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Just Right Jillian

Nicole D. Collier (Goodreads Author)

4.69 · Rating details · 35 ratings · 13 reviews

In this heartfelt middle-grade novel from debut author Nicole D. Collier, fifth-grader Jillian must learn to speak and break free of her shell to enter her school's academic competition and keep her promise to her grandmother.

Fifth-grader Jillian will do just about anything to blend in, including staying quiet even when she has the right answer. After she loses a classroo ...more

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Hardcover, 224 pages

Expected publication: February 1st 2022 by Versify

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Feb 15, 2021 Tina marked it as to-be-review

This is a middle grade book. I love the book cover of this book so much. I am lucky to receive an e-copy of this book from Netgalley, and I will post an honest review of this book as soon as I finish reading this book.

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Jan 27, 2021 RoshReviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: 3-75-stars, arc-review

Ok, I confess. What first attracted me to this book was the cover. It's one of the cutest cover illustrations I've seen in ages and I couldn't resist going for it.

(How I wish the ARC came with all the illustrations! I'm sure I've missed out on some absolutely adorable sketches.)

Just Right Jillian tells us of a little 5th grader, the eponymous Jillian, who is painfully shy, more so after the death of her beloved grandmother. Her parents nurture her with love and care, but she still can't get out Ok, I confess. What first attracted me to this book was the cover. It's one of the cutest cover illustrations I've seen in ages and I couldn't resist going for it.

(How I wish the ARC came with all the illustrations! I'm sure I've missed out on some absolutely adorable sketches.)

Just Right Jillian tells us of a little 5th grader, the eponymous Jillian, who is painfully shy, more so after the death of her beloved grandmother. Her parents nurture her with love and care, but she still can't get out of her shell. But when her teacher makes her participate in the Mind Bender competition, she has no choice but to start breaking through her shyness and reveal her true personality.

There are many elements I liked in the story: the emotional upheaval after the death of a relative, the value of friendship, the importance of making the first move and speaking up for yourself, tackling shyness, being okay about wearing glasses, not judging anyone without complete information,... All are factors that would be wonderful and motivating for children. Furthermore, I loved how the book uses the metaphor of the chicks and their hatching process to demonstrate how Jillian too sheds off her shell.

The characters are loveable. Right from the parents to the teachers to the friends, everyone has a role to play in Jillian's life and in teaching her something. Jillian too is a great lead character. I adored how she let her individuality shine in spite of her shy demeanor and the pressure to follow the herd mentality.

Where the book could have done better was in making the story crisper. It seemed very repetitive and slow-going at times. Plus, a couple of plot points towards the end were simply unrealistic. But it's a children's story so all's well that ends well.

It is a book with fun and important life lessons, and I'd definitely recommend it to all children. Well-suited for 8+ independent readers .

I received an Advanced Review Copy of the book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
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Jan 12, 2021 Ms. Yingling rated it liked it

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sorry to post this so far in advance. I mistakenly thought it was coming out in February 2021.

Jillian is very quiet and insecure, even though her parents are really supportive. Her mother, who suffers from lupus, even runs empowerment workshops for women! Jillian is also still grieving for her grandmother, with whom she was very close, who passed away almost a year ago. School is especially difficult. Jillian doesn't have anyone to whom she feels close, and while E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sorry to post this so far in advance. I mistakenly thought it was coming out in February 2021.

Jillian is very quiet and insecure, even though her parents are really supportive. Her mother, who suffers from lupus, even runs empowerment workshops for women! Jillian is also still grieving for her grandmother, with whom she was very close, who passed away almost a year ago. School is especially difficult. Jillian doesn't have anyone to whom she feels close, and while she understands the importance of fitting in with the clothing and hair styles of other fifth graders (boring colors, simple hair dos, and strict adherence to an unspoken weekly schedule), she doesn't like it. Still, she is too shy to speak up. Even though she is very bright, she doesn't want to participate in the Mind Bender competition that the school holds as a review replacement for standardized testing. Since Rashida won last year, as a fourth grader, Jillian is sure that she will win again, so it's senseless for her to try. Still, she is trying to speak up more as a way to honor her grandmother's memory. Jillian also wove a lot of items with her grandmother, but hasn't worked on her craft in the last year. When she finally talks to her teacher about participating in the Mind Bender, her teacher is supportive, but lots of things get in the way. She is glad to make friends with Marquez, who sticks up for her and on whom she has a little crush, and the more she gets involved with school, the more she realizes that Rashida is actually rather nice. A bad cold causes her to do poorly in the preliminary round for the Mind Bender, although she makes the cut to go on. When her mother's lupus flares up and Jillian wants to go to the hospital with her, she misses the round before the final one. She's given the opportunity to try to get a retake, but it involves asking a lot of teachers at school if she can have a re-do. Will Jillian be able to channel her grandmother's enthusiasm and outspoken qualities in order to try for something she really wants?
Strengths: My favorite part of this was the coping strategies Jillian uses when she feels out of control in the situation. Biting the back of her tongue in order to be still, using a "neutral face" when things are uncomfortable; these are helpful for just about everyone. It's good to see depictions of children missing grandparents, since that's an unfortunate loss that many students face. I was also glad to see a classroom that was very interested in academics, where the most accomplished student is also the most popular. Young readers will be amused by Jillian's different fashions, and interested in all of the different things she does with her hair. While Jillian is a very anxious character, she is really trying to work in a positive direction, and utilizing solid coping skills.
Weaknesses: It seems unlikely that a school would be able to opt out of standardized testing, and even more unlikely that Jillian's teacher would make her ask all the other teachers for special permission to re do the Mind Bender qualifying round. Of course, I don't work in an elementary school, but I can't see this happening in middle school. Young readers will not be bothered by this.
What I really think: Just Right Jillian reminds me a lot of Allen's Mya Tibbs, if Mya had an anxiety disorder. Same supportive family, same quirky sense of fashion, and same desire to get things done. This is another good series for elementary schools, like Draper's Sassy, Brown's Lola Levine, and Barrows' Ivy and Bean.
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Feb 01, 2021 Jenny Lussier rated it it was amazing

Happy #bookbirthday in 1 year! Oh this book brought me back to my past! Jillian is an amazing kid but has trouble speaking up. It takes a school competition and a promise to her grandmother to help her show everyone who she really is inside. This is a story full of friendship and family, with good times and lots of challenges. This book will definitely resonate with kids in grades 3-6. I think Nicole Collier got her character’s voices just right! This book arrives Feb. 1, 2022. Thank you to @net ...more

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Jan 13, 2021 Mary rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Remember not to count chickens before they hatch! Fifth-grade Jillian is shy—the kind of shy that twists up her insides and hides her words when she gets nervous. It has gotten worse since the death of her grandmother, an advocate whom Jillian felt could always see through to the real her. When the Mind Bender competition is announced at school, Jillian sees it as her chance to honor her grandmother’s memory—even if she is intimidated by the competition itself. Just like the eggs preparing to ha ...more

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Jan 08, 2021 Kate rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What an absolutely perfect time for JUST RIGHT JILLIAN to be making her way into the world... because the world could sure use some more Jillians right now. I’m so grateful to Nicole Collier and to Versify for the advanced review copy.

Jillian is a super smart fifth-grader who hasn’t quite broken out of her shell yet. But she’s tired of shyness holding her back and decides to train her heart to be brave. I so wish I could quote from an uncorrected proof, because this book provides inspiration on ...more

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Feb 22, 2021 Tameka Woodard rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Jillian is a bright student who struggles with speaking up in class. As the school year progresses, she has many opportunities to keep a promise to her grandmother, who passed away, and show her confidence. It’s so easy to gain an immediate connection to Jillian as she watches the chicks grow in her classroom project and wonder if she’ll break out of her shell as they do. I can’t wait for this book to be available to elementary and middle grades students! Nicole Collier created an amazing story ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 Kim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Just Right Jillian is a beautiful book for younger middle grade readers. Jillian is in 5th grade, extremely shy and uncertain. She mourns the loss of her beloved grandmother, but she also draws on memories of her words, wisdom and lessons to give her strength and courage. It's wonderful story of becoming who we are, rather than submitting to the wishes of others.

As a librarian I search for stories that can help my students see themselves within a story. Jillian comes from a strong, loving family Just Right Jillian is a beautiful book for younger middle grade readers. Jillian is in 5th grade, extremely shy and uncertain. She mourns the loss of her beloved grandmother, but she also draws on memories of her words, wisdom and lessons to give her strength and courage. It's wonderful story of becoming who we are, rather than submitting to the wishes of others.

As a librarian I search for stories that can help my students see themselves within a story. Jillian comes from a strong, loving family, and her school life is filled with normalcy - students struggling to find their place academically, socially, and within themselves. When it is published, this book may be labeled as diverse reading for school collections, but really, that is a label I hope one day we can not look for, or feel the need to divide books into. Children want to see themselves in stories they read, and Just Right Jillian is about so much more. Diverse does not mean just about skin color, it can mean anyone who is different from peers or what society deems as acceptable. In this story, Jillian is black, and the majority of her schoolmates are black; she makes it a point to note that Jake, in her class, is one of a small group of white students, and he is well accepted (he is tall, too!). But this book is not about Jillian's skin color. Her place in the world with her parents is secure and accepting. She suffers from wanting to fit in, but also wanting to stand out and be herself. By unwritten agreement, all the fifth grade girls wear the same types of clothes and the same hair-do's on different days of the week. It makes Jillian feel invisible, and that is the true diversity of this book - trying to fit into a place where she is not entirely comfortable; wanting to conform, yet still be herself. It is about bravery and taking changes and taking a stand for oneself. But it is also about friendships, and what it means to be a true, accepting friend.

This is a truly wonderful book, and I am going to be so honored to add it to my library collection when it is published. ...more

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Jan 22, 2021 Yapha rated it really liked it

Shelves: realistic-fiction

Fifth grader Jillian is so painfully shy that it feels like she is choking on her own words sometimes. Who she is inside her head and who she presents to others are very different. How can she possibly compete in the Mind Bender competition at school if she can't even tell her mother which color glasses frames she prefers? With the help of a few good friends and her supportive family and teachers, Jillian is able to crack out of her shell, just like the chicks hatching from the eggs in their cla ...more

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Feb 28, 2021 Jas Asbill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

So much of this story is wisdom parted through play. The importance of believing in yourself, knowing the difference between being shy and hiding, not letting other people dictate who you are, how you act, or how you look.

One of my favorite bits of wisdom was your need to heart train. Spend time doing the things that build up joy in your heart.

Beautiful story of victory. I did have a hard time feeling the child’s voice in this story. I am a 5th grade teacher myself and it was hard to get out o ...more

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Dec 19, 2020 Donna rated it really liked it

Shelves: kids-books, middle-grade-children

Great story about self-confidence, speaking up for yourself, and friendship.
Jilly is shy, to the point where she dresses and does her hair the same as everyone else so she won't stand out and she hardly speaks in class. Ever since her grandmother died just about a year ago, she feels invisible and doesn't want to draw attention to herself. Slowly, due to friendships, her parents, and most of all, a push from her teacher, she starts becoming herself and speaking up for what she wants.
More than a ...more

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Feb 06, 2021 Ruth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: children-s-books

Jillian is shy and tries to blend. Her teacher convinces her to join a competition that will make her stand out. This is a wonderful story about finding your voice and courage when at times it is much safer to blend in.

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