In this moving tale of growing into yourself, Van Otterloo gives upper-middle-grade readers a relatable, imperfect nonbinary protagonist who struggles to make their way in a new school when an overdose sends their mom off to rehab. Sparrow, who has always bristled at their birth name and gender norms, is nervous about going to Windy Hall, her mother's old home. According to her mom, it was "a palace of horrors," but in the care of Sparrow's estranged aunt, Mags, it's a warm and accepting place. Against the backdrop of the rainbow-painted house and in the halls of a new school, Sparrow gets the chance to discover who they truly are with the help of some maybe-magical boots. While it occasionally feels a bit more pedantic than others in the genre, this story of overcoming internalized beliefs, learning to admit when you need help, and standing up for yourself as much as for your friends features a unique character in Sparrow, whom many children will appreciate spending time with. For fans of David Levithan and Kyle Lukoff.

Twelve-year-old Sparrow's life revolves around keeping their mother happy; a difficult task given her struggles with mental health and addiction. Sparrow believes that by being the perfect child they can keep Mom's "shadows" at bay and deflect any attention from well-meaning outsiders. This includes hiding their shifting gender identity and sexuality. When Mom is unexpectedly put in rehab, Sparrow is sent to live with family members they've never met in the childhood home Mom has only ever discussed disparagingly. Sparrow is surprised to find not only that Aunt Mags is a source of comfort and support but also she's trans herself and the renamed "Rainbow House" is now a community of loving families and gender-diverse individuals. Sparrow is caught in a tug-of-war between trying to be the daughter Mom wants them to be and the person they truly are. Sparrow's own magical shadow, a trickster-like creature, provides guidance and pushes them toward realizing their identity. This fantastical touch, as well as the friendships Sparrow forges with new classmates Sully and Wynn, add some lightness to the protagonist's difficult circumstances. Van Otterloo's authentic and inspiring transgender adult characters serve as mentors to Sparrow on their journey of self-discovery, but perhaps more importantly as essential representations of trans adulthood for young readers.

A nonbinary middle schooler discovers themself.Sparrow has too many responsibilities for a 12-year-old. They move towns a lot, and their mom has lots of rules but few resources. Mom struggles with addiction and isn't supportive of Sparrow's burgeoning feelings about gender, but before settling into exploring that dynamic, the story shifts abruptly when Mom gets into an accident, is sent to rehab, and Sparrow goes home with an estranged family member. At first, they think that Aunt Mags is married to their Uncle Cameron, who "ran off to a fancy college and came back weird," but readers quickly learn that Aunt Mags is Sparrow's trans aunt, who inherited the family estate and renamed it the Rainbow House (painted to match). Sparrow is thrust into a carefully constructed world of diverse adults who always know exactly the right things to say and do, unusually mature kids who monologue about their feelings, internet searches through which Sparrow figures out that they're nonbinary, and a magical companion called Shadow, attached for some reason to a gender-affirming pair of boots, whose helpful presence is never quite explained. Sparrow and their family are White; some supporting characters are described as having brown skin. With direct exposition about being a parentified child, this story will be healing for some and feel overly contrived to others.An earnest and well-intentioned tale. (resources) (Fiction. 9-13)

Twelve-year-old Sparrow Malone moves often with their substance-reliant mother, whose “anxious perfectionism and... messy personal life go together like Cheetos and milk.” To make excellent impressions and telegraph a healthy parent-child relationship wherever they go, Sparrow follows the same rules, alternating between “supportive Mom-Sparrow and shape-shifting school-Sparrow” even as they clash with their mom over clothing choices. When Sparrow’s mom overdoses and gets into a car accident, she’s sent to rehab while Sparrow stays nearby with estranged relatives—including Sparrow’s transgender aunt Mags, whose identity Sparrow initially mistakes due to their mom’s deadnaming and misgendering of her sister—on the grounds of the rambling inherited mansion that Mags has transformed into an inclusive communal refuge. Sparrow’s life changes dramatically in the weeks that follow, as they more thoroughly explore their gender identity and encounter a strange animate shadow. Through the protagonist’s contemplative first-person observations and interstitial essays, Van Otterloo (A Touch of Ruckus) creates a character-driven novel that touches on navigating generational trauma, personal growth, and queer identity in circumstances both dire and abundantly safe. Sparrow and their family are white; secondary characters are intersectionally diverse. Reader resources conclude. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lauren Spieller, Triada US. (May)

Gr 3–7— An empowering identity story about standing your ground and not being afraid to speak your truth. Sparrow's mom, Abigail, is injured in a car wreck, forcing Sparrow, 12, to live with an aunt they never met. Aunt Mags, a trans woman, uses their childhood home Windy Hill as a haven for like-minded individuals seeking acceptance and self-expression. Sparrow finds a home here and begins a journey of self-discovery that allows them to become who they truly are, a queer, non-binary person. Otterloo covers a multitude of topics: intergenerational trauma, anxiety, mental health, honest communication, and the dangers of self medicating; also included are web resources on the gender spectrum. This book is testament to drama class as a hopeful pathway to finding your crew and the importance of women in science. Sparrow is a unique character who makes thoughtful observations, questions the status quo, all while possessing a remarkable knowledge of the natural world. VERDICT A perfect way to infuse fiction with science; use this with Eliot Schrefer's Queer Ducks (and Other Animals) , in SEL classes, or offer it to those reading Ann Braden or Leslie Connor.— Laura Dooley-Taylor