Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World

Book review by Jan Carr, Common Sense Media
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

First stirrings of girl's same-sex crush gently handled.

Ashley Herring Blake Coming of Age 2018
Rate book

Parents say

age 9+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 10 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate book

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World, by Ashley Herring Blake, successfully twines a few stories in one. When Ivy's 12, her family's home gets leveled by a tornado, putting severe stresses on her otherwise tight, loving family. In the temporary shelter, Ivy makes a new friend, June, and discovers she's developing a crush on her. The first stirrings of her lesbian identity are gently handled, as she fantasizes about holding June‘s hand and slow dancing at the school dance. Ivy's lucky to have understanding guides: Her older sister's best friend and the woman who puts them up while they're homeless are both lesbians. Preteens who are gay or beginning to question their sexual identities will see themselves and their feelings reflected. This sensitive and compelling story also touches on middle children and feeling overlooked when new babies arrive, and can be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers.

Community Reviews

hannah1991
hannah1991 Adult
November 7, 2021
age 9+
When a tornado rips through town, twelve-year-old Ivy Aberdeen's house is destroyed and her family of five is displaced. Ivy feels invisible and ignored in the aftermath of the storm—and what's worse, her notebook filled with secret drawings of girls holding hands has gone missing. Mysteriously, Ivy's drawings begin to reappear in her locker with notes from someone telling her to open up about her identity. Ivy thinks—and hopes—that this someone might be her classmate, another girl for whom Ivy has begun to develop a crush. Will Ivy find the strength and courage to follow her true feelings?

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
watershedschool
watershedschool Adult
February 23, 2021
age 9+

What does a crush feel like, is it a stomach ache or a weird feeling in your fingertips?

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World is a book written by Ashly Herring Blake published on March 6th, 2018. This book is its own book and is not a part of a series. A tornado ripped through the town causing Ivy's house to get torn up into the sky and leave her with no house. Ivy is forced to live in the school gym. She was packing up when she realised her notebook with all her personal drawings, including one with her holding a girl’s hand, was missing. Notes with her drawings have been showing up in her locker with notes saying “you should tell someone about this” written on the drawing. Ivy is confused on who it is but she hopes it is one of her homeroom class mates who she is starting to have feelings for. With Ivy’s courage, will she be daring enough to spread her true feelings to the world? You’ll have to read to find out! What I liked about the book was the story line and how it was written, it had a very interesting story behind it and it made me want to read more. Every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. This is a very good book that I thought was very interesting and the book might be in my top 4 best books I have ever read. Something that I didn’t like about this book was the ending. It never tells you about Ivy and June’s future together and there is no sequel, so that is a bummer for the readers. This book is good for readers that want to learn about other people and how people that may not have the same sexual identity as them. I feel like it is more of a book for females but if a male was interested I think they would enjoy this book as well.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

At the start of IVY ABERDEEN'S LETTER TO THE WORLD, Ivy's family becomes homeless when a fierce tornado levels their house. At the temporary shelter, Ivy makes a new friend, June, and also loses her beloved notebook, in which she's drawn a series of revealing pictures of herself holding hands with a dark-haired girl, whose identity is mysterious even to Ivy. Ivy already has a best friend, Taryn, who's started talking about boys, but Ivy isn't feeling it. Could her feelings about June be like the ones Taryn feels? Questions swirl. Who found Ivy's notebook, and why are they leaving notes about it in Ivy's locker? Can Ivy tell June how she feels? Will June like Ivy back? And will Ivy's family manage to stick together and survive until they can rebuild their home?

Is It Any Good?

This lovely, reassuring book manages to be both a dramatic story of a family stressed and challenged by a natural disaster and a sensitive exploration of the beginnings of same-sex love. Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World explores both LGBTQ themes and universally human themes of family, first love, and navigating life's unexpected challenges.

The LGBTQ strands are gentle. When other girls get giggly about their preteen crushes, Ivy has glimmers that she's different, but the strength of her new crush on June takes her by surprise. Author Ashley Herring Blake gives Ivy wise friends and adults to talk to, who support her and help her tease out and express her feelings. No one imposes anything on her either way, and Robin, the older lesbian who puts up the family in her inn, counsels Ivy that she doesn't need to know all the answers, be sure about anything, or label herself prematurely, providing Ivy with a comfortable space to question. Though the real world may not always be as safe and supportive as this fictional world, the book provides a safe place to explore thoughts about sexuality and about coming of age in general.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the crush in Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World. Have you had crushes? Have they surprised you in any way? Do you think the people you've crushed on have similar feelings about you? Do your crushes make you act differently around people?

  • Do you have people you can talk to about your feelings, the way Ivy talks to Robin, or the way she freely expresses her feelings when she answers the notes in her locker? Why do you think she's kept her feelings secret?

  • Has your family ever experienced challenges or stresses that make them act differently? Do you ever feel ignored or overlooked in your family?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love Family stories and LGBTQ tales

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

  • Cartoon picture of a sister and brother holding hands
    Brothers and Sisters
    See all
  • Cartoon hands high fiving
    Friendship
    See all
  • Cartoon photo of a keep out sign
    Middle School
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate