What You Don't Know

December 11, 2020

Gr 2-4-At 144 pages long but still very much a picture book by all definitions, this title introduces readers to Demetrius, "a child who never had to come out because he was never in," as he struggles to navigate middle school. Along the way, he learns about unconditional love and being himself no matter what, with no room for hate. Text and speech bubbles are intertwined throughout the story, making it easy to follow. Readers meet important people in Demetrius's life, including Addie the radical librarian. The art comes to life through Higginbotham's colorful collages, which she made by hand from recycled materials. The characters pop from the pages and are full of expressions that complement the text. Most children, gay or not, in or out, are sure to find themselves within these pages. VERDICT The message that "all you need is to be you" will stay with readers long after the last page, in a book for LGBTQIA+ collections and beyond.-Andrea Pavlik, Huntington Public Library, NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
Like its protagonist, this thick picture book with an unusually small trim defies stereotype. Demetrius, a queer Black kid whose "superpower" is "sensitivity," feels "free" only before kindergarten. For years after that, schoolkids taunt Demetrius with homophobic slurs (represented with asterisks), and even some teachers bully Demetrius for wearing flowered clothes and giggling with girls. The unconditional acceptance of family feels far away as "scared [and] scarred" people terrorize the child. Demetrius' fiercely protective mother confronts those who criticize her child's gender expression, frequently with profanity (also asterisked in dialogue) and even in church, which she abandons after telling a woman there to mind her own business. During a church daydream, Demetrius converses midair with Black Jesus about love of all kinds--a conversation interrupted (still in the daydream) by Billy Porter, Tony winner for the Broadway musical Kinky Boots and Emmy winner for his role as Pray Tell in FX's Pose, a drama about New York's gender-norm-defying ballroom culture. Demetrius' father also unfailingly affirms his child, as do some adults at school along with schoolmate and podcast partner Moxie, who's also a queer kid of color. With minimal text per page, this book feels handmade, from the lettering to the eclectic collages, composed of photos, fabrics, hair, sequins, and more. Characters resemble paper dolls and often appear identical on consecutive pages, which sometimes creates an odd sense of stasis that slows the story's momentum. Nevertheless, queer parents and kids alike will appreciate the book's uplifting message. A visually rich story that speaks truth to power for LGBTQ+ kids and their families and allies. (Picture book. 8-12)

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