Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World
by Ashley Herring Blake
1. Bibliography:
Blake, Ashley Herring. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the
World. Little Brown and Company. New York: 2018. ISBN: 9780316515474
2. Plot Summary:
Ivy and her family have a rough year. It all started
when the tornado destroyed their house. Ivy tries to find herself during this
hard time. To make it more difficult she has to do this with her family living
in a motel room, and someone has stolen her notebook. The notebook that has her
hopes and secrets in form of drawings. Several of those drawings are one of her
holding hands with another girl.
3. Characters:
Ivy is the protagonist and is fighting to find
herself. She struggles not only with herself but with friends and family.
June is a flat character that does not develop to a
deep level. She is an important character because she is the focus of Ivy.
Taren is the antagonist by wanting Ivy to talk to her.
She takes desperate measures in order for her to connect again with her friend.
Robbin is a flat character. She does not develop
throughout the story like a reader expected her to. She plays a small part in
listening and answering questions that Ivy has about her sexuality.
4. Setting:
The setting takes place in a small southern town. The
author talks about stereotypes in the past with other people of the LGBQT
community. This little southern town is portrayed as a more accepting town of
this community. The colors used throughout the story symbolizes change. On two
of the girls’ they paint their nails in the shade of the LBGQT rainbow flag. The
word hope is used throughout the story. This symbolizes hope for many things,
like acceptance from others, fighting stopping, and rebuilding their life.
5. Illustrations:
There are no illustrations found in this book. The
only illustration is on the front cover that is the main symbolism for the
notebook. It shows Ivy and June wanting to hold hands but slightly separated
with words in the shape of a tornado. The colors used depict the world of
colors Ivy used in her own drawings.
6. Theme:
The theme is accepting oneself with their way of life.
The author supports this theme with not only one character going through this
life changing event. You have Robbin that has already went through coming out
to society and her feelings of being not accepted. Gigi that has come out to
her friends and is still searching for support with her and others. Ivy is the
last character to accept oneself for her life changes. Ivy is evaluating her
feelings, and trying to understand why.
7. Cultural Marker:
There is a stereotype being portrayed in the story is
LBGQT likes color. This is a very weak stereotype to put upon this community.
The authenticity of the story could have happened in any small southern town.
The facts that are talked about this culture are accurate they like the same
sex. There are no source notes, or biographical information. A thank you from
the author to several people is found at the back of the book. All characters
are equal in this small-town society. It does not talk about any of the towns
people going against this culture. Robbin states that she has to be careful how
her and her wife shows affection in public, but that can apply to the straight
culture too. All words are in English. The southern dialect can be spotted when
Ivy is speaking verse June, a northerner. The high quality is lacking. The
diversity gets lost in the main plot of the story. She talks about liking
girls, but the way the author wrote the story it does not stand out to reflect
a confident outcome. It is subpar from the story as a whole.
8. Connections Teacher and Library Corner:
Students will create a collage about their life. They
may include major events that occurred in their life, strong feelings, and any
other significate emotions. These collages will be displayed and presented in
class.
9. You Tube
Bethel Park Public Library created this book trailer. They
are located in Bethel Park Pennsylvania.
10. Review Excerpts:
" Ivy's story is no mere niche-filler in LGBTQ
middle-grade realism--it's a standard-setter.” Kirkus Reviews
"Filling a much-needed gap in middle grade
literature, this story addresses not just the topic of a first crush, but also
the invisibility frequently felt by middle children...Young readers will find
Ivy's challenges very real and will sympathize with her choices, both good and
bad." School Library Journal
"This is an emotionally sensitive and elegantly
written novel about loss and the first stirrings of love.” Publishers Weekly
"This necessary and emotionally complex addition
to the body of middle-grade literature offers readers a positive, complex, and
courageous portrayal of burgeoning sexuality and relationships within the world
of junior high." Booklist "
Blake creates a sensitive portrayal of a preteen who's
begun to figure herself out but isn't sure how she meshes with others, and of
the bumbling and overstressed, but well-meaning, friends and family around
her." The Horn Book
11. Children’s Review:
“This story makes your heart swirl
all around it is one of the best feelings. This is about a girl and one night a
tornado crashes her world. Her family turns different and she starts breaking
away from her sister, since her sister's fight with Gigi. Her mom is always
tired and her dad is not himself. The keeper appears and she helps Ivy, the
girl to express her feelings and Ivy leaves notes and she leaves notes back,
starting a new friendship between her and the keeper. It wasn't until the night
at June's house until she found out that Taryn her best friend was the keeper.
That night was when she finally got to tell June what she felt about her...will
Ivy and June's friendship or maybe even closer shatter or retain and come
back?” AppleMango
“I am lesbian, and I found that this
story was just alright. I was left disappointed with the whole take on her
feeling this way. Most kids feel this way.” Daniela age 17
12. Awards and Recognitions:
2019 Stonewall Honor winner
13. Book Suggestions by Ashley Herring Blake
Girl Made of Stars ISBN: 9780358108221
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James ISBN: 9780316515535
Other books:
The Best Man by Richard Peck ISBN: 9780147515797
Sticks and Stones by Abby Cooper ISBN: 9781250115263
14. Official Website:
15. Rating:
I give this book two stars. I found the book dull and slow. I expected more in-depth characters. It was all very surface and she did not seem to go through a struggle that most do go through trying to find themselves and their sexuality. Whether they are straight or in the LBGQT community.
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