You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!

Twelve-year-old Jilly Pirillo navigates changes in her family after her new baby sister is born deaf. As a frequent visitor to an online fan forum for her favorite fantasy book series, Jilly connects with Derek, a Deaf, Black ASL user who helps expand her perspective. While learning about Deaf culture and ASL to support her sister, Jilly begins to notice instances of racism affecting her Black family members. Her growing awareness leads her to examine her own assumptions and privilege as she tries to become a better sister, friend, and ally. Through Jilly's experiences with her family, online community, and evolving understanding of disability rights and racial justice, the novel explores themes of identity, communication, and what it truly means to listen to and support others. The story provides middle-grade readers an accessible entry point into discussions about intersectionality and social justice.

Readers appreciate how the book handles multiple forms of diversity - including Deaf culture, racial identity, and anxiety - through relatable middle-grade characters. Many note that complex topics are presented in an accessible way for the target age group. Readers highlight the authentic portrayal of Deaf family members and Black characters, with one reviewer stating "the author shows rather than lectures about privilege and bias." Parents mention using the book to discuss discrimination with their children. Common criticisms include a slow-moving plot and that some teaching moments feel forced or heavy-handed. Several reviewers note the protagonist can come across as preachy. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (89 ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 (parent reviews) Popular reactions praise the book's messaging while acknowledging it occasionally prioritizes lessons over storytelling, with one reader noting "important themes but sometimes at the expense of narrative flow."

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🎯 Author Alex Gino spent four years researching Deaf culture and American Sign Language to accurately portray these elements in the story 🦻 The book explores the intersection of multiple identities, including deafness, race, and family dynamics, reflecting the complexity of real-world experiences 📚 This is Alex Gino's second middle-grade novel, following their groundbreaking debut "George" (later retitled "Melissa"), which was the first middle-grade novel featuring a transgender protagonist from a major publisher 🤝 The story incorporates online friendships and chat rooms, showing how digital connections can provide support and understanding for young people exploring their identity 🎵 Music plays a significant role in the narrative, serving as both a bridge and a point of tension between the hearing and Deaf communities portrayed in the book