In the Role of Brie Hutchens...

Brie Hutchens is an eighth-grader who dreams of becoming a soap opera actress. When her mother catches her looking at inappropriate pictures on her computer, Brie blurts out a lie about auditioning for the school play of Mary in the Christmas pageant. To maintain her deception, Brie must compete against Kennedy, her crush, for the role of Mary while also preparing for her Catholic confirmation. She struggles to balance her growing feelings for Kennedy with her mother's expectations and her own questions about faith. The story follows Brie as she navigates complicated relationships with her working-class parents, her best friend, and her own identity. Her attempts to hold onto both her dreams and her family's trust become increasingly difficult as events unfold. This middle grade novel explores themes of sexuality, religious faith, and family dynamics through the lens of a young teen finding her place in the world. It presents complex issues with authenticity while remaining accessible to young readers.

Readers praise the authentic portrayal of a middle school student wrestling with her sexuality and Catholic faith. Many note the realistic depiction of family dynamics, particularly between Brie and her mother. The book resonates with both LGBTQ+ youth and those from religious backgrounds. Readers appreciate: - Age-appropriate handling of coming out - Complex parent-child relationships - Soap opera references and theater elements - Natural dialogue and character development Common criticisms: - Pacing feels slow in middle sections - Some religious elements could be better explained - Secondary characters need more development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (130+ ratings) BookPage: 5/5 "Perfect balance of humor and heart" appears in multiple reviews. One reader noted: "Finally, a middle-grade book that doesn't shy away from discussing both faith and identity." Some readers mentioned wanting more resolution with certain plot threads.

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🎬 While the main character Brie dreams of becoming a soap opera actress, author Nicole Melleby originally wanted to be an actor herself before finding her path as a writer. 🌈 The book sensitively explores LGBTQ+ themes in a Catholic school setting, drawing from Melleby's own experiences growing up in Catholic school. 📺 The soap opera "As the World Turns" featured prominently in the book made history in 2007 by showing the first gay male kiss in American daytime television. 🎭 The theater elements in the story reflect Melleby's background in theater education and her work with middle school drama programs. 🏆 The book received a starred review from School Library Journal and was named to multiple "Best Of" lists in 2020, including being selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.