Too Bright To See This Review

Too Bright To See by Kyle Lukoff

#MiddleGrade #Trans #Supernatural

CW: Family Member Death, Terminal Illness, Grief, Hauntings, Described Dissociation and Dysphoria, Nightmares, Money Problems, Friendship Issues,  Death of a Parent (prior to book), Blood, Injury

5/5

I was in need of a queer novella. Something to keep me occupied while I waited for my next book to come on Libby. It had to be queer because it was Pride Month! That's when I discovered Too Bright To See by Kyle Lukoff. The description was very appealing; a middle grade book about ghosts and being trans. I had to start it as soon as I found it! The story is emotional but wholesome, exactly what I needed with today's political environment. 

Too Bright To See takes place in the summer before Bug starts middle school. Unfortunately, Bug's uncle Roderick has just died. The two were very close and often bonded over understanding the ways in which their house is haunted. The hauntings were always mild things like doors opening on their own, cold spots, creaking stairs. That was until after Roderick died. Now Bug is being targeted. The only person that believes Bug is Moira. They've been best friends for years, but with middle school looming, things might change for them. Moira wants to reinvent herself, to be a cool girl who knows about makeup. Bug doesn't want to do this, something about being a girl doesn't feel real.

I have been around trans people all my life, even if I didn't start knowing that until high school. I don't personally know what it's like to be trans, as I am a cis woman, but I do know that every trans experience is unique. I appreciate getting to learn new things. Too Bright To See taught me that sometimes trans people, prior to transition, have an out of body experience when looking in the mirror. I knew about body dysmorphia, where the body feels wrong, but the disassociation tied with the mirror was new to me. I read on my own that it can be especially strong if it comes from a person who has yet to realize they're trans. Lukoff is a trans man and wrote what he would have wanted from a middle grade book when he was a kid. Things I noticed were that Bug is never dead named, there are other queer characters, and despite worrying about bigotry, Bug doesn't have to face it in this book. There's also some fun drag queen scenes for the audience to enjoy!

The ghostly aspects of Too Bright To See are spectracular. I don't think I believe in ghosts, but I love them. This novella teaches about different kinds of ghosts and their abilities. Bug goes to do research at the library after realizing there is definitely a new ghost around and that it wants to communicate. Ouija is brought up in the story and taken seriously. Ghosts are real in Bug's world, but I like that it still mostly falls into the realistic fiction realm. It's not a scary story, it's about grief. While I'm not sure if I believe in ghosts, I believe some places hold memories so potent that they can be felt. This is considered spectral in Too Bright To See. If you like stories that humanize ghosts, Lukoff's book will be a great read for you.

If middle grade is one of the genres you like to read and you are looking for Own Voices trans rep, consider this wholesome ghost story. Kyle Lukoff's Too Bright To See will keep you flipping through the pages, dying to see what happens next. Who does Bug turn out to be? How will Moira react? What's up with this new ghost? You don't need to reach out to the spirit realm to find out, just read the book!