CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.
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Just Right Jillian
CCBC Review:
The girls in Jillian’s fifth-grade class try hard to look alike. They wear the same bland, neutral colors and ho-hum hairstyles on the same days each week. Jillian, bored by this unofficial uniform, longs to be herself—and speak up more, too—but she’s afraid to stand out. Before her beloved grandmother died, Jillian promised her she would work on growing her confidence despite her extreme shyness; her mom (who has lupus) and dad also encourage her to be herself. So when Jillian’s teacher urges her to enter the school-wide Mind Bender trivia competition, Jillian feels that this is her chance. She is bright and knows many of the answers, but freezes when it comes time to show her knowledge in front of an audience. Fortunately, her main competition, Rashida, turns out to be more friend than “foe.” With support from Rashida and another classmate-turned-friend, Jillian, who is Black, learns to relax and focus when her anxiety flares. Meanwhile, as Jillian begins to come out of her shell, she and her classmates anxiously monitor a dozen chicken eggs incubating in their classroom. As Jillian observes how the chicks that developed prepare to hatch, each in its own time, she further pushes herself, despite her anxiety. In a novel reflecting deep understanding of social anxiety and the grounding power of creativity, Jillian reveals more of who she is little by little, including her colorful personal style and talent for weaving. Her classmates prove eager to get to know her. ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 8-12
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
African Americans
Agency
Anxiety
Art and Artists
Competitions and Contests
Creativity
Grief and Loss
School
Shyness
Diversity subjects:
Black/African
Physical
Psychiatric
On CCBC Booklists:
Wisconsin Social Studies Standards: Suggested Books for K-5
Feeling Anxious: Selected Books about Managing Worry and Fear for Children
Publishers:
HarperCollins, Versify
Publish Year: 2022
Pages: 215
ISBN: 9780358434610
CCBC Location: Fiction, Collier
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Recommended Book Search includes access to CCBC-recommended titles based on subject headings created by our staff.
Please send questions or comments about CCBC booklists to ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu.