Izy's life is pretty ordinary, she's got a best friend at school, Grace, who she shares everything with. She's got a teen sister Megan who is moody and suddenly seems to be angry at the world and she's got a little brother who is kind and funny and annoying all wrapped in one. Then a bombshell rocks her family, her father announces that he is transitioning into a woman. He's going to have a new name, Danielle, wear women's clothes and start hormone therapy. At first, Izzy and Megan are shocked, then angry, especially Megan, who feels it's an absolute embarrassment. Izzy's anger turns quickly into sadness as she contemplates losing the person she knows as her dad. To make matters worse, word gets around school about her father's decision. The whispers, the name calling, the outright abuse becomes too much for Izzy. On top of this she's got to rehearse for the upcoming Guys & Dolls musical that she has a big role in and nobody in her family seems to notice. It's going to be a rough ride and the question is, can she survive the turmoil? Nothing Ever Happens here is a very touching story that is told with a lot grace, humour and consideration. Everyone in Izzy's family deals with the news about Dee (what they decide to call Danielle) in different ways. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how each character initially resisted then adapted and accepted Dee's wishes to become the person she wanted to be. How Izzy handled the bullying was very well written, she took it on mostly by herself until she decided to reach out. This book is about empathy, understanding and representation, things that are vitally important in the toxic whirlwind of self important garbage that swirls in a constant storm on places like Twitter and Facebook. I am delighted that it's out there and on the shelves of our library.
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