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The Other Side of Perfect
Two kids from two different worlds form an unexpected friendship in this lens into the interworking of empathy. Told in alternating narratives, The Other Side of Perfect is infused with themes of identity, belonging, and compassion, reminding us that we are all more than our circumstances, and we are all more connected than we think. Cody’s home life is a messy, too-often terrifying story of neglect and abuse. Cody himself is a smart kid, a survivor with a great sense of humor that helps him see past his circumstances and begin to try to get himself out. Autumn is a wealthy girl from an indigenous family, who has found herself in with the popular crowd even though it’s hard for her to want to keep up. But one night, while returning home from a movie, Autumn comes across Cody, face down in the laneway behind her house. All Cody knows is that he can’t take another encounter with his father like the one he just narrowly escaped. He can’t go home. But he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. When Autumn agrees to let him hide out in her dad’s art studio, Cody’s story begins to come out, and so does hers.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 2, 2024
9 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 15, 2024
What happens when Autumn finds a classmate who has been beaten up on her way to a party and takes him home to hide him? What has happened to Cody who is from the wrong side of the tracks? Why would a girl like Autumn who lives on the rich side of town want to help him? First published by Scholastic Canada, this is a heartwarming story about two teens who are trying to find their place and purpose in the world.
June 17, 2024
Premise was good but it lacked a lot of polish. Simple things like never reporting to the police, racism being solved by talking, and then adding in some magical elements really cheapened the story. The first 3 or 4 chapters were really solid, the rest of the book didn’t hold up
June 7, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This is told in two perspectives - Autumn, an Indigenous, popular seventh grader, and Cody, a classmate of hers with a mother in prison and an abusive father. When his dad beats him yet again, Cody flees. Autumn finds him passed out in a sidewalk near her house, and takes him home. With the help of her parents, Cody heals physically while trying to un-learn racist ideas instilled in him by his father. At the same time, Autumn comes to terms with the fact that her new popularity isn’t what she wants after all. Overall, this is pretty simplistic, but it’s a quick read for readers looking for an unlikely friendship. Hand to readers in grades 6-8.
June 5, 2024
Class loved it, I loved it !!! Great YA
November 15, 2024
This one was just okay for me. I thought the characters were pretty one-dimensional, and some of their actions just didn't make sense in the context of the narrative. There are certainly more nuanced books out there about kids suffering from parental abuse and neglect than this one.
April 1, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this story told in alternating chapters and points of view of two middle school characters, Autumn Bird, a Cree girl and Cody Stouffer, a white boy. When Autumn literally stumbles across Cody near her home, in need of help, events are set in motion that challenge and change both of them. In one case, the need is to reclaim who they are and in the other, it is to become who they can be.
The story is in the hands of two master storytellers and I found the collaboration seamless. Themes of racism, domestic abuse, poverty, wealth, and family are explored but always the kids feel like kids whose agency or lack of it feels realistic and age appropriate. The real life challenges Cody and Autumn face are explored seriously, but without melodrama. I particularly loved the connection Cody feels for Autumn's father's painting and how, despite tension between them, they find opportunity to deal with it through art. I also lovec the mentions of Autumn's passion for Dr Who.
There are many specific details that bring the characters to life and make them feel unique while also being relatable. Highly Recommended.
The story is in the hands of two master storytellers and I found the collaboration seamless. Themes of racism, domestic abuse, poverty, wealth, and family are explored but always the kids feel like kids whose agency or lack of it feels realistic and age appropriate. The real life challenges Cody and Autumn face are explored seriously, but without melodrama. I particularly loved the connection Cody feels for Autumn's father's painting and how, despite tension between them, they find opportunity to deal with it through art. I also lovec the mentions of Autumn's passion for Dr Who.
There are many specific details that bring the characters to life and make them feel unique while also being relatable. Highly Recommended.
April 26, 2024
It was alright, but some if the logic is twisted. Why are girls at 13 having s*x? Why are they making out with boys in their room? Why are they wear heels and pounds of makeup to school? I don't think the author understands how middle school works since there's so many stereotypes. All the characters are high school stereotypes but in middle school to be relatable? I don't know, there's a lot of plot holes right now...
February 18, 2024
Thank you Edelweiss+ for the eARC. I was a little bummed about this one because the plot is so strong, but the execution wasn't for me.
January 30, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Autumn Bird is a popular seventh grade girl in her Toronto area school, but it's hard work to keep up her status. She has to dress a certain way, spend a lot of time on hair and make up, and put up with a lot of negative energy from her friend Mia and others, who want to dictate what she does. One of these things is her relationship with Connor. He's popular and cute, but Autumn doesn' really like him. She certainly doesn't want to kiss him, or do even more, as the girls hint. Connor thinks that Autumn did more with someone at summer camp, although that is not true, and this is one of the reasons he wants to date her. Cody has a very different life. He mother is not in the picture, and his father often becomes abusive when he drinks. The two live in a run down apartment which Cody's father doesn't keep clean. He even is unhappy when Cody cleans it, since that's something "girls do", so Cody tries to clean when his father isn't home. When Cody's father thinks Cody is laughing at him, he beats the boy so badly that he passes out. When he comes to, Cody decides to runaway to escape further abuse. He packs a small bag and leaves, but is so badly injures that he passes out in a clump of bushes while looking for a place to sleep. Amber is on her way to an important party to see Connor when she happens upon Cody. At first she thinks he is dead, but when she realizes he is injured, she helps him to her home. Autumn's mother is a doctor, so she immediately wants to bring her in to help, but Cody makes her promise to keep adults out of it. The father has an art studio in a building on the property and is done with work for the day, so Autumn settles him there. Her parents, who are both Indigenous, have taught her to help out whenever she sees someone in trouble. She manages to get Cody food and lets him clean up a little. At school the next day, Mia and her cronies ask about why Autumn wasn't at the party and give her a hard time, and also are not friendly to Cody, who does have some hygiene issues because of his father's neglect. After school, Autumn arranges to meet Cody, and once again tries to help him out. She's not able to hide him from her parents for too long, and is greatly relieved when her father discovers Cody. The father is understanding, but does want his wife to know and check Cody out for injuries. He also insists on telling Cody's father, bringing along the family's large but loveable dog Boomer as protection. Cody's father isn't at the apartment, however, and there is an eviction notice on the board. Mr. Bird also takes Cody to the prison where his mother is serving time for robbery, so that he covers all of the bases. The mother has some mental health challenges, but does give permission for Cody to have other caretakers. In the meantime, Autumn is tired of Mia's group, and reverts to her old self, in comfy clothes. She used to help at a community group that serves Indigenous people in need of some help, and brings Cody to that. The two end up doing a school project on the center her mother helps with. Cody is more comfortable at the center than at Autumn's fancy and expensive house, but is glad to not have to worry about his father. When the center has an anniversary celebration and Cody's father reshow up drunk, will it destabilize Cody's new situation?
Strengths: This has all the elements of the kind of "sad" book that my students like. While many adults seem to like books about children struggling with grief, my students seem to prefer stories about children in neglectful or abusive situations who work to survive, both in the situations and when escaping them. Autumn is a great character, who struggles with wanting to help, as she has been taught, and wanting to be popular because it makes school an easier place to be. Cody's struggles are depicted realistically, and he is glad to be in a better situation, but has trouble believing it will last. I appreciate that the Birds take the legally required steps to alert the parents and authorities. The father's artwork also played an interesting role in the book, and I was glad to see Cody given the opportunity to pursue some drawings of his own. The Indigenous representation (this is the Canadian term) is very balanced. This book really caught my interest and kept me turning the pages.
Weaknesses: The writing felt a little stilted and prescriptive, almost as if the authors were working from publisher's notes that told them what to include. In some ways, this is good, because it shows really helpful ways to deal with difficult situations. One example is how Autumn deals with very racist comments that Cody makes about Indigenous people; she's very angry, but her father tells her that Cody is just parroting what he has heard. This is reinforced when the father shows up at the center's anniversary party. Young readers won't mind, but one more round of editing might have smoothed the edges of the social messages inclusion in the text.
What I really think: This might need to be hand sold; the cover doesn't quite indicate what this book is about, but it will be popular with my students who are interested in books about children in challenging situations, like Rudd's How to Stay Invisible, Bowling's Dust, Toalsen's The First Magnificent Summer, Walter's King of the Jam Sandwiches, and the oldie but goodie (and my daughter's favorite) Robert's 1978 Don't Hurt Laurie.
Autumn Bird is a popular seventh grade girl in her Toronto area school, but it's hard work to keep up her status. She has to dress a certain way, spend a lot of time on hair and make up, and put up with a lot of negative energy from her friend Mia and others, who want to dictate what she does. One of these things is her relationship with Connor. He's popular and cute, but Autumn doesn' really like him. She certainly doesn't want to kiss him, or do even more, as the girls hint. Connor thinks that Autumn did more with someone at summer camp, although that is not true, and this is one of the reasons he wants to date her. Cody has a very different life. He mother is not in the picture, and his father often becomes abusive when he drinks. The two live in a run down apartment which Cody's father doesn't keep clean. He even is unhappy when Cody cleans it, since that's something "girls do", so Cody tries to clean when his father isn't home. When Cody's father thinks Cody is laughing at him, he beats the boy so badly that he passes out. When he comes to, Cody decides to runaway to escape further abuse. He packs a small bag and leaves, but is so badly injures that he passes out in a clump of bushes while looking for a place to sleep. Amber is on her way to an important party to see Connor when she happens upon Cody. At first she thinks he is dead, but when she realizes he is injured, she helps him to her home. Autumn's mother is a doctor, so she immediately wants to bring her in to help, but Cody makes her promise to keep adults out of it. The father has an art studio in a building on the property and is done with work for the day, so Autumn settles him there. Her parents, who are both Indigenous, have taught her to help out whenever she sees someone in trouble. She manages to get Cody food and lets him clean up a little. At school the next day, Mia and her cronies ask about why Autumn wasn't at the party and give her a hard time, and also are not friendly to Cody, who does have some hygiene issues because of his father's neglect. After school, Autumn arranges to meet Cody, and once again tries to help him out. She's not able to hide him from her parents for too long, and is greatly relieved when her father discovers Cody. The father is understanding, but does want his wife to know and check Cody out for injuries. He also insists on telling Cody's father, bringing along the family's large but loveable dog Boomer as protection. Cody's father isn't at the apartment, however, and there is an eviction notice on the board. Mr. Bird also takes Cody to the prison where his mother is serving time for robbery, so that he covers all of the bases. The mother has some mental health challenges, but does give permission for Cody to have other caretakers. In the meantime, Autumn is tired of Mia's group, and reverts to her old self, in comfy clothes. She used to help at a community group that serves Indigenous people in need of some help, and brings Cody to that. The two end up doing a school project on the center her mother helps with. Cody is more comfortable at the center than at Autumn's fancy and expensive house, but is glad to not have to worry about his father. When the center has an anniversary celebration and Cody's father reshow up drunk, will it destabilize Cody's new situation?
Strengths: This has all the elements of the kind of "sad" book that my students like. While many adults seem to like books about children struggling with grief, my students seem to prefer stories about children in neglectful or abusive situations who work to survive, both in the situations and when escaping them. Autumn is a great character, who struggles with wanting to help, as she has been taught, and wanting to be popular because it makes school an easier place to be. Cody's struggles are depicted realistically, and he is glad to be in a better situation, but has trouble believing it will last. I appreciate that the Birds take the legally required steps to alert the parents and authorities. The father's artwork also played an interesting role in the book, and I was glad to see Cody given the opportunity to pursue some drawings of his own. The Indigenous representation (this is the Canadian term) is very balanced. This book really caught my interest and kept me turning the pages.
Weaknesses: The writing felt a little stilted and prescriptive, almost as if the authors were working from publisher's notes that told them what to include. In some ways, this is good, because it shows really helpful ways to deal with difficult situations. One example is how Autumn deals with very racist comments that Cody makes about Indigenous people; she's very angry, but her father tells her that Cody is just parroting what he has heard. This is reinforced when the father shows up at the center's anniversary party. Young readers won't mind, but one more round of editing might have smoothed the edges of the social messages inclusion in the text.
What I really think: This might need to be hand sold; the cover doesn't quite indicate what this book is about, but it will be popular with my students who are interested in books about children in challenging situations, like Rudd's How to Stay Invisible, Bowling's Dust, Toalsen's The First Magnificent Summer, Walter's King of the Jam Sandwiches, and the oldie but goodie (and my daughter's favorite) Robert's 1978 Don't Hurt Laurie.
May 6, 2024
I have mixed feelings on this book. The pros are that I tore through it quickly and generally had a good time, it was a fast, breezy and enjoyable read. I loved the relationship between the two characters: they don't LIKE each other at all and are bare minimum kind, this felt believable and relatable for kids that age. They want to do the right thing, but also don't love each other. I do wish more time was spent on their burgeoning friendship.
The cons are that the ending felt like it went off the rails. I just. I simply Do Not Know if I want to hand-sell this book because the ending was so unhinged.
The other issue I had was that Autumn's parents don't really loop Cody in to what their plans for him are, and the reader is also left in the dark. No one really tells him what they're going to do with him, and it's unclear if the Birds are just letting him stay in the art room or if they give him a bedroom. This aspect of the book was rushed, and I wish it had spent more time delving into what this actually meant for Cody. It's HIS life, he should be included in these discussions.
Really, in the end, I have trouble telling if my young readers would enjoy this. I would have gobbled it up as a kid, but I read SO fast that I read basically anything. But when giving kids who come to me for recommendations books, I want to give them something actually GOOD, and I don't know that this is.
The cons are that the ending felt like it went off the rails. I just. I simply Do Not Know if I want to hand-sell this book because the ending was so unhinged.
The other issue I had was that Autumn's parents don't really loop Cody in to what their plans for him are, and the reader is also left in the dark. No one really tells him what they're going to do with him, and it's unclear if the Birds are just letting him stay in the art room or if they give him a bedroom. This aspect of the book was rushed, and I wish it had spent more time delving into what this actually meant for Cody. It's HIS life, he should be included in these discussions.
Really, in the end, I have trouble telling if my young readers would enjoy this. I would have gobbled it up as a kid, but I read SO fast that I read basically anything. But when giving kids who come to me for recommendations books, I want to give them something actually GOOD, and I don't know that this is.
May 14, 2024
Cody Stouffer (white) is growing up in an unstable environment - absent mother and alcoholic, abusive father. Autumn Bird (Cree) is one of the popular kids, rich, and has a stable, loving home. One night, Autumn finds Cody curled up behind a hedge on her block - beaten, dirty, and scared. She hides him in her father's art studio to keep him safe, but her parents discover their secret. With empathy, Autumn's parents try to find his parents and take him into their home in ways Cody and Autumn never expected even when Cody stays hurtful, racist things he learned from his father. The prose goes back and forth between Cody and Autumn, showing how they think, how they feel, and how they grow over the course of the story, learning to be themselves instead of clinging to what they think is expected of them - Cody from his father, Autumn from the popular crowd at school. The book discusses a myriad of difficult topics from the middle-grade perspective that is approachable and adds heart and warmth to some awful realities.
December 9, 2024
★ autumn bird and the runaway
: ̗̀➛ 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓 :: cody’s dad abused him to the point where cody wanted to runaway. he walked all the way to the rich neighborhood before deciding it was time to sleep. minutes later, he’s awoken by a girl—autumn—who was on her way to a date. she cancelled the date and took her back home and let him stay in her dads studio for a couple days. eventually, the dad found out but decided to help cody after some anger. they all live together in the end and accepted cody into their family.
: ̗̀➛ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 :: i didn’t like how they portrayed cody. he had so much potential. he was so vulnerable half of the time and stupid! i also didn’t like how he had 2 black eyes instead of one and is RACIST. besides that, all the characters are beautiful! besides mia and connor, we hate them.
: ̗̀➛ 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐒 :: i only read this book for a book report and it’s not even going to do well because my teacher started reading this book to the class so nobody will gaf about my book report😭.
format creds to ? ? ?
: ̗̀➛ 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓 :: cody’s dad abused him to the point where cody wanted to runaway. he walked all the way to the rich neighborhood before deciding it was time to sleep. minutes later, he’s awoken by a girl—autumn—who was on her way to a date. she cancelled the date and took her back home and let him stay in her dads studio for a couple days. eventually, the dad found out but decided to help cody after some anger. they all live together in the end and accepted cody into their family.
: ̗̀➛ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 :: i didn’t like how they portrayed cody. he had so much potential. he was so vulnerable half of the time and stupid! i also didn’t like how he had 2 black eyes instead of one and is RACIST. besides that, all the characters are beautiful! besides mia and connor, we hate them.
: ̗̀➛ 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐒 :: i only read this book for a book report and it’s not even going to do well because my teacher started reading this book to the class so nobody will gaf about my book report😭.
format creds to ? ? ?
May 14, 2024
The premise is great, and the dual perspectives are very effective, but WHAT was that climax?! That was the most unhinged ending I have read in thirteen years. In a magical realism novel, that climax might have been acceptable, but this was straight realistic fiction until the deus ex machina ending. It was incredibly bizarre and unsatisfying, and since it plays right into the Magical Native American trope, it also undercuts the authors' attempt at representing indigenous culture.
I am BAFFLED that this book made it to publication without a substantial rewrite of the climax and conclusion. I cannot see any justification for the completely random supernatural twist. It obliterates the reader's suspension of disbelief, and it also cheapens the whole story by resolving a primary plot point through a cheap trick. The payoff at the end of the story isn't very satisfying either, and the ending feels vague and abrupt. This was so disappointing!
I am BAFFLED that this book made it to publication without a substantial rewrite of the climax and conclusion. I cannot see any justification for the completely random supernatural twist. It obliterates the reader's suspension of disbelief, and it also cheapens the whole story by resolving a primary plot point through a cheap trick. The payoff at the end of the story isn't very satisfying either, and the ending feels vague and abrupt. This was so disappointing!
May 15, 2024
There were times I felt like the writing was too simplistic, even for a book intended for children--especially when dealing with such emotionally heavy subject matter. Sometimes Cody felt impossibly stupid to not get the things going on around him. However by the end I did feel like there had been a lot of emotionally resonant scenes. On thing I appreciated was how quickly Autumn's parents found out about Cody. Not only would it have been complicated to keep him hidden for long, but I thought it was realistic for adults to help out in this situation (although one does wonder where children's aid was through all of this).
December 1, 2025
One of my students book talked this book and everyone added it to their TBR list. It’s a great story with of middle school angst and drama that kids will identify with and enjoy. Although, the ending was a little too on the nose for readers older than 10 or 11.
Racism was handled perfectly when Autumn’s parents explained Cody was ignorant and only knew what was taught at home. Good message for kids.
Two criticisms: the character names got confusing— Cody and Connor— (with a mix up between the two in the middle of the book!) And Mia and Mira!
And what the heck ever happened with Izzy? She was a dangling thread.
Racism was handled perfectly when Autumn’s parents explained Cody was ignorant and only knew what was taught at home. Good message for kids.
Two criticisms: the character names got confusing— Cody and Connor— (with a mix up between the two in the middle of the book!) And Mia and Mira!
And what the heck ever happened with Izzy? She was a dangling thread.
July 18, 2024
3- Middle grade fiction has to be a certain amount short, so this story wraps itself up rather abruptly and has an epilogue to tie everything nicely with a bow. I would have enjoyed it more as a YA book so there could have been a bit more to it. Also, it did read a bit like a deeply unrealistic wish fulfilment fantasy. Kids in abusive households usually don't get fairy tale endings, because even if they escape and end up with deeply loving families, they are still healing from the trauma of both what happened at home and the removal from home.
July 23, 2024
This was a wonderful read and a well written combination of both Melanie Florence and Richard Scrimger. If you can tell me where Melanie stop writing and where Richard started, I'll give you an A+ on getting to know the authors by getting to know Autumn and Cody. These two interesting and complex characters, who made me want to keep reading. This is a great read-aloud, or class reading unit on social and economical basis that can be interjected in our lives as common place. Deserving of all my 5 stars.
May 11, 2024
It took me only 1-2 days to read it and it felt like such an easy read and reminded me that it doesn't take that long to read a book.
When I started it I thought it would be like a romance-type book but there really isn't any romance between the two characters that is mentioned in the book although you can see the chemistry.
When I started it I thought it would be like a romance-type book but there really isn't any romance between the two characters that is mentioned in the book although you can see the chemistry.
June 22, 2024
Two children from the same school, one is poor, and comes from an abusive home, the other is from a well off happy family that cares about art and kindness, and giving back to your community. Autumn finds Cody after he ran away from home. This story pulled you in to the lives of its characters. A story of compassion, finding your place in the world.
December 1, 2023
This book was so good! I loved seeing how the two main characters slowly became friends, and the girl learned to not be afraid to stand up for what's right! It was a really good story written extremely well.
July 24, 2024
I read this with my Grade 5/6 class and they ATE. IT. UP. They loved the story and character development. They made some amazing predictions and connections. We even had 2 crows show up outside our classroom window as we were reading a very pivotal scene near the end (IYKYK).
September 17, 2024
Told in two voices, this story follows Cody and Autumn as Autumn's single act of compassion takes the two on a journey through racism , poverty, and privilege to a better understanding of kindness and how kindness changes people's lives.
December 19, 2024
It was an interesting read, because it's almost the other side of the coin. The indigenous family is rich, while the white boy comes from the wrong side of town. The two learn to interact as Autumn helps Cody, and they both learn some valuable lessons about judging others.
February 7, 2026
this book has the perfect plot ,what happens when a popular girl finds a beat up boy behind her house? what will she do? this book kept me up all night because I was stuck in their world trying to find out what happens.
February 18, 2024
This book was so good I read it in one day. I was looking for a book in the library and the librarian showed me this book I'm a picky reader but this book was a little too good so I love this book.
April 21, 2024
A middle grade story of bravery, hope, unexpected friendship, and learning to do better when you know better.
April 23, 2024
Very good! Sympathy and empathy and a great message!
May 9, 2024
This was an AMAZING book 10/10 would read again
May 14, 2024
Great book! Love the duel story-telling of Autumn/Cody. As brutal as the topic themes can be in this book, the redemption theme is huge and well done.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews