“Grammy said I’d grow out of my shyness, but since she left, it’s only gotten worse.” Those are the thoughts conveyed by Jillian, the fifth-grader and title character of the new book “Just Right Jillian” by Nicole D. Collier. The Atlanta author describes her debut novel as a “love letter to shy children.” She joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Zoom to talk about middle school life and why she relates so much to her timid young protagonist.
Shy Jillian tackles middle school, grief and her self-esteem:
“Jillian is a super smart but super shy fifth-grader, and she has made a promise to her ‘Grammy’ that she will believe in herself and that she will be more confident in herself,” said Collier. “As we begin, we start to see just how that plays out in her life. She really wants to do her best and speak up, but she’s really having a hard time, right up until the time she gets the opportunity to put this new promise to the test.”
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