From the award-winning author of George, the story of a boy named Rick who needs to explore his own identity apart from his jerk of a best friend. Rick’s never questioned much. He’s gone along with his best friend Jeff even when Jeff’s acted like a bully and a jerk. He’s let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him … talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn’t given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out.
But now Rick’s gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school’s Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that . . . understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones.
As they did in their groundbreaking novel George, in Rick, award-winning author Alex Gino explores what it means to search for your own place in the world . . . and all the steps you and the people around you need to take in order to get where you need to be.
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Rick is another great middle grade story! Rick has just started middle school and is starting to question some friendships that carried over or that are beginning to form. There are quite a few messages in this story about character, friendship and respect. I really enjoyed the relationship with Rick’s grandfather too!
I adore Alex Gino’s books. I love that this book is a continuation of the story started in George, but from a different character’s POV. In this one, we get to see Rick’s discovery of himself. He also learns that sometimes you grow out of friendships. I loved the Rainbow Spectrum Club and the fact that the characters are getting to understand things about themselves. I can’t wait to buy this one for my little cousin and discuss it with her.
Rick is a truly phenomenal follow up to the inspiring novel George.
We have already encountered Rick when he was in school with George – who is now known as Melissa. But two years have gone by and Rick is a far different boy than the one who hung around with resident bully and general jerk, Jake.
Rick’s tale is one that I can relate too having known friends to struggle with the same problems this quiet boy does. Whilst others are talking about which girls and/or boys they fancy? Rick feels nothing – he doesn’t even really think he likes many people and is quite isolated from others.
The reader is blessed to witness the evolution of the main character from Gino’s story of emotional growth. Rick has always gone along with what Jake does but he’s always known what this antagonist does is wrong – Rick just hasn’t had the courage to say to stop. But as Rick gets to know other children who are part of the LGBTQIAP+ community of his school, his eyes are open and the questions he has are both answered and in turn, empowering.
To see a main character be identified as asexual and aromantic in a novel designed for children (though still fantastic for adults I assure you) is momentous. Once again, Alex Gino brings their magic to the page and gives the reader moments of laughter, sadness and thoughtfulness. I strongly believe that if you have read George, you need to go read Rick too.
There are surprising moments in the book that had me crying happy tears just after sad ones have fallen. Grief is dealt with in an extremely touching manner that children will be able to relate to and you witness not only Rick’s ‘rebirth’ as the story progresses but also a surprising character. (Not telling you any more but get your tissues on standby)
I hope there will be more books from this world as Alex Gino truly has the magic of creating a safe world for children to discover they are not alone.
Thank you again to an author who understands that the generation reading their books are truly the future when it comes to acceptance and understanding.