Parents' Guide to

Rick

By Mandie Caroll, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Sixth-grader faces bullying bestie in sweet, queer story.

Book Alex Gino Coming of Age 2020
Rick Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Eric C.
Eric C. Adult
October 4, 2023
age 9+
This is a great book for kids getting ready for middle school.
marie223
marie223 Parent of 8 and 9-year-old
September 16, 2022
age 14+

Better for Young Adults

There are elements that support being inclusive to all, but was disappointed to see some of the sexual innuendo and verbiage that was present in the book. One of the characters mentions wanting to see another character, "without clothes on." As well as some other crass comments about females bodies. I feel that this may not be appropriate for the publisher's age range of 8-12. I'm also curious if the age range given would be mature enough to handle the language, topics covered, and slang being said. I worry they would take it out of context or use the words in real-life, incorrectly or inappropriately. I see this book being much appropriate and valuable to the age range of 14-16+ than 8-12.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The title character in RICK has never really thought about who he wants to be, but when his family teases him about liking girls and his best friend, Jeff, says and does homophobic things, Rick finds it harder and harder to just let things happen. Rick begins attending meetings of the school's Rainbow Spectrum club and learns that he can be a part of making the school welcoming to everyone. On weekends, Rick hangs out with his Grandpa Ray and they bond as they work through a sci-fi series they both love. With the new perspectives from Rainbow Spectrum and with Grandpa Ray's support, Rick begins to explore his own sexuality as well as what kind of a person he wants to be. When Jeff crosses a line, will Rick be able to do the right thing?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (7 ):

This is a heartfelt story about a relatable sixth grader-facing questions of identity and friendship. Rick's main character has always been a follower, but when faced with his best friend's bullying of others, Rick knows he can't just stand by and do nothing. As in real life, it takes time for Rick to figure out how to confront Jeff, and the courage he gains from new peers in his school's LGBTQA club feels natural and authentic. Rick's attempts at talking with his immediate family about his problems and his questions about sexuality may fall flat, but he finds a safe confessor in Grandpa Ray, and their relationship is really wonderful to watch as it unfolds. Preteen readers may not notice how Gino naturally weaves in language to describe various genders and sexualities of the different characters, but this tender story can certainly serve as an introduction for younger readers to various gender and sexual identities. With mild violence, tame language, and no sexy stuff beyond hand-holding, this is a safe and wholesome book for tweens of all ages. Highly recommend.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Rick's main character. How are the problems Rick is facing similar to any you have faced? How does Rick figure out what to do about Jeff? What are some ways you might deal with a friend who was being unkind or mean?

  • Rick thinks he may be asexual or aromantic, meaning he doesn't feel sexually or romantically attracted to anyone. What, if anything, had you heard of asexuality before reading this book? What were some other terms or words that were new to you? Why is knowing them important?

  • Talk about Rick's relationship with his Grandpa Ray -- what was surprising to you about it? How does it help Rick to have someone like Grandpa Ray in his life? Who can you go to for help and support when you're going through something rough?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate