Praise for Asking for a Friend:
"Riley’s fictional world is one in which queer joy always triumphs… A breath of fresh air." —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Jude Saves the World:
Indie Next List Pick
Indies Introduce Pick
“Full of fierce warmth and humor, Jude Saves the World is a life-changer. A tender, radiant debut.” — Ashley Herring Blake, author of the Stonewall Honor book Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World
“A heartwarming exploration of identity, unconditional friendship, found family, and harnessing the force of love to right the world's wrongs.” — Jules Machias, author of Both Can Be True
“Jude's story is full of heart, queer celebration, and an intelligent tenderness so needed in today’s homes and classrooms.” — Ash Van Otterloo, author of Cattywampus
“Accessible and ultimately hopeful. Jude Saves the World feels like wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket, like a hug to every single reader who might need one. Not only is Jude a courageous kid who just wants to make their world a better, more accepting place, they are a role model for readers hoping to do the same.” — A. J. Sass, author of Ana on the Edge and Ellen Outside the Lines
“Filled with courage and positivity, Jude is middle grade’s next Pride icon.” — Kaliisha Cole, Whitelam Books, Reading, MA
“This is a beautiful book with amazing, brave characters who fiercely guard friendship as a safe space filled with unconditional love - and set about to make the world that way. Jude Saves the World cracked my heart open and poured joy right in.” — Justin Colussy-Estes, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
“Jude is the brave and loyal friend all young queer kids need.” — Gabriella Crivilare, Prairie Fox Books, Ottawa, IL
2024-03-23
A nonbinary middle schooler experiences the highs and lows of friendship.
Twelve-year-old Eden Jones is lonely. Even after switching schools, they haven’t made any friends, but they’ve been lying to their mom to keep her from worrying. This ruse works fine until Mom excitedly announces she’s throwing Eden their first birthday party with other kids. Now, socially anxious Eden, who’s white, must approach the classmates they’ve claimed were friends and invite them to the celebration. Outgoing Duke Herrera, a popular Filipino American basketball player, befriends Eden right away, bonding over being trans, while white lesbian Tabitha Holt and genderqueer Jackie Marshall, who’s Black, take a little more effort to grow close to. Even trickier to approach is pansexual Ramona Augustus, whom Duke warns Eden against. Eden finds themself with a group of friends for the first time, but as their lies pile up, their newfound social acceptance is threatened. The book’s depiction of social anxiety rings true; Eden refuses to raise their hand in class and uses breathing exercises to cope. The characters are lovable if a bit smooth around the edges; even when they mess up, each has good intentions, and conflicts are handled in a textbook-perfect way. But Riley’s fictional world is one in which queer joy always triumphs, and that alone is a breath of fresh air.
A slightly saccharine deep dive into queer friendship. (author’s note, queer glossary, resources) (Fiction. 8-12)
