Just Right Jillian

Fifth grader Jillian longs to wear bright colors in a school of neutral tones. To run and flip upside down while everyone else whispers and gossips. But no matter how hard she tries to be herself, shyness keeps her true brilliance hidden away. Even if it means getting the wrong glasses or losing an easy contest, Jillian keeps her mouth shut.

After a bully tells her she can never be a winner, Jillian gets fed up. She determines to prove, not only that she’s smart, but brave, too. But breaking out of her shell is easier said than done. Jillian has less than a month to overcome a lifetime of shyness and summon the courage to fight for herself.

Publication Date: February 1, 2022

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For fans of Renée Watson, Crystal Allen, Rebecca Stead, Barbara O’Connor and Kate DiCamillo.

An ode to shy children everywhere, Just Right Jillian lets you into the minds of every child filled with potential and greatness, but blocked by the fear of visibility. This book was a joy from beginning to end! It spun me back to the flashlight-under-the-cover readings of my favorite Judy Blume worlds, except this time the little girl who looked like me was an active part of the story. If you are or were a shy child, know or have a shy child, this story is both a lift and a guide to understanding, and potentially assisting in taking the first steps into the discovery of the confidence that can come from self-expression. Sometimes it takes space, sometimes it takes a nudge, but ultimately it takes knowing that the you who’s hiding is Just. Right. ~Anika Noni Rose