Like Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak or Alex Gino’s Melissa, Karen Wilfrid’s Just Lizzie reads like a modern classic and should be considered a touchstone novel for an often misunderstood group – asexual youth. Straddling middle grade and YA, Just Lizzie is the story of a 14 year old girl whose life is rapidly changing after a recent traumatic event. Family, friends, and teachers who she could once talk to are now distant and Lizzie’s resulting loneliness is the emotional core of the novel. Lizzie’s quiet, thoughtful narration and the slow, low stakes plot might not appeal to all middle grade readers, but Lizzie’s internal journey discovering her sexuality could be life changing for readers who need it the most. 

When Lizzie learns that some plants and animals can reproduce by themselves asexually, she digs deeper online and discovers that people can also identify as asexual. “Hasn’t my life always been about what I’m not? Not pretty, not athletic, not interested, not ready – but now here’s this word that tells me that what I am not is actually what I am. Something – I am something” pg 125. Understanding her asexuality brings her joy and peace, but Lizzie is let down by trusted adults who voice many of society’s concerns about asexuality (it’s not real, she’s too young to know, she’s just afraid to let people in, etc.) Despite this, Lizzie finds allies and learns that though she has no desire to partner-up, even solitary beings need companionship and community to grow. 

Karen Wilfrid’s Just Lizzie is beautiful, brave, and a necessary edition to middle grade or YA collections. Nominated for Cream of the Crop. 

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth