Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
In the wake of a destructive tornado, one girl develops feelings for another in this stunning, tender novel about emerging identity, perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish.When a tornado rips through town, twelve-year-old Ivy Aberdeen's house is destroyed and her family of five is displaced. Ivy feels invisible and ignored in the aftermath of the storm--and what's worse, her notebook filled with secret drawings of girls holding hands has gone missing.Mysteriously, Ivy's drawings begin to reappear in her locker with notes from someone telling her to open up about her identity. Ivy thinks--and hopes--that this someone might be her classmate, another girl for whom Ivy has begun to develop a crush. Will Ivy find the strength and courage to follow her true feelings?Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World exquisitely enriches the rare category of female middle-grade characters who like girls--and children's literature at large.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
monalyisha
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

I read this LGBTQ MG novel about self-discovery, overcoming tragedy & experiencing your first crush for a book club I‘m leading at the Library. It‘s nominated for a Massachusetts Children‘s Book Award & is my current pick to win.

It‘s so tender & vulnerable, full of art, family, insecurity, bravery & love. Ivy loses her journal, filled with secret drawings, in the aftermath of a tornado that takes her home. But she finds a new sense of belonging.

63 likes3 stack adds
review
rockpools
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

Well that was just lovely. 12-year-old Ivy is trying to figure out her place in the world, her place in her big, messy family, her changing friendships and the fact that maybe she likes girls. Beautifully done.

This was my #BookSpin for June (at last! I read one!) and #BBRC #LGBTQ+MainCharacter #MiddleGrade.

I was planning to take a year off #BBRC next year, Ryan and Sarah, as

rockpools 71 books is a LOT, and I‘ve kind of got what I wanted from it - I‘m happy to include children‘s books in my diet now! (And the fact that 3/4 remaining prompts are from the YA section tells you all you need to know!) Then I read things like this one and think I‘m going to have to be SUPER-determined to skip it... Thanks for giving me the excuse to read different stuff! 3y
LibrarianRyan Yeah. I get it. I do. 3y
56 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
Lindy
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

A story for middle schoolers that deftly and realistically portrays the nuances of a 12-year-old lesbian‘s internal turmoil. Tears rolled down my cheeks during a couple of scenes, and it all ends happily. Yay! #Audiobook has excellent narration by Chloe Cannon. #LGBTQ #kidlit

48 likes1 stack add
blurb
Lindy
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

#audiocrafting (block printing)

readordierachel That's beautiful! 4y
AmyG So very pretty. 4y
See All 6 Comments
Lindy @AmyG Thank you! 4y
Leftcoastzen Absolutely gorgeous! 4y
Lindy @Leftcoastzen Thanks ☺️ 4y
42 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
BarbaraJean
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

This was beautiful! Set in the aftermath of a tornado that destroys Ivy‘s home, it explores Ivy‘s questions about her friendships, her growing sense that she might like girls, and her place in her own family. I was so impressed with the emotional depth and relational insight of this MG novel. SO well done and highly recommended!

blurb
WanderingBookaneer
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Hammocks can be used as bookmarks!

Lindy 😉 4y
maich 👍👍 I did the same sometimes😂 4y
monalyisha 😂 I love this post. 3y
64 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
alisonrose
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
Pickpick

What an absolutely delightful, lovely little book. I‘m so glad that young queer & questioning kids have books like this to help them figure themselves out. Ivy is a very well written character, very authentic. 12 is such a confusing age, where sometimes you still want to be a little kid but others you want to be a cool teenager, & then to add in all she was going through...I wanted to hug her a million times. A very sweet & important story. 4/5 ⭐️

25 likes1 stack add
quote
alisonrose
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake

What if I really just like her as a friend? She‘s fun and makes me laugh and she‘s smart. But that doesn‘t mean I have a crush on her. Or does it?

[THE EVER-PRESENT LESBIAN DILEMMA]

quote
alisonrose
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake

The sky was still clearing, the clouds rolling back to reveal the blue underneath. Funny how that blue was always there, even when the rest of the earth was screaming and breaking into pieces.

blurb
alisonrose
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

I‘m in the mood for a sweet middle grade read, and considering this is also about queer girls, I think it‘ll be just what I need 💖🏳️‍🌈 #nowreading

BlameJennyJane And that cover!! Queer middle grade reads are so needed. #representationmatters 5y
alisonrose @BlameJennyJane 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 5y
36 likes2 comments
review
IndoorDame
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

This was well worth the month + wait on Libby even though I devoured it in its entirety just hours after it came in. At first I was skeptical, finding Ivy's struggles with her sexuality were framed in a way that felt somewhat dated to me, but the book became about more than that. You actually got to see 3 tween girls struggling with themselves and questioning what it means to grow up a little in ways that ultimately felt very authentic and useful.

43 likes3 stack adds
blurb
IndoorDame
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Let me know what you guys think of these. Have you read them? Any that stand out? I‘ll tag titles below

See All 11 Comments
LibrarianRyan I own small spaces and have heard good things. You have some good sounding books on this list. My picks would be Ivy Aberdeen or She Loves You. ( which I had never heard of until you posted). 5y
merelybookish Again, I'm up for reading any of them! (Sorry no help! 🙂) 5y
Johanna414 I‘ve read Small Spaces (to my 6th grade book club, who LOVED it!) and Ivy Aberdeen. Any of the other 3 look great - maybe She Loves You or The Afterwards? 5y
IndoorDame @Johanna414 @LibrarianRyan @merelybookish okay great! Let‘s read She Loves You since none of us has read that and it caught two of your eyes :-) 5y
Johanna414 @IndoorDame perfect! I think this is going to be a really fun group of books! 5y
merelybookish 👍 Yay! Two down, two more to go! 5y
IndoorDame @Johanna414 me too! I just saw that you picked coyote sunrise, I‘m super excited about that! 5y
24 likes11 comments
blurb
BookishGirl06
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Christmas haul ❤️

Allydanielle88 That is an amazing book. 6y
Avanders Merry Christmas! 🎄♥️ 6y
Redwritinghood Merry Christmas!🎄🎁 6y
See All 7 Comments
Zelma I love those Kisses tubes! We used to always get the M&M ones from my folks when were kids, and there was always a plastic ornament on top. I still have one of my M&M ornaments on my tree! 6y
Lauram Merry Christmas 🎄 6y
Bookzombie Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🏻 6y
Dragon Merry Christmas 🎄! 💚🐉 6y
126 likes7 comments
review
Allydanielle88
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

This book is a five star! It was beautiful and perfect. I'll admit I ugly cried at parts in this. This is such a great book for kids who are about to enter their teen years and trying to figure themes out. One of my top favorites for this year.

blurb
Allydanielle88
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Day one of #25infive I didn't get as much time in as I would like. But I spent time with my mom making apple dumplings so I'm okay with it. I'm almost done with this book. Just another hour or so. So that is first goal for today. I should have plenty of time to read today, just putting up the last of Christmas decorations and then I'm free for the weekend. #25andcapsule

Andrew65 Hope it‘s going well. 6y
Allydanielle88 @Andrew65 I'm not getting in as many hours as I would like, but I'm enjoying what I'm reading. 6y
Andrew65 @Allydanielle88 That‘s the most important thing. 👍 6y
13 likes3 comments
review
Nitpickyabouttrains
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

Middle grade book which did an amazing job of dealing with feelings.

16 likes1 stack add
review
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

This is a beautiful, emotionally pitch perfect book about Ivy, a 12-year-old dealing with a lot: she's feeling left out of her family with two new twin babies; a tornado destroyed their house; she's realizing that she likes girls instead of boys. After the tornado, Ivy's notebook that has drawings revealing her feelings for girls goes missing. The way this book resists the urge to tie everything up in too neat a bow is lovely. #QueerBooks

CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian The way this book dealt so compassionately and honestly with its characters, young and old, reminded me a lot of the tagged book above, another great lgbtq middle grade book! 6y
EJG31 @CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian Thanks, I've added it to my tbr pile. 6y
29 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
EJG31
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

Absolutely wonderful middle grade read. Loved the realness of all the characters especially Ivy. I finished the book fighting back the full watershed of tears that were rolling down my cheeks. This book will resonate with many young people struggling to find themselves amidst the chaos of middle school, everyday life and whatever else life throws their way. I think it will help them feel safe and hopefull and aware that they are not alone.

Nute Fabulous review! 6y
EJG31 @Nute Thank you, I just noticed your comment now!! 6y
22 likes2 comments
blurb
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

12-year-old Ivy figuring out she has a crush on her new friend June is heartbreaking and adorable all at the same time. #QueerBooks #AwesomeAudiobooks

33 likes3 stack adds
review
kayceecruz
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

I cannot express how moving and wonderful this book is. I cried my way through the last quarter. Herring Blake writes such realistic emotions that young people go through. She makes you feel as if it is you that is living them. As a queer woman, I am so happy to see books and authors that strive to show reflections of diverse characters and LGBTQA representation for our children and young adults. I highly 10/10 recommend.

review
js0315
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

This book left me with so many feels. I loved it way more than I expected too. I read a few middle grade books here and there, so the only reason I gave it four stars was just because of the writing, I would've expected way better if the book was written to an older audience. I think this would've been a great graphic novel to incorporate Ivy's art throughout the story. Ivy reminded me of myself when I was that age, I always had a notebook then.

blurb
booksensation
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Thanks to @SassenachTheBookWizard I decided to get this book on my visit to Barnes and Noble with the 15% off coupon 😊😊

JoScho This cover 💖 6y
booksensation Yes!! I love it @JoScho 6y
15 likes2 comments
review
Johanna414
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

I absolutely loved this one! I wanted to take Ivy home with me - and the ending definitely brought me to tears. Plus, the cover is just absolutely beautiful

blurb
Johanna414
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

That opening chapter where they‘re running for the storm cellar and Mom has both babies in her arms and the tornado is right behind them... just about gave me a panic attack.

36 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Johanna414
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Batch 2 of the new books waiting for me at work today. I think I‘m going to have a middle grade month in June, because I‘m really excited about some of the titles in these shipments! #newbooks #librariansoflitsy #schoollibrarians #schoollibraries

blurb
abbylibrarian
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Next up for #middlegrademay (and a cat cameo)! #howiereads

22 likes1 stack add
review
onesmartcupcake
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

Finished a few books over the weekend and I really liked all three of them!

3 likes2 comments
review
AshleyKorinE
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

Oh what a middle grade book this was! It made my heart happy and I cried but it was good tears at the end. Ivy is 12 when her family home is destroyed by a tornado. Her family was already in a bit of a mess with new twin brothers and learning how she fits in with her older sister. Also she‘s got some questions of her own she doesn‘t know how to talk about when her drawing journal goes missing. I loved Ivy, honestly I loved the whole book!

LiteraryinPA I currently have this out from the library. Maybe I‘ll start it this weekend!! 7y
11 likes2 comments
review
SassenachTheBookWizard
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

I want to adopt this girl and protect her from the world! Why do middle grade books keeping making me cry?! I'll have to buy my own copy

RebL Why do middle grade books make us cry? I cried at least three times at 7y
MelissaSue81 I requested this from the library for my daughter after seeing this post. It sounds awesome. 7y
102 likes6 stack adds3 comments
blurb
SassenachTheBookWizard
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Also gonna work on this baby while driving

80 likes1 stack add
blurb
Poetryfreak38
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Found this is my School‘s media center. Once I read the flap I had to read it!!

blurb
SassenachTheBookWizard
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Middle grade library haul!

84 likes1 stack add
review
Peddler410
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

Love! Love! Love! There is so much to love about Ivy and her journey to find herself. I cried through the final 30 or so pages. This one tops the #huggable list for middle grade books. I only wish some of Ivy‘s drawings were in the book.

#LGBTQMG2018

TheWellAccompaniedBook Huggability is an excellent way to rate a book. Sounds like I need this one, post haste! 😁 7y
Peddler410 @TheDoubleLetterThief I do hope you‘ve had a chance to read this one! 6y
24 likes4 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Peddler410
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Stared this at 11:00 pm. I wanted to keep going but I really do need sleep.

review
bookishkai
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
Pickpick

Oh my heart. I love Ivy and her beautiful creative spirit. I wish I had this book when I was in middle school. Five stars for this sweet book about a girl figuring out the world and how she fits into it.

review
kate_reads
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

This book is so beautiful I want to cry...too late I already am 😭

It‘s warms my heart to see characters like this in a middle grade book. Ashley Herring Blake is becoming a must-read author for me. Both this and GIRL MADE OF STARS are brilliantly written.

MayJasper So glad you enjoyed 😊 7y
24 likes4 stack adds1 comment
blurb
bookishkai
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

So many new books, what to choose? I‘m leaning towards Ivy Aberdeen, but could be swayed in another direction. I‘ve loved Chris Crutcher‘s books since middle school, and my nanny group has fallen in love with Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. Either way, I‘m celebrating because our house was listed last night and we got an offer over asking price this morning!

WhatDeeReads Congratulations on almost selling your house! I just finished Erotic Stories... I loved it! 7y
TheLibrarian Congrats on selling the house!!! Only Killer and Thieves is one of my top books of the year. 7y
42 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
thewallflower0707
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Another wonderful #Preorder #GiveAway, this time by Ashley Herring Blake. She has two books coming out this year, Girls made of Stars and Ivy Aberdeen‘s Letters to the world. Ashley writes primarily F/F Young Adult books.#authorlove #newbook #goodies

Also my preorder gift for #ReignoftheFallen has arrived today, but I won‘t open it until the book is delivered which will take another week 😬.

blurb
Citymouse
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

Oh, my heart. What a stunning, beautiful story.

review
b00kwitch
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image
Pickpick

Ivy Aberdeen is the 13-year-old heroine that I needed as a kid. Ashley Herring Blake is adept at writing characters that are intensely relatable, with the perfect amount of teen angst. This book is a middle grade novel, but it doesn‘t talk down to the target audience. I‘m so incredibly glad to have a book to recommend with a queer girl character for younger teens.

4 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Citymouse
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World | Ashley Herring Blake
post image

As if I didn‘t have enough on my TBR, this stack of ARCs showed up while I was in NYC last week.