Maybe He Just Likes You

*4.5

Maybe He Just Likes You was unexpectedly hard to read, but (or rather, because) it's so good at showing how sexual violence occurs along a continuum. Especially for the age group, this is a nuanced depiction of insidious sexism. Peers insisting that if you respond certain ways—for example: by being more assertive, by reporting—you'll stop being targeted. Friends who aren't being objectified resenting the attention you're getting. How angry responses to harassment are perceived as disruptive, meaning the harassed and harasser(s) are grouped together as mutual troublemakers who both need to behave better. Gaslighting from all directions. The list goes on. Dee covers a lot of ground.A book like this is impactful for girls (and women), but I think boys and men might benefit the most from reading it, especially because Dee writes the boys harassing Mila as dimensional humans, not flat villains. She also has readers consider how herd mentality makes individuals behave worse, even those with private reservations. Part of me wanted one of the boys to call out the others, but I like that Dee didn't write in any knights in shining armor, while making clear points about quiet complicity and peer pressure.If you're looking for more middle grade about an oldest daughter going through a lot at home and school, try [b:The Benefits of Being an Octopus 35890044 The Benefits of Being an Octopus Ann Braden https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522849548l/35890044.SX50.jpg 57406781]. For young adult books that similarly tackle sexism, try [b:A Heart in a Body in the World 38244389 A Heart in a Body in the World Deb Caletti https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1517850258l/38244389.SY75.jpg 59926250] or [b:The Poet X 33294200 The Poet X Elizabeth Acevedo https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498766234l/33294200.SY75.jpg 54024746].

I thought this was a very important story for middle school kids who either need to learn the concept of consent or those who need a story to validate their own experience with harassment. Just because they are in 7th grade and “children” doesn't mean they don't need to learn! Mila was such a sweet character, and I thought the author did a good job of expressing the tumultuous feelings she experiences and the ways in which she works through them.