"One thing I've learned since then is that life can be delicate and frail, but it can be full of colour and wonder. You just have to let it in."

This was just a special and important book and I am so glad I was able to receive an advance copy for review.

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow tells the story of a young biracial boy whose parents have recently split up. All Archie wants is for everything to go back to normal and when his Dad comes out as gay he and his friends get an idea for how to fix it: going to London Pride together.

This is a well-written and funny book which tells a story all about the importance of family. The family you are born into and the one you chose. It's an important story that I wish could be put in every classroom and library so as many kids as possible can read it. Archie and his friends and family were well-realised, complex characters that most kids could relate to and the story was one that will definitely strike a cord with young LGBTQ+ children and kids with LGBTQ+ people in their families.

Thank you for the advance copy of this book. I'm delighted to see books like this which are so important and inclusive. I will certainly be recommending this book to our readers and it is a fantastic starting point of conversation. A wonderful book and I look forward to seeing what the author does next

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow was featured in National Book Tokens/Caboodle's '21 children's books to look out for in 2021'.

A really sweet middle grade book about what it’s like when a parent comes out. It’s diverse, it’s informative and just generally entertaining!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

Fun, rainbow-filled, bursting with heart and creating a lot of buzz, this is one not to be missed. The book I wish had been around when I was a kid, it deserves a place front and centre in every school library.
We adore this book and can’t wait to share it with all our lovely customers. A heartwarming celebration of friendship, family, and finding the strength to be yourself. Follow Archie and his two best friends on a colourful, breaking-all-the-rules adventure as he tries to understand his dad’s new world and reunite his family. Perfect for fans of Onjali Rauf and Lisa Thompson.

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow is another book that has been raved about on social media. Having read Alex Gino’s books that feature and explore the LGBT+ community I was keen to see what Benjamin Dean’s debut had to offer.

Parents have a way of dropping bombshells when you are least expecting them. Whether it be the news of moving home or the arrival of a new sibling or any number of other things, you can never be prepared for the moment your parents tell you that they have something they need to talk to you about. And when Archie Albright’s dad drops some life-changing news, Archie finds his life exploding into a million different pieces. In a desperate attempt to try and piece things back together and find the answers to all of the questions that are occupying his head he rounds up his friends, Bell and Seb, and they head off to London in search of answers that they hope might lie at the end of the rainbow…

Oh, so much love for this book. It is a wonderfully colourful adventure filled with mishaps, glitter and sparkles as Archie searches for the answers to his many questions and how to remove the awkwardness that has descended between he and his dad ever since his dad came out. The story is completely believable and will be relatable to many readers who are either trying to understand their own feelings or going through the same experiences as Archie. The book is told through the voice of Archie and you immediately feel connected to him as he chatters away to you. It isn’t long before he’s sharing secrets and letting you into his life - the highs and the lows, the good times and the bad. All Archie wants is to fill the void that he feels has appeared ever since his dad revealed his news, he is trying to find the answers to the questions he doesn’t know how to ask and is seeking reassurances that his dad is not going to change or stop loving him. He is simply desperate to fix what he thinks is broken.

Reassurances and advice come in many forms as Archie is lovingly accepted and embraced by everyone from the LGBT+community; Archie’s babysitter Oscar, a gay teenager, has a rather confusing explanation involving cake, and there are delightful drag queens and an older lesbian couple who are all keen to share their experiences and epitomise the wonderful friendliness and supportive nature of the LGBT+ community. Archie also has his two best friends, Bell and Seb, who will be there for Archie through thick and thin even if it means getting thrown in jail or being grounded forever (just a couple of worrier Seb’s many overreactions).

What Dean has written is a celebration of people and particularly the LGBT+ community. And it gives the message to readers that change does not have to be scary. Archie eventually comes to realise that beneath everything the only thing that matters is his dad is still his dad and will love him just the same. The fact that his dad is gay only becomes an issue if people make it an issue. This is touched upon very briefly when dad tells his mates that he is gay and they don’t react in such a positive and understanding way.

Bursting with more colour than a packet of Skittles, this is a heart-warming hug of a book that the world needs and it deserves to find its way into the hands of readers both young and old.

Recommended for 9+.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster Children’s and Benjamin Dean for the advanced reader copy that was received through Netgalley.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – thanks so much as always to Netgalley for sending this to me!

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow is a lovely story about Archie Albright, whose family are in crisis. Mum and Dad have split up, and they keep having not-so-subtle arguments when they think Archie can’t hear. When a mysterious colourful flier falls out of Dad’s pocket, Archie thinks he might have figured out a way to put his family back together again – with a little help from his friends, of course!

This is a really sweet book. Archie is a great, cheeky main character with a super engaging voice, who chatters away to you like you’ve been best mates for years. There’s a great emphasis on friendship here, which I loved; I feel like kids have such all-encompassing friendships and it was so wholesome to see Archie lean on his friends and how they rally together to support him in spite of their fears. There are lots of funny little moments (such as when his best friend needs to come up with a fake name and the first thing that springs to mind is ‘Eliza Barclay Card,’ a name she got off her mum’s bank statement) and tear-jerkers too. The end of the book in particular made me tear up – it was so warm and comforting and lovely, it felt like I was being hugged by this great big pride family. It’s a gentle, not-too-overwhelming introduction to the colourful world of the LGBTQIA+ community that no doubt seems alien to a lot of young kids. The final third of the book in particular has an almost magical feel to it – it’s so vivid and descriptive. Reading it was immensely comforting, because it’s so low-conflict and you had this guarantee that everything would be okay in the end that I find hugely reassuring – a happily ever after is a must for me, and I never doubted for a second that this book would deliver. It also has an absolutely GORGEOUS cover, it really catches the eye, I’m obsessed with it. A million kudos to the illustrator, Sandhya Prabhat; she did a phenomenal job.

I will admit, however, that I found parts of this book to be a bit surface-level. It’s entirely possible for a Middle Grade to take a deeper dive into difficult topics, including sexuality – see books like Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, for example – but I felt like this one skimmed the surface of the issue it was trying to highlight. There’s no real exploration of the conflicting feelings or the hurt or confusion between Archie’s parents – one day they’re at each other’s throats and the next, they’re best friends again – and no discussion between Archie and his dad. In fact, almost all the discussion about the dad’s sexuality is completely removed from him, so that you get basically everyone else’s perspective except for the one person the story is about. We dance around it, doing basically anything BUT talk to the dad, and then it’s a bit like a magic wand is waved and everything is suddenly fixed. . I feel like there was a great opportunity to look at the messy feelings that can arise from coming out and tackle them, to show young readers that it’s okay to be confused and lost and still give this overall message of acceptance in the end. Instead, everyone agrees that nothing has changed, and everything goes back to normal. While I can understand the point the author was trying to make, that sexuality doesn’t change who you are deep down (which it doesn’t!) having a gay parent DOES alter things in some ways, especially if you’ve grown up thinking they’re straight and then things change so drastically. It’s okay to acknowledge that and let a kid maybe explore the more complicated feelings that might arise from such a revelation. I do think maybe some writers are afraid to delve into the darker, uglier emotions around these kinds of issues for fear of backlash, when it’s so important for kids to be able to explore their feelings in fiction and open up a conversation about things like this. So while I did like the book’s light approach, I felt like I expected more, and ultimately felt a bit let down by it.

In summation, this book was cute, fun and fluffy, and while it didn’t deliver exactly what I was hoping for, it was ultimately still a really sweet book. if you’re looking for a light and speedy read that’ll hit you right in the feels, this would be a great one to reach for!

This was so good!! A fun story with a nice amount of education in it too that I can imagine could be very beneficial to kids who don't know a lot about LGBTQ identities. The ending even made me well up, which is rare for me.

This will be going on my list of books that will shout about at every opportunity!

This is a lovely book, with a delightful hero, (Archie), and two great friends (Bell and Seb). Archie’s dad comes out as gay, and the whole family is having a tough time dealing with it. Mum and Dad are trying to be supportive, but are struggling to communicate with their son. And that is why twelve year old Archie devises a nebulous plan to fix everything by going to Pride in London, after finding his Dad’s crumpled flyer. This is a warm, funny book with a focus on families including and especially the ones we make for ourselves.

I adored this. This joy~filled book explores difficult themes of sexuality and divorce with humour and a light touch, appropriate for younger readers. Honest, heartwarming and empathetic, this book is a must read and deserves a place on every book shelf. I have no doubt that it will become one of the most raved about and vital books of 2021. What a triumph of a debut from @notagainben.

What a fantastic story! My daughter is the targeted age for this story and I will definitely read it to her. Archie Albright is a charming and loveable protagonist and his friends Seb and Bell compliment him perfectly. In fact all characters are genuine, caring, loving people who are just trying to cope with the situations they find themselves in which makes a refreshing change from the narrative that society seems to be giving to our young people that unknown adults are scary, dangerous and only have evil intentions.
This is a great introduction for children who may not know about Pride and other LGBTQ things. My daughter has grown up with gay people in her world but many children like those in this story may have no idea what being gay is or that it is possible that their parent could be gay.

This is a wonderfully heartwarming book. Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow celebrates the joy of family and relationships, including not only blood family, but the ones that we choose.

This is the kind of story I wish I had when I was younger and it gives me hope for more diversity in children’s literature.

Not only does it follow Archie as he tries to understand what it means for him and his family when his dad comes out as gay, but it follows his friends as they learn about different parts of the LGBT+ community together. The characters ask each other questions and help each other to answer them, which I thought was a really good way of including information, instead of just explaining thing. It felt like a more natural way that didn’t disrupt the story.

It’s written in a way that is easy to understand for children, and it could be used as a great conversation starter. The book is written like Archie is speaking to the reader which feels very natural and makes you feel like you’re included in the story. I think this way of telling the story will really make kids relate more.

The story flowed really well and I think this is a book that anyone of any age will love. It’s full of emotions, joy, love and of course, plenty of colour

𝑀𝑒, 𝑀𝑦 𝐷𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑏𝑜𝑤 by Benjamin Dean (@NotAgainBen) is an incredibly moving story of acceptance, love and family.

The journey Archie and his family go on is one that leaves you as the reader going from tears for his broken family to laughter at the escapades of Archie and his best friends, Bell and Seb. I really liked how it is written as if Archie is talking to the reader, it makes the events that unfold feel all the more poignant.

I'm not going to ruin this story with spoilers - because nobody wants to know the story before you've read page one. However, you will enjoy London in June, meet some amazing flamboyant characters who help to show Archie (and his friends) that even if one small thing changes in a person you love - they are also still the person they were before. In this case, it's Archie's dad. Just, try to not crave cake when Oscar tries to explain because I wanted a big ol' slice of Victoria Sponge.

Benjamin Dean has given Middle Grade children a very realistic insight to life in the twenty-first century. You can't hold but want to hug both of his parents as their lives crumble and fall apart, but also there's three urge to say 'Tell Archie the Truth!!' Sometimes in LGBT stories there is a habit of glossing over the bad bits but 𝑀𝑒, 𝑀𝑦 𝐷𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑏𝑜𝑤 isn't one.

Rather, it a book that has been needed for many years and I have a feeling may help many children find peace in their own family situations.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy.

When 12-year old Archie discovers that dad is gay, he decides, on the basis of a photo of a smiling father and son, that he needs to attend a Pride march to restore the bond that they'd previously shared. With his two trusty sidekicks in tow, he sets off for London, and a day of mishaps and adventure.

Archie is a really engaging narrator, and I loved the relationship he had with geeky friends Bel and Seb. I hope that Benjamin Dean will write more about the trio.
However, I felt that the story was let down by some weak plotting. The early chapters, with their cliffhanger endings, set the reader up for a dramatic revelation that never really came, and the action at the Pride march dragged.

Do you ever read something that is just so overwhelmingly sunny and happy that you can’t stop smiling whenever you think about it? This is that book. Although it deals with some various serious concepts, the whole story is from a place of immense love and acceptance. I wish I’d had a book like this growing up. I wish I’d had friends like Bell and Seb. I wish I’d had a role model like Oscar.

Full review coming to a boywithabook.Wordpress.com

A lovely little book from start to finish with a rather important message, loved this book so much. A true sweetheart of a protagonist, moments of real joy, actual sadness and honesty and a triumphant, life affirming lessons. Would be interested in hearing about these people again. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's UK for the ARC in exchange for a review.

I loved this book so much. A true sweetheart of a protagonist, moments of real joy, sadness and honesty and a triumphant, life affirming ending. Would be really interested in visiting these characters again.

A truly lovely book from start to finish with a really important message. There are so many children (and parents) that need to read this book including members of my family. The plot tapered off a little bit at about 65% but still a lot of fun and can’t wait to read what the other writes next!

I thought the premise for this book was brilliant and the cover is just stunning. Benjamin Dean is a hugely talented writer. However, not a lot really happens beyond the premise and I kept waiting for more. I was also never completely clear why the trip to London was thought to be necessary and then I wasn't sure how it actually resolved the narrative. I loved the ideas around family and community and I loved the descriptions of London and Pride, but I also felt like a lot of themes and questions were touched on but without a lot of exploration. This had so much promise but I just felt that the narrative and characters could have been pushed further.

Me, my dad and the edge of the rainbow by Benjamin Dean

Thank you to @netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the ARC
Rating *****
Date of release 4/2/2021
Synopsis:
When Archie sees a colourful, crumpled flyer fall out of Dad's pocket, he thinks he may have found the answer. Only problem? The answer might just lie at the end of the rainbow, an adventure away.
Together with his best friends, Bell and Seb, Archie sets off on a heartwarming and unforgettable journey to try and fix his family, even if he has to break a few rules to do it...
The rainbow-filled, joyous debut from a hugely exciting new talent.

Review:
This book was amazing and something that I will be recommending for anyone of any age to read, it is about a story of self-acceptance when your world has been changed by your dad coming out as gay. This was a book that I think a lot of people would have wanted when they were growing up when they are trying to work out who they are and I will be recommending it to people the rep was great in this book and it was such a heart-warming story which made me cry. I loved the relationships and how it was woven. The way that at the end of the day someone is just them and Archie coming to accept that. I loved how adventurous a certain moment was and Seb, I loved him as a side character he made me laugh and we all know that one friend (It was me when I was younger).
I am hoping that this could mean that more diversity is accepted, and it is not seen as something to be shied away from because love is love no matter who you are or who you love. This is what middle grade needs more of. Thank you for Ben for doing this.
I loved the format of this book also and how it was written I cannot wait to read more from this author because the book written for a debut was one that will be needed for many more years to come.