Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sensitive novel about teen coping with grief, coming out.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When THE MINUS-ONE CLUB begins, 16-year-old Kermit, a Black teen living in Indiana, has recently lost his older sister in a car accident. He gets invited to a club at school for kids who've lost a loved one. Kermit is also processing his realization that he's gay, which poses a problem because he comes from a religious family and is somewhat religious himself, though he's questioning that. When he goes to his first club meeting, he finds that his crush is also a member of the support group. But the group's ban on actually talking about the deaths that have impacted them turns out to be a recipe for emotional disaster. Can Kermit stop the group from falling apart and help his crew face the reality of life without their loved ones?
Is It Any Good?
This is a sensitive and beautifully rendered novel. In The Minus-One Club, the author attempts -- and succeeds at -- a very ambitious and nuanced way of telling the story. Each of the two heavy themes illuminates the other: Kermit's grief over the loss of his sister is mirrored in his fears of losing his relationship with his parents should he reveal to them that he's gay. At the same time, he associates painful feelings of awkwardness and being different both as a gay kid and as a kid whose sister died. This is the kind of book that can give readers comfort and a vocabulary for difficult issues in their own lives.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about grief in The Minus-One Club. Have you ever lost someone close to you? Who or what did you turn to to help you process this?
As you grow up, there are topics it's hard to discuss with your parents. What other adults do you trust? What topics do you talk about most with other kids your own age?
Discuss the theme of values in The Minus-One Club. How do the characters explore what they believe about important topics such as drinking, consent, religion, and differences with their parents?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date : January 24, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 334
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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