan and his evangelical Christian cronies, are homophobic. There's a message about refugees too. Some discussion revolves around racism and elitism. Bug's parents were involved in forming the United Farm Workers union. Bug's father, Daniel, was from El Salvador and Bug's brother Danny takes after his father in looks. The children have never met their family in Latin America but Daniel Jr. (fka Danny) is taking Spanish lessons and getting in touch with his roots. The adults make sure to explain to kids that people are complicated. Some people can say cruel things but still show they're loving and caring by their actions. I really, really appreciated that message. I don't think Millennials and Gen Z understand that yet.
This book belongs on the shelves. It's unique and heartwarming.
In the back of the book there is are acknowledgements explaining how a white, cisgender woman came to write this book (with help), numerous resources about refugees (before the current war in Ukraine and the situation with Israel and Palestine). There is also a list of resources for LGBTQ+ readers and their families and an author's note.
Tough topics mentioned in this book:
A serial killer on the loose
Skinheads
brief mention of the Challenger disaster but not described in any detail
brief mention of Bug and Danny's dad being from El Salvador and a university professor who ran afoul of the government and had to leave. The dad later died in a car accident just before Bug was born.
racism
class differences
unions
Attack on adult character, explained to the kids as a mugging but adult readers will know what's going on.
January 14, 2022
4 stars for audio, I mean it's Stockard Channing. LOVE
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