Hazel’s Theory of Evolution audiobook

This book was very different from what I expected, but it was also very good. It's mainly about one of Hazel's mums being pregnant again after two miscarriages, and Hazel having a hard time dealing with her anxiety surrounding this pregnancy. At the same time, Hazel is starting at a new school and feels her best friend drift away from her when she becomes friends with Hazel's former bully. She learns that there's always room for hope in any situation, and that you can always make room for new friends.I loved reading about this baby ace so much. This part of the storyline was more of a side plot than the actual focus, but that's okay, because it was lovely, it inspired a wonderful chat with one of the Hazel's mums, and we need different types of representation anyway. It was just so wonderful to see this represented in a middlegrade novel!Rep: questioning aromantic & asexual MC, sapphic mums, one of which is black, trans Latinx side character, disabled Asian side character, Jewish side characterCWs: miscarriage, ambulance, hospital, bullying, mention of suicidal thoughts

Full review to come soon but I loved this a lot

For the majority of this book I was feeling like this was a 3 or 3.5 star read. There definitely wasn’t anything wrong with it, but I also wasn’t totally engrossed by the story. Hazel has to move to a different school and ends up drifting away from her only friend while also dealing with the stress of one of her moms being pregnant. But damn, those last 50 pages just hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting and had me SOBBING. I liked how casually queer this Middle Grade book was. Hazel has two moms and one of her friends is trans. And while the words aren’t used within the story, Hazel is portrayed as ace/aro. Something I wasn’t really aware of was how much this book would deal with Hazel’s complicated feelings around her mom’s pregnancy. Mimi previously had two miscarriages and there’s a lot of discussion around that and how it impacted the whole family. I don’t think this was the perfect Middle Grade book. Sometimes it would spend too much time explaining concepts or random things that really weren’t that important to the plot of the book. I felt like occasionally the story would get bogged down by all these random asides. But overall this is a really sweet book. And it made me cry more than anything I’ve read recently… But that also could’ve been because I’d had a couple drinks before reading the end 😅

cw: past miscarriages, mention of past self harm

4.0⭐️ “There are so many good ways to be in this world.”This beautiful message encapsulates a lot of what this book is all about. I haven’t read a Middle Grade novel that offers representation in so many ways, without it seeming at all effort full or done to check boxes. This is a book that will give many young readers a feeling of being seen in literature, perhaps for the first time, and that is so important. I hope teachers, librarians and booksellers find ways to get it into the hands of kids who need it most.I haven’t ever read a book for children where miscarriage and it’s aftermath was so much a part of the story. It is presented in a nuanced, honest way. Perhaps this will be the first time many young readers will even think about this experience, and this book would be a sensitive introduction to this difficult topic.Loved the family dynamic here, and also the friendships Hazel cultivates. They are complex and imperfect and loving and true.Hazel is sometimes pretty aggravating, but I suppose that makes her a typical middle schooler. I did find she seemed young for eighth grade. She struck me more as a sixth grader. This would be more of a book to put in the hands of a mature fifth or sixth grader than the average eighth grader I think.It’s a quiet read, so not all kids will find that appealing, but no book is made for all kids. A lovely read about how change comes to our lives, whether we are ready or not, and growing through it.CW: miscarriage, grief, bullying, death

Honestly this might be the best book I've ever read, and I'm not even the intended audience. The book follows 13 year old Hazel who is starting her 8th grade year at a new school, thanks to district rezoning. Hazel is 13, with frizzy hair, glasses and lives on a farm in Michigan and to be honest I was pretty sure this was my literal exact childhood. Introverted, loves to read and spend time outside? The biggest difference is that my farm had Pumpkins instead of goats haha. Anyway, This is a particularly hard year for Hazel. One of her moms is pregnant, after suffering two miscarriages, shes starting this new school and shes afraid she'll lose her best friend in the process. The story is wholesome, relevant, and just feels true. I literally was crying in the last quarter of the book, something that is really really rare for me. I really felt for Hazel throughout the story, and it really reminded me of how difficult navigating middle school is without the additional worries Hazel had going on. Life is confusing and hard at that time and Bigelow tackles it perfectly. The story has a diverse cast, and covers some really heavy topics for a middle grade book but does so in a way that feels organic and age appropriate. I have nothing but love for this book and intend to check out more of Bigelow's work after this.

You know what? This book was way more EVERYTHING than I expected. I realize it is classified as middle grade literature, but I would say it’s intended for older middle graders as well as the YA crowd. There’s just a little language (ex: damn) and some younger kids may be all giggly in a class read aloud where the word “teets” keeps being mentioned (because they live on a goat farm where goats are milked regularly). One of Hazel’s moms has experiences two miscarriages and so there’s a lot of fear and uncertainty when the family discovers she’s pregnant again near the beginning of the book. I don’t want to say too much about the storyline, but Hazel is figuring out who her friends really are while also discovering what it is to be a good friend to someone new. The story has Jewish, transgender, and queer rep AND Hazel loves science, so there’s a lot of STEM strewn throughout. This may be my final 5-star rating for 2019 — really enjoyed it!For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo! Right after I finished reading:So much deeper than I ever anticipated. REALLY great story, writing, and resolution. Can't wait to share more on Monday!

As I've seen time and time again: QUEER MIDDLE GRADE HOLDS MY HEART. There's something so special about reading something meant for kids, meant to help them understand themselves and those around them. It's so beautiful.I think my favorite part of this story was hearing Hazel's voice. I loved listening to her talk about what she was passionate about (go worms!!) and seeing this small glimpse into a life that is there for her. And watching her struggle with the very adult issues that were happening with her family — a new pregnancy after two late-term miscarriages — was honestly refreshing. Because she took us back to what it feels like when everything is out of your control and you feel like you should know how to change that.It's such an innate need to know that drives Hazel, and that was incredibly endearing and relatable. She took me back to moments of my childhood asking question after question, right as they popped into my head.Hazel's Theory of Evolution is a beautiful story and an important read with a message and perspective that speaks to anyone regardless of age. It makes me so happy that there are special books like this in the world.

Aro-ace main character who has 2 mothers, disabled kid rep and trans kid rep, and just for this, it deserves all the stars.I've never read something so heavily focused on miscarriages, and the impact it had not only on the parents, but on the siblings as well, and while it can be a difficult topic, I found it well done. Even though the terms are and ace aren't used in the book, the signs were here. I was able to see them because I'm familiar with them, but the author's note at the end was very welcome. I'm glad kids have access to books like this now, and I wish I had when I was younger.

loved it with all my heart. wish I'd had this book back in 8th grade too

4,5*

Well this was a delight.Hazel is the sweetest 14 year old you'll ever read about. She loves her science books, her animals, her friends and her family so much my heart explodes just thinking about it. She's full of wonder, cheerfulness but also feeling like the odd one out.Her relationships with new friends, old friends, her family and her animals were all so realistic and imperfect but beautiful.And of course, she spends a lot of time questioning the meaning of love, with regards to friends and family. Can you love someone who was never even born? Can you love your family when they're doing scary things that might hurt them? Can you love your best friend who seems to be turning against you..? Her thoughts and feelings are very touching and so relatable in ways i have rarely seen in books i've read.So thank you, Lisa Jenn Bigelow. I cannot wait to read more from this author.Also, two mums and a trans friend who were simply part of the story without making a big deal out of their identities : Perfect.