The Deepest Breath

 From the publisher:

"

The Deepest Breath
by Meg Grehan

Stevie is eleven and loves reading and sea-creatures. She lives with her mum, and she's been best friends with Andrew since forever. Stevie's mum teases her that someday they'll get married, but Stevie knows that won't ever happen. There's a girl at school that she likes more. A lot more. Actually, she's a bit confused about how much she likes her. It's nothing like the way she likes Andrew. It makes her fizz inside. That's a new feeling, one she doesn't understand. Stevie needs to find out if girls can like girls - love them, even - but it's hard to get any information, and she's too shy to ask out loud about it. But maybe she can find an answer in a book. With the help of a librarian, Stevie finds stories of girls loving girls, and builds up her courage to share the truth with her mum. Written in accessible verse `chapters' and in a warm and reassuring style, The Deepest Breath will be of special relevance to young girls who are starting to realise that they are attracted to other girls, but it is also a story for any young reader with an open mind who wants to understand how people's emotions affect their lives. "

I have had students asking for LGBTQ+ books this year so I have been trying to get some that are age appropriate for middle school. This one is a sweet, tender look at an 11 year old girl who is recognizing feelings within herself that she doesn't understand. I thought the subject matter was dealt with in a very age-appropriate way. I don't like novels in verse, but my students do. I really liked how the author dealt with Stevie's anxieties as well. So many of our middle schoolers are dealing with high anxiety and I think they will relate to Stevie, who feels like she is underwater a lot of the time and is scared and anxious about many things. I loved the relationship between Stevie and her mum. I think my students who have been asking for LGBTQ+ books will connect with this particular book. 

Suggested Ages:
Booklist - Grades 4-7
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-12