I loved this book so much. A true sweetheart of a protagonist, moments of real joy, sadness and honesty and a triumphant, life affirming ending. Would be really interested in visiting these characters again.

A truly lovely book from start to finish with a really important message. There are so many children (and parents) that need to read this book including members of my family. The plot tapered off a little bit at about 65% but still a lot of fun and can’t wait to read what the other writes next!

I thought the premise for this book was brilliant and the cover is just stunning. Benjamin Dean is a hugely talented writer. However, not a lot really happens beyond the premise and I kept waiting for more. I was also never completely clear why the trip to London was thought to be necessary and then I wasn't sure how it actually resolved the narrative. I loved the ideas around family and community and I loved the descriptions of London and Pride, but I also felt like a lot of themes and questions were touched on but without a lot of exploration. This had so much promise but I just felt that the narrative and characters could have been pushed further.

Me, my dad and the edge of the rainbow by Benjamin Dean

Thank you to @netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the ARC
Rating *****
Date of release 4/2/2021
Synopsis:
When Archie sees a colourful, crumpled flyer fall out of Dad's pocket, he thinks he may have found the answer. Only problem? The answer might just lie at the end of the rainbow, an adventure away.
Together with his best friends, Bell and Seb, Archie sets off on a heartwarming and unforgettable journey to try and fix his family, even if he has to break a few rules to do it...
The rainbow-filled, joyous debut from a hugely exciting new talent.

Review:
This book was amazing and something that I will be recommending for anyone of any age to read, it is about a story of self-acceptance when your world has been changed by your dad coming out as gay. This was a book that I think a lot of people would have wanted when they were growing up when they are trying to work out who they are and I will be recommending it to people the rep was great in this book and it was such a heart-warming story which made me cry. I loved the relationships and how it was woven. The way that at the end of the day someone is just them and Archie coming to accept that. I loved how adventurous a certain moment was and Seb, I loved him as a side character he made me laugh and we all know that one friend (It was me when I was younger).
I am hoping that this could mean that more diversity is accepted, and it is not seen as something to be shied away from because love is love no matter who you are or who you love. This is what middle grade needs more of. Thank you for Ben for doing this.
I loved the format of this book also and how it was written I cannot wait to read more from this author because the book written for a debut was one that will be needed for many more years to come.

2.5 stars
I really wanted to like this book, but it dragged so much that I had to give up. Difficult to imagine a middle-grade reader being able to sit through it. Nothing much happens plot-wise, and even though you feel for the protagonist, it's difficult to stay invested. Dean is a good writer, no doubt, and a story about a young child finding out one of their parents is gay, and coming to terms with it is a fantastic premise, but it just did not hold my interest.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

An absolutely wonderful book, full of emotions and fully developed characters. Archie is such a beautifully written character, who is kind, full of love and acceptance. This is a heartwarming tale of friendship, love, family and valuable lessons. The relationship between Archie and his father is one of the best I have read and really gave me a sense of my own family. I will be buying for all MG readers I know.

A heartwarming hilarious book about acceptence and family. I was originally captivated by the cover (props to the illustrater!) and decided to request it. I was hooked from the start which directly addressed the reader like a friend and that really showed Archie's character. He was an enjoyable character and quite funny at places. Bell and Seb were supporting and caring friends which really made them brilliant in my opinion. Archie's development with his dad and mending their relationship was truly heartwarming. I loved the theme to accepting his dad and understanding that nothing really changed. The story was well weaved and informative in a subtle way. This is the type of book the middle grade market needs right now. Five stars from me and would definitely recommend to anyone and everyone.
Thanks to netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the free copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's UK for allowing me to read this delightful story!

I was definitely drawn to this book initially because of the cover and then when I read the summary of the book I knew it was a book I wanted to read. And I was right! This was an absolutely delightful and charming book and it's so important that diverse and inclusive books aimed at young people are created and shared. This book managed to be both heart-warming and funny at the same time and really focused on the importance of love, friendship, and family.

When Archie finds out his father is gay he worries what this will change, but the message spread throughout this book is that really, it won't change who Archie's father is - he still loves Archie and video games and wants to carry on their Friday night tradition. I love that Archie goes to pride to try and make things right again with his dad; he never once displays a negative attitude to his father (and neither do his friends) but it's just the uncertainty of what this means for Archie. I felt like it dealt with it well and explored a really important topic for young people. We get to meet a lovely host of people at pride and they are all welcomed by Archie and his friends and it's just a real feel-good book.

Definitely think this should be on the top of the children's shelves!

Out 4th February 2021 so make sure you check it out.

What do you find at the end of the rainbow? Is it good fortune, wealth, luck? For our young protagonist, Archie Albright, he discovers something greater than all the above; enlightenment. With the unrelenting support and love of his friends; Seb and Bell, Archie sets plans into motion to find what could possibly be ‘at the end of the rainbow’.

But what causes this sudden desire for exploration? Simple- understanding and for the most part, reassurance. Upon learning his dad is gay, Archie believes he faces an uncertain future where his relationship with his dad would irreversibly and indefinitely change.

Desperate for answers and driven by fear of the unknown, our 12 year old protagonist embarks on a journey of acceptance. We follow Archie as he learns to circumnavigate, overcome and embrace diversity in our modern society. He (after much fretting), eventually finds hope at a gay pride event in London where he meets an eclectic mix of people from the LGBTQ+ community, together these incredible humans inspire him to trust change doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting all that he had previously known. Moreover, Archie learns that accepting an individual for who they are is actually perfectly uncomplicated and provides that person with rightful liberation to be their most authentic self.

This book is truly beautiful, uplifting and joyous. It is exactly the type of inclusive literature that should be read by young people. A poignant novel, brimming with an overarching positive message that celebrates our differences, bravo Benjamin Dean!

A hopeful & heartfelt read! This was full of sentiment, humour and incredibly loveable characters! I adored it!

Archie is a very young and naive 12 year old whose parents have recently split up and are still arguing. Archie regularly sees his Dad and knows he is unhappy, then discovers the reason – his Dad is worried about telling Archie he is gay.
An episode about parents evening ends in disaster. Like many 12 year olds, Archie tries to claim parents evening is no big deal and not worth going, but both parents are determined to show their support for their son. However, an extremely embarrassing argument between the pair sees Archie suffer the humiliation in front of his teachers and peers.
Archie’s best friends Bell and Seb are very supportive, so much so that when Archie comes up with (not much of) a plan to go to London to discover what this Proud Parade is about, both say they will go with him even though Seb is constantly afraid of the consequences.
The mishaps when they arrive in London introduce the friends to a whole new spectrum of LGBTQ+ community, including Drag Queens, all of whom help the children along the way.
The cover of this book with illustrations by Sandhya Prabhat is wonderful and will attract readers who may be equally as bemused about dealing with a situation in which everyone worries, yet realises too late they need to talk and that love for one another is what matters, not anything else.

I really wanted to enjoy this, but it didn't live up to expectations. It was funny in places, but I felt the humour was shoe-horned in for the sake of it and didn't do anything to add to the story. I have to say I didn't quite get why they had to go to London. It just didn't quite deliver for me - sorry.

I absolutely loved this book. Everything about it was perfect. I loved the child characters and how realistic they were, making the same mistakes and silly decisions, looking out for their friends and having the same worries, that I remember as a child and I see in the children I work with. I loved the adults and how imperfect and caring they were. The way that Archie told the story was brilliant and this story will be perfect for fans of Stewart Foster and Onjali Q Rauf. A really great story, fab characters and, having now seen the images of the cover, beautiful illustrations too. I can't wait to share it with everyone!

This is an incredible, heart lifting story of one life altering summer for Archie Albright and his family. A celebration of family, old friends, new friends, and neighbours.
When Archie's Dad drops a bombshell of an announcement Archie feels a shift in the family dynamic and it is drastic and he is unsure of how to get it back to normal. Though he knows his relationship with his Dad is still the same, his heart and mind are at odds and he feels strange about it. Looking for answers and ideas to bridge the gap to mend this relationship, Archie and his friends devise a plan.
Archie's Dad had a flyer for the London Pride Parade and Archie is determined to go to London looking for answers and ways to feel closer to his dad. Learning more about London Pride is just the beginning of a summer of discovery for Archie.
What happens on the day of the parade is adventurous and proof that kindness still exists and new friends can be made, even in the midst of one of the largest, most joyous celebrations in the world.
This book may just be the most joyous and love affirming book I have ever read. Poignant moments with family and friends are perfectly balanced with funny events and situations. You can't help but feel moved to laugh, smile and feel a true sense of hope for the Albright family and their friends.
It is so wonderful! I will likely read it all over again!

Aww, what a great story!

Archie's Mum and Dad are getting a divorce, which is a tough situation for any kid. Then he finds out his Dad is gay and that is why they split up. Archie's character reacts in such a real way, he is quiet and unsure, which I feel is totally believable for a 12 year old. Older teens may get mad, shout, question everything, but Archie just wants everyone to be happy and things to stay the same so he doesn't express everything he thinks and feels.

As we go through the book we see his friendships, and relationships with his family, everyone is just so supportive and caring. It is really heartwarming. There are funny moments with his friends and parents that make you smile. Later when other LGBTQ characters appear they are accepted and loved by Archie and his friends which is so positive.

Perfectly written for a middle grade audience in a way they can not only understand and empathise, but feel reassured and positive if they see elements of themselves reflected in the characters.

Nothing but love for this book.

This book is so joyful and heartwarming and uplifting. And funny! So funny. The voice is so spot on, you zoom right into Archie's head and feel with him as his world changes.

At the heart of the book is a boy who just wants his family to be happy. That's it. And because of that, the book is just bursting with love and empathy and it fills me with hope to see that middle grade books like this one exist today. The author said this: “our stories - black stories, LGBTQ+ stories - need to be heard and celebrated”. 'Celebration' is just the word for this book. It's going to make such a difference to so many people. I just know it.

(Sandhya Prabhat's artwork is also the most joyous thing and a perfect fit for this story!)

I have sat thinking how to possibly review Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow for a good couple of weeks now and I still haven’t got any closer to answering that question. So what you will be getting is probably less a review and more a rambling collection of words, hopefully in some form of coherent, grammatical structure, but I can’t promise it.

But anyway.

You know how, for all that reading books aimed at your own age group is fun, going back to children’s-slash-middle grade or whatever you want to call it, just hits different? Something about it being uncomplicated and able to evoke some serious emotions, probably. And I feel like that’s all the more evident when it comes to LGBT middle grade lit.

In Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow, we follow Archie, whose parents have recently separated and who desperately wants them all to be happy again. When his dad comes out to him, Archie decides the best way to fix things, and make his dad happy, is to go to London Pride, to find out just what he can do to help.

Firstly, a lot of what contributed to my rating of this book was about the emotions. It’s a book about a boy who just wants his father to be happy, so goes about it in the only way he knows how, and it’s probably the most heartwarming and wholesome book I’ve read this entire year (and I’ve read…over 500 at this point, please do not ask). It was also one of those books you read and you know nothing bad is going to happen so you can relax completely into it (and not just because it was MG).

And it’s a book that’s very much about love. Love for your family, but also love for the LGBT community, and that’s probably the major reason it had me crying. Every page was suffused with that love and it showed throughout the book. So, really, I think it’s a book that everyone, no matter what age, should read.

And then you, too, can have the experience of trying to read words through blurry vision!

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean is a 5⭐️ joy.

Archie is 12. His Mum and Dad have split up, and emotions are high. Suddenly his Dad explains the reason why they’re divorcing - he’s gay.

This book explores pretty deep and difficult themes for children, but does so with a light touch and a great sense of honesty, empathy and commitment to help & educate.

Archie is given space to explore what these life events mean, with his brilliant friends Seb and Bell being supportive sounding boards.

Once the idea of London Pride enters the story, for, well, reasons, the story kicks up a notch and the reader, through the children learning really gets a sense of the warmth and support both Pride itself, and being part of the gay community can bring.

Dean manages to introduce different parts of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum from older people who came out later in life, to Oscar and Dean, a charming gay couple in their late teens. With an added whirl of drag (and glitter) the story reaches a warm hearted and emotional conclusion.

Dean’s gift is capturing the voice of the child, making all three of the protagonists funny, endearing and authentic. I don’t think there is a 12 year old who doesn’t know a bit about the community - especially Pride - but it works here to discover about it with them.

An essential read for any kids have a gay parent (or two!) or who are questioning their identity, and this must be in as many schools as possible for all kids to read about the normality and warmth of LGBTQIA+ people. A fantastic tool for encouraging empathy, without feeling like a PSA or a chore to get through due to its humour.

Straight away in the ‘books I wish had been around when I was a gay kid’ category. Damn Thatcher and her horrendous Section 28...

Out in Feb 21 from @simonkidsuk - available to pre order now..

Electronic copy provided in exchange for an honest review. (I covet the BEAUTIFUL proof that I’m not a big enough account to get on the mailing list for...)

This is the kind of book I wish I had as a kid. "Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow" makes me incredibly hopeful for the future, where diversity will be proudly represented in children's literature.

A heartwarming story about Archie, whose father comes out as gay. It's a huge change for the family and Archie is confused, and so seeks help at the end of the rainbow - a Pride festival in London where he meets all sorts of incredible people, from drag queens to trans men and women, to young gay and lesbian teens who are just trying to find their place in the world.

There is so much colour in this gorgeous book that will prove important for shaping the children who will be so lucky to read this. Following Archie and his best friends Seb and Bell as they head off on their impossible adventure will make the conversations surrounding the LGBTQ+ community and making it accessible to children so much easier. Archie is a brilliant protagonist to follow, and while he and his friends don't always make the best decisions, one thing is vitally clear - he has heart. A demonstration of human kindness and empathy and understanding is evident from all of the main characters of this book.

I will recommend this book to everyone for years and years to come.