You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!

Starred review from July 23, 2018
Twelve-year-old Jilly may know everything there is to know about the characters of Magically Mysterious Vidalia, her favorite book trilogy, but she has a lot to learn about people and dynamics in her own world. In a novel that carries a strong social message, Gino (George) traces the stages of Jilly’s enlightenment across multiple events. As Jilly becomes aware of racially charged microaggressions occurring within her family, and a number of police shootings target black teens, she finds her white parents unwilling to discuss either. Her growing friendship with a black, Deaf boy she meets online (“Big-D Deaf is about community and ASL,” he informs her) aligns temporally with the discovery that her infant sister has a hearing impairment, but she makes mistakes in her enthusiasm to learn about Deaf culture. For the first time, Jilly comes to recognize that people face different challenges—and sees how her own actions can impact situations for better and for worse. If the book’s dialogue sometimes seems to exist in the service of its lessons, its thoughtful handling of characters and dynamics offers fodder for further discussion about privilege in all its forms. As Jilly’s Aunt Alicia says, “Nothing changes if we don’t talk.” Ages 8–12. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary.

Nora Hunter voices 11-year-old Jilly P. with skill. Jilly's world is filled with life-changing moments: the birth of a sibling who has challenges with hearing, tension-filled extended family gatherings, emerging friendships to navigate in person and in an online chat room, and the death of a friend of a friend among them. Nora Hunter matches each situation with believably voiced emotions. With an ensemble cast to take on supporting characters, Jilly's interactions with each have richness and authenticity. Hunter projects Jilly responding differently to peers, family members, and other adults, and when she questions herself. This is real life, and author Alex Gino wants listeners to consider it in a thoughtful manner. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine