Parents' Guide to Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Rachel Sarah By Rachel Sarah , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Compelling story of girl dealing with Tourette syndrome.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 10+

Based on 11 kid reviews

Kids say the book offers an inspiring and heartwarming perspective on living with Tourette's syndrome, showcasing the challenges faced by the main character while encouraging acceptance of differences. Many reviewers appreciated its relatable characters and engaging writing style, noting its appeal to both children and adults and finding it a valuable resource for those facing similar struggles.

  • inspiring perspective
  • relatable characters
  • acceptance of differences
  • engaging writing
  • valuable resource
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

In FORGET ME NOT, astronomy-loving Calliope June starts her first day at a new school in St. George, Utah, and tries hard to hide her Tourette syndrome from the other seventh graders. But she can't help it if she makes noises or sounds when she doesn't mean to. When Jinsong, her new neighbor and the popular student body president, tries to stand up for Callie, he feels pulled by the other kids to keep his distance. As Callie struggles to fit in, she also deals with her unpredictable mother, who's itching to move again.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 11 ):

Author Ellie Terry, who has Tourette syndrome herself, portrays this neurological disorder in a compelling way that pulls you into her characters' lives and makes you feel for them. Callie tells her story in verse, while passages in Jinsong's voice are in prose. Readers will fall in love with Callie, who's funny, real, and full of spirit. When Jinsong tells his story, readers feel his struggle to be a good friend. Parents will love the opportunities Forget Me Not presents for positive, deep conversations about acceptance, empathy, and being true to yourself.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Forget Me Not's portrayal of Tourette syndrome. What did you know about Tourette syndrome before you read this story? What did you learn about it from reading this book?

  • What would you do if you saw someone being bullied? How might you be an ally to someone who's different?

  • Have you ever wanted to be friends with someone new, but you felt pressure from other kids not to make a new friend? How did the situation turn out?

Book Details

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

Forget Me Not Poster Image

What to Read Next

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