Collier's poignant nVoices debut introduces readers to Jillian, an intelligent but shy fifth-grader whose doubts about her identity and self-image cloud her path to the brilliant achievements ahead of her. Experiencing bullying and self-doubt, Jillian questions who she is and how others perceive her. When the annual Mind Bender competition arrives, she assumes her class nemesis, Rashida, will win, and when she's encouraged to try out and show off her knowledge, Jillian's insecurities rear their heads and cause her to retreat into the background again. Collier captures the perspective of a Black middle-grade wallflower afraid to step into the spotlight, debating whether to combat conformity and reclaim her hobbies of weaving and singing. With the support of a perceptive teacher, encouraging parents, helpful new friends, and unexpected allies, Jillian channels the legacy of her grandmother to stand loud and proud in the classroom. This relatable and emotional novel reminds readers that everyone might be fighting their own private battles and that losing or failing at something doesn't mean you're not a winner.

Shy fifth grader Jillian is fully aware she's not like her academic rival Rashida, who is popular, caught up on the latest fashions, and bold enough to speak her mind. By failing to speak up, for example, Jillian loses her opportunity to win a class math competition. But knowing that her late grandmother wanted better for her, she vows to learn how to stand up for herself by the one-year anniversary of Grammy's death. That opportunity comes with the Mind Bender competition, an all-school academic trivia contest. Once she makes the difficult decision to enter, Jillian receives support from her community of family and friends -- including her maybe-not rival Rashida. Even so, the power ultimately lies within Jillian; and when tragedy strikes her family, she must muster up "just the right amount" of courage to express herself. This first-person narrative introduces a brilliant, self-actualized preteen -- Jillian knows she's smart; she just remains concerned about how others will interpret her words -- whose past trauma is both cleverly revealed and compassionately rendered. Readers will cheer for Jillian as she is finally able to break out of her shell. Eboni Njoku

Jillian tries to keep her promise to her grandmother to be more confident in herself.Shy and intelligent Jillian is trying to just blend in with the other fifth graders-wearing the same hairstyle and dull-colored clothes as the others and doing her best to be quietly invisible. Her grandmother encouraged her not to hide who she was, but it has been almost a year since Grammy died, and Jillian just can't manage to find herself, let alone be herself. After she finishes first in a math game in class but ultimately loses because she can't speak up, Jillian is wracked with anxiety and wonders how she can stop herself from disappearing. Her teacher encourages her to enter the school's annual academic competition, and when her classmate says she could never win, Jillian decides to challenge herself to break free from the fears that are holding her back. Jillian, her family, and most of the students at her school are Black. The way debut author Collier writes about death, grief, and chronic illness-Jillian's mother has lupus-is excellent; the language used to describe the characters' experiences, confusion, and range of emotions is perfectly age appropriate. This novel celebrates those who struggle with social anxiety, and many young readers will be able to identify with the characters in this highly relatable story.A heartwarming novel about developing the courage to stop hiding. (Fiction. 8-12)

At Jemison Elementary, Black fifth grader Jillian is creative but shy, and has a hard time speaking up, especially since classmate Rashida, also Black, sets the standard for the rest of the class, down to how individuals dress and wear their hair. When Jillian finishes her problem first during a math game but opts to not answer in a timely fashion, she feels dejected, and tries to find the courage to conquer her social anxiety. -Being shy is one thing. Hiding is something else,- her late grandmother used to tell her, and-determined to live her life by her beloved Grammy-s advice-Jillian dons bright clothes and does her best to stand out. Her buoyed confidence secures Jillian a spot in the school Mind Benders competition, and just like the chicks incubating in her class, Jillian learns to break out of her own shell in a healthy, positive way. Debut author Collier offers an expressively told, inspirational novel that considers grief, chronic illness of a family member, and anxiety while showcasing the power of practicing love, empathy, and self-determination. Ages 8-12. Agent: Danielle Chiotti, Upstart Crow. (Feb.)

Gr 47 Fifth-grader Jillian dislikes standing out so much that she ends up losing a class competition, because winning would mean drawing attention to herself. When the opportunity comes up for her to compete in the school-wide Mind Bender competition, Jillian thinks she'd better skip itbut what if being invisible isn't what she wants, after all? With the help of her loving parents, supportive teacher, and some surprising new friends, Jillian discovers she is so much more than she ever knew. Jillian perfectly encapsulates the contradicting feelings of adolescence, and her attempts to forge her own path and find her identity will be instantly relatable to anyone who has ever felt shy or small. Different aspects of the story work together to drive the plot and create well-developed supporting characters who bring their own challenges and subplots. Readers will particularly enjoy the plot line of Jillian's class incubating eggs, and they will delight in seeing how the hatching chicks are a metaphor for Jillian's own emergence from her shell. Jillian is Black, and the vast majority of her classmates and neighbors are BIPOC. VERDICT Readers will feel a fast kinship with Jillian, who is right at home in any library seeking authentic coming-of-age stories about developing self-confidence. Kristin Brynsvold, Tuckahoe Elem. Sch., Arlington, VA