Maybe He Just Likes You by Dee, Barbara

A 2020 ALA Notable Children's Book
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of 2019

Barbara Dee explores the subject of #MeToo for the middle grade audience in this heart-wrenching--and ultimately uplifting--novel about experiencing harassment and unwanted attention from classmates.

For seventh-grader Mila, it starts with some boys giving her an unwanted hug on the school blacktop. A few days later, at recess, one of the boys (and fellow trumpet player) Callum tells Mila it's his birthday, and asks her for a "birthday hug." He's just being friendly, isn't he? And how can she say no? But Callum's hug lasts a few seconds too long, and feels...weird. According to her friend, Zara, Mila is being immature and overreacting. Doesn't she know what flirting looks like?

But the boys don't leave Mila alone. On the bus. In the halls. During band practice--the one place Mila could always escape.

It doesn't feel like flirting--so what is it? Thanks to a chance meeting, Mila begins to find solace in a new place: karate class. Slowly, with the help of a fellow classmate, Mila learns how to stand her ground and how to respect others--and herself.

From the author of Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed comes this timely story of a middle school girl standing up and finding her voice."

Author: Barbara Dee
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Published: 10/01/2019
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.60w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781534432376
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.2
Point Value: 7
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 505166 / Maybe He Just Likes You


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2019
Publishers Weekly 08/12/2019
School Library Journal 09/01/2019 pg. 114
Booklist 09/15/2019 pg. 56
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 10/01/2019

About the Author
Barbara Dee is the author of fourteen middle grade novels including Unstuck, Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, Violets Are Blue, My Life in the Fish Tank, Maybe He Just Likes You, Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have been named to many best-of lists, including The Washington Post's Best Children's Books, the ALA Notable Children's Books, the ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, the NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Barbara lives with her family, including a naughty cat named Luna and a sweet rescue hound named Ripley, in Westchester County, New York.