School Library Journal

Gr 4-7 Terry's middle grade debut is about one girl's urgent search for true friendship and a sense of home. Constantly on the move after her father's death, Calliope June Snow (Calli) arrives in St. George, UT, with her lovelorn mother, a few suitcases, and an egg carton rock collection. Exhausted by her inability to fit in and tired of always being the new girl, Calli, who has Tourette syndrome (TS), seeks solace in a connection to her neighbor Jinsong, the student body president and an expert pitcher. The novel is a duet, with perspectives from both Calli and Jinsong. Written in a patchwork of prose poetry and free verse, Terry's narrative deftly represents the reality of TS in its fullness. It works to deconstruct common misconceptions, such as that those who have TS have a propensity to swear, and sheds light on the raw confusion and the frightening nature of a physical experience that is utterly unpredictable. However, Jinsong's efforts to defend and protect Calli feel somewhat truncated and predictable. Calli's final act of generosity toward Beatriz, one of her tormentorsoffering her the gift of forgiveness, symbolized by a laminated poppy flowerappears both neat and unconvincing. Though the book has some flaws, the tale of a young woman with TS coming of age is an important literary perspective yet untold for a middle grade audience. VERDICT This exploration of Calli's neurological disorder and her struggle to find her place will stay in the hearts and minds of readers for a long time; a good addition for most collections.— Alpha DeLap, St. Thomas School, Medina, WA

ALA Booklist

In this sweet and sometimes sad story, readers follow middle-schoolers Calliope and Jin. Callie moves often, any time her mom gets out of a relationship and decides to start somewhere new. Jin's in student council and one of the popular boys at Callie's new school, as well as her new neighbor. She has Tourette's syndrome, exacerbating the anxiety and loneliness she feels, which is compounded by the fact that she never stays in one place long enough to make a friend. Jin is torn between maintaining his reputation and getting closer to Callie, whom he's immediately attracted to. Terry, who herself lives with Tourette's syndrome, movingly draws from her own experience as she describes Callie's experiences and behaviors. The narrative alternates between Callie's and Jin's perspectives, with Callie's chapters in affecting, varied poems and Jin's in plain prose and e-mails. This heartfelt, multivoice story with a meaningful message about friendship and acceptance is perfect for kids who appreciate realistic, character-driven stories, such as Rebecca Stead's Goodbye Stranger (2015).

Voice of Youth Advocates

In this moving middle-grade story, written in a combination of verse and prose, debut novelist Terry crafts a charming portrait of the ways that friendship and self-acceptance are intertwined. Calliope Snow—or Callie, as she prefers—is a golden-haired, astronomy-loving, seventh-grader searching for stability. With a mother who is constantly between boyfriends (and homes), the family of two arrives in St. George, Utah, looking for a chance to finally settle down. Callie, who has Tourette syndrome, quickly seeks solace in the friendship of her neighbor, Jinsong, the amiable, Asian-American student body president. Though Callie intrigues him, Jinsong initially struggles with their friendship, as Callie's unusual manner of dress and facial tics make her the target of ridicule from classmates. The novel’s dual narrative offers differing perspectives on the experience of Tourette syndrome, both in Callie’s verse, which is driven by genuine descriptions of uncontrollable impulse, and Jinsong’s frustration-filled prose. There are small moments of weakness throughout the story; the eventual settlement of Jinsong’s moral dilemma is obvious and expected given the lighthearted tone of the work. Though its resolution feels rushed, the narrative ends with the emphasis on character that is the driving force of the entire story. Terry, who has Tourette syndrome, provides perceptive insights into an oft-misunderstood disorder through Callie’s voice, making Forget Me Not a character-driven success. This is a recommended purchase, particularly for school librarians who can benefit from the teachable elements of both empathy and poetic form.—Amanda Garrity.

Horn Book

Seventh grader Calli has moved a lot as her widow mother searches for the perfect man. In St. George, Utah, Calli's popular neighbor, Jinsong, is fascinated by Calli but reluctant to befriend her at school, where Calli's Tourette syndrome garners unwanted attention. This affecting novel of growing friendship and self-awareness is told from alternating perspectives: Calli's in verse and Jinsong's in prose. Author's note included.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Terry-s debut novel thoughtfully traces the fragile emotions of two seventh graders: Calliope, a girl painfully self-conscious about having Tourette syndrome, and Jinsong, a popular boy she meets in her new town. Calliope is tired of moving every time her mother -breaks up/ with one of her crazy boyfriends.- Having just settled in St. George, Utah, she-s glad to make friends with Jinsong, who lives in her apartment complex. But Jinsong begins distancing himself from Calliope when her uncontrollable impulses become more prominent and she becomes the target of cruel jokes at school. -Sometimes my tics/ are like gentle whispers,/ asking me to do things,/ to say things.... But other times they-re like a/ SHOUT!/ Jumping out so loud and strong/ I could never hope to/ stop them,- she explains. Meanwhile, Jinsong is torn between standing up for Calliope and preserving his status. Terry, who has Tourette syndrome herself, offers enormous insight into an often-misunderstood condition, writing in verse for Calliope-s chapters and prose for Jinsong-s. Her poetic explorations of Calliope-s anxiety and Jinsong-s moral struggles are honest and moving. Ages 10-13. Agent: Steven Chudney, Chudney Agency. (Mar.)