Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
First stirrings of girl's same-sex crush gently handled.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a vital and heartfelt read that resonates deeply with LGBTQ+ youth, providing essential representation and addressing complex themes like love and loss. Many readers, including tweens and teens, appreciate the simple yet poignant way it tackles significant topics, making it an important resource for those navigating their identity.
- representation matters
- heartfelt themes
- accessible content
- essential for youth
- encourages honest conversations
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : March 6, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 13
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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