The Anti-Book by Raphael Simon - ADVISABLE

The Anti-Book by Raphael Simon, narrated by Jorjeana Marie. 320 pages. Dial (Penguin), 2021. $18 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Mickey’s life feels like it is in shambles - divorced parents both remarrying to women named Charlie; his 15yo sister dating a 17yo “carboy” who keeps calling Mickey “gay”. He thinks that writing everything he hates in the Anti-Book will solves his problems, but instead everything is actually gone! And erasing it brings things back, but in totally weird ways. Now Mickey, a teeny tiny house that flies, and his now tiny “big” sister are Following the Shadow, who looks awfully familiar, on a quest to find the Bubble Gum King, who may be able to set things right. 

Mickey’s anger may be very familiar to upper elementary/middle school kids who don’t even feel right in their own skin. Mickey’s personal identity is a small side note to the more prominent theme of self-discovery. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS