Maybe He Just Likes You
Book • 2020
by Barbara Dee
A 2020 ALA Notable Children’s Book
“The novel’s all-too-familiar scenario offers a springboard for discussion among middle schoolers…Easily grasped scenarios and short chapters help make this timely #MeToo story accessible to a wide audience.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Realistic and heartbreaking.” —BCCB
Barbara Dee explores the subject of #MeToo for the middle grade audience in this heart-wrenching—and ultimately uplifting—novel about experiencing harassment and unwanted attention from classmates.
For seventh-grader Mila, it starts with some boys giving her an unwanted hug on the school blacktop. A few days later, at recess, one of the boys (and fellow trumpet player) Callum tells Mila it’s his birthday, and asks her for a “birthday hug.” He’s just being friendly, isn’t he? And how can she say no? But Callum’s hug lasts a few seconds too long, and feels…weird. According to her friend, Zara, Mila is being immature and overreacting. Doesn’t she know what flirting looks like?
But the boys don’t leave Mila alone. On the bus. In the halls. During band practice—the one place Mila could always escape.
It doesn’t feel like flirting—so what is it? Thanks to a chance meeting, Mila begins to find solace in a new place: karate class. Slowly, with the help of a fellow classmate, Mila learns how to stand her ground and how to respect others—and herself.
From the author of Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed comes this timely story of a middle school girl standing up and finding her voice.
Maybe He Just Likes You
Book • 2020
by Barbara Dee
A 2020 ALA Notable Children’s Book
“The novel’s all-too-familiar scenario offers a springboard for discussion among middle schoolers…Easily grasped scenarios and short chapters help make this timely #MeToo story accessible to a wide audience.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Realistic and heartbreaking.” —BCCB
Barbara Dee explores the subject of #MeToo for the middle grade audience in this heart-wrenching—and ultimately uplifting—novel about experiencing harassment and unwanted attention from classmates.
For seventh-grader Mila, it starts with some boys giving her an unwanted hug on the school blacktop. A few days later, at recess, one of the boys (and fellow trumpet player) Callum tells Mila it’s his birthday, and asks her for a “birthday hug.” He’s just being friendly, isn’t he? And how can she say no? But Callum’s hug lasts a few seconds too long, and feels…weird. According to her friend, Zara, Mila is being immature and overreacting. Doesn’t she know what flirting looks like?
But the boys don’t leave Mila alone. On the bus. In the halls. During band practice—the one place Mila could always escape.
It doesn’t feel like flirting—so what is it? Thanks to a chance meeting, Mila begins to find solace in a new place: karate class. Slowly, with the help of a fellow classmate, Mila learns how to stand her ground and how to respect others—and herself.
From the author of Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed comes this timely story of a middle school girl standing up and finding her voice.
Bara says...
Ages 11+, but every child is different
The content addresses nuanced topics of middle school harassment, consent, and peer pressure which require a level of emotional maturity typically found in early adolescents. Readers are expected to navigate complex social dynamics and the discomfort of identifying boundary violations.
Content Safety Breakdown
Detailed breakdown of potentially concerning content
Sex & Nudity
The story deals with unwanted physical touch, lingering hugs, and comments about flirting, which are central to the plot regarding middle school harassment. There is no explicit sexual content or nudity, but the themes involve navigating awkward and inappropriate romantic attention.
Violence & Gore
There is no actual combat or graphic violence, though the protagonist begins taking karate classes to learn self-defense. Physical conflict is strictly limited to the context of learning martial arts for empowerment.
Profanity
The dialogue is very clean, featuring only very mild, infrequent exclamations like h*ll or cr*p that reflect typical middle school verbal patterns.
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking
There is no depiction or promotion of alcohol, tobacco, or drug use in the text.
Frightening Scenes
The intensity is emotional rather than physical, as the story features the psychological impact of being targeted by peers and feeling unsafe in school spaces. This can be disturbing for younger readers who may identify with the protagonist's feelings of anxiety and isolation.
Key Insights
Quick summary and important considerations
A story about learning to listen to your gut, standing up for yourself, and knowing that you have the right to define your own personal boundaries with friends.
Content Warnings
Detailed Analysis
In-depth insights for parents and educators
What Parents Need to Know
The book centers on repeated, unwanted physical contact and the normalization of harassment among middle school peers, providing a tool for opening conversations about school safety and personal boundaries.
What Kids Can Learn
Readers gain the vocabulary to articulate discomfort, the ability to discern toxic behavior from genuine friendliness, and strategies for maintaining composure in stressful social situations.
Key Topics Discussed
Why Parents Might Like It
It addresses a critical middle-grade developmental stage with sensitivity, offering a proactive approach to handling real-world issues of social interaction and respect.
Positives & Learning
What makes this content valuable for children
Positive Messages
Encourages the development of personal agency, internal validation over external peer opinions, and the importance of trusting one’s own intuition regarding bodily autonomy.
Positive Role Models
Mila serves as a resilient protagonist who models self-advocacy and the courage to seek supportive mentors when facing uncomfortable social environments.
Diverse Representations
No diverse representations indicated in available information regarding ethnicity, neurodivergence, or specific cultural backgrounds.
Educational Value
Provides essential social-emotional literacy regarding consent, recognizing subtle harassment, and developing practical conflict-resolution skills.
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