Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: Too Bright to See

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 23, 2022

I got it for me 24 trans I can relate to bug with a lot of there feelings I just wish I had someone in my life around that age to help me understand why I didn't like the way I was I came out at 16

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BA

Excellent book about representation and authenticity

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 26, 2021

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Seriously brilliant. The author hits this one out of the park. An instant must-read!

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Amazon Customer

Excellent book for late Elementary and Middle School youth

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 19, 2023

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Words can’t express the gratitude I have for you writing this book and the lives it will and has positively impact. Such a wonderful book about a path of self discovery. An excellent read for tweens and the friends and family that support them. This book can open up great conversations. I just purchased the next book and will be purchasing copies for supportive family members. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Samantha

Amazing!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 27, 2023

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My diverse literature professor required we read this book for a literature circle assignment. I absolutely adore this book! It was a window inside the life of a transgender child. Juvenile content for young readers but a serious and important overall theme. I highly recommend.

LA in Dallas

A ghost story and a mystery

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 14, 2022

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When we begin Too Bright to See, Bug, our first-person narrator, is a twelve-year-old kid living with Bug's mother Sabrina, in an old house in rural Vermont that is haunted, according to Bug and Sabrina's brother Roderick. Bug's mother is an artist who makes a living by designing humorous condolence cards, for instance, this one,

'The fill-in-the-blank cards are the simplest ones Mom has ever made, and the best sellers. They’re plain white, and the cover says “I’m Sorry That Your _____ Died.” The inside type reads “It Really Sucks.”'

How Sabrina and Bug mourn is not unimportant, because Uncle Roderick has just died. A year ago Roderick lived with Bug and Sabrina in the big old haunted house, too, but for the last year he has been in hospital and hospice. You might be inclined to expect a gloomy book, but it isn't, not really. Bug is not a gloomy person, or, for that matter, a cheerful one, or exuberant. Bug is a quiet, introspective kid, whom Sabrina describes thus,

“Oh, Bug's team dead trees. Bug just wants to read, you know that. Has a teacher ever assigned a book you haven’t already read?”

I really enjoyed Too Bright to See, mainly because I enjoyed Bug's inner narrative. Being inside Bug's head for an few hours is a calming experience. Some people may find the book slow, but I didn't, because I enjoyed the time spent with Bug. Bug is unusually self-aware for a twelve-year-old (or for an adult, for that matter). The story of Too Bright to See is a ghost story, but also a mystery. In fact, my only real criticism is that it takes Bug too long to figure the mystery out. I suppose Lukoff does this to stretch out dramatic tension, but you will figure out the mystery long before the big reveal, and I think Bug would have, too, if not impeded by an author who didn't want to get there yet.

I would like to tell you what the title Too Bright to See means, but I can't do that without spoiling the mystery. So you'll have to read it yourself to find out.

One person found this helpful

Ryan Phillips

An Honest and Heartfelt Look at Both Grief and Transgender Identity

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 1, 2021

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"The weeks stretch out in front of me, slow and hot, the finish line shimmering like a mirage. I don't know who I'll be when I cross over."

This heart-breaking and beautiful middle grade novel follows 11 year old Bug as they prepare to start middle school, grieve for their beloved uncle, and try to figure out who they are.

This story explores grief in a heartfelt and honest way. Specifically the grief for a death that was not sudden but expected and no less heart-breaking for it. It begins shortly after the death of Bug's uncle who was a parental figure in their life. We see how Bug deals with, and doesn't deal with their grief, throughout the beginning of the book.

It discusses feeling like you don't fit in and aren't able to be a proper "girl" in a way that seems to come easily to most of your peers - a feeling that was very familiar to me as a transgender man. It also features a trans character who didn't always know which is a common narrative that doesn't apply to many of us. Bug doesn't always know but when they figure out who they are everything else makes sense in hindsight.

Overall I felt this was an honest and heartful look at both grief and transgender identity that felt true to life and was beautifully written. I'd highly recommend it to children and adults alike.

Content warnings: grief, death, terminal illness, mentions of bullying, unintentional misgendering

Not very trustworthy teenager

Beautiful

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on August 2, 2021

Verified Purchase

Beautiful story that made me cry and I relate to so many things Bug goes through. Even though I’m too old to read a book like this, I enjoyed the story and parts of it were very touching.

The only thing that bothered me was that there wasn’t even a hint of doubt when Bug realises that he’s a boy. Up to this point in the book I felt like it was very similar to my childhood (except for the circumstances) and reading all the “signs” I just went “yep that’s me” but when I got to the point when he knows he’s trans, I thought “how can he suddenly be 100% sure and not even question it?”

I know that isn’t a real reason to give only 4 stars but I bought this book for myself because I’m questioning and while I loved the story, it didn’t really help me because I’m still not 100% sure. But I’m more sure than before.

One person found this helpful

Katie Mac

Well-deserving of the accolades

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 15, 2022

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I'm so glad the Newbery Honor win is bringing this book the attention it deserves. A wonderful ghost story all about discovering who you are and being your true self. Incredible read!

10 people found this helpful

TXSwade

Beautiful & Touching story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 14, 2022

Verified Purchase

From the haunted house to the loving relationships, this book is a must read. It is a great conversation opener for this topic, and is introduced very effectively. A must read for parents and kids alike.

10 people found this helpful

Jennifer Clark

Beautiful book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 15, 2022

Verified Purchase

Beautifully written. A heartwarming story on fig your who’d you truly are

4 people found this helpful

5 star		72%
4 star		17%
3 star		7%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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