Lo Simpson Starts a Revolution
by Melanie Florence (Author)
In this funny yet moving coming-of-age novel, a girl finds comfort, and eventually her voice, by writing letters to The Doctor from her favorite TV show, Doctor Who.
Lo and Jazz have been best friends ever since Jazz defended her when Bobby Zucker called her a horse face in second grade. But lately Jazz has seemed more interested in bikinis, boys and bras (ugh), and Lo is still perfectly happy with her comic books and Doctor Who. When Jazz ditches Lo for the It Girls, Lo feels completely adrift...until she overhears someone talking about the latest FanCon. There are others like her!
With help from her new friends, and taking a cue from the Doctor (in whom she confides by writing letters), Lo begins to find her voice. Between giving Bobby Zucker a wedgie for harassing the It Girls, to bringing an abrupt end to spin-the-bottle at a party, to speaking up to the principal and demanding period supplies in student bathrooms, Lo finds her inner activist and the self-confidence that comes with growing up--on her own terms.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
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School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up--A middle schooler used to living in her best friend's shadow learns how to stand out and speak up, not just for herself but for her whole school. Twelve-year-old Lo's best friend, Jazz, seems to be outgrowing her. Instead of wanting to cosplay and obsess over Doctor Who, Jazz is now interested in clothes, boys, and popularity. Through confessional, unmailed letters to Doctor Who, Lo wishes for advice on how to be brave and seeks solace in her loneliness. After Jazz ditches Lo for the "It Girls," Lo stumbles across a new friend group that shares her interests. When Lo comes to Jazz's rescue on a day she unexpectedly gets her period and bleeds through her pants, Lo develops a new interest: getting the school to provide free period products in all bathrooms. Working with her new friends (including nonbinary Zev, who helps make sure Lo's plans and language are inclusive) and eventually some unexpected allies, Lo addresses the need for necessary hygiene products and speaks up about consent, sexual harassment, and double standards at her school. Told at a quick pace with short chapters and plenty of dialogue, this story, rife with themes of regeneration (which any one-sided Doctor Who pen pal knows all about) and transformation, unflinchingly tackles big issues and emphasizes the importance of speaking up for oneself and on behalf of others. VERDICT A compelling look at friendship, activism, and self-confidence.--Amanda MacGregor
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
An insightful novel with a unique protagonist facing a lot of changes...Lo Simpson Starts a Revolution deals with many topics, including women's rights, consent, social justice, friendship, cosplay, change, bullying, and sexual harassment. Middle school readers will enjoy reading about the way that Lo deals with the challenges in her life. Highly Recommended. — CM: Canadian Review of Materials
Melanie Florence is a writer of Cree and Scottish heritage based in Toronto. She was close to her grandfather as a child, and that relationship sparked her interest in writing about Indigenous themes and characters. She is the author of Missing Nimâmâ, which won the 2016 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, Stolen Words, which won the 2018 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award, and the bestselling Orca Soundings titles He Who Dreams and Dreaming in Color.
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV039290 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Activism & Social Justice
Coming of age
Bildungsromans
Best friends
Social change
Friendships
Middle school students
Novels
Social jusitce
