Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away

Ciera Burch

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Book cover for Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away
Image for variant 9781665972628
Book cover for Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away
Image for variant 9781665972628

Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away

Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away

Ciera Burch

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Description

A middle schooler navigates the challenges of feeling invisible--literally and figuratively--as she comes to terms with her asexual identity in this poignant speculative novel perfect for fans of Ellie Engel Saves Herself and Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone.

Seventh grade has just started, but Olivia Gray already knows this year is different. Her brother ignores her for his crush, and all her friends talk about is who likes who, something Olivia has never cared about--even when Robbie, the most popular boy in school, asks her to the fall formal. After unknowingly rejecting him, Olivia goes viral on the social app KruShh. As the chatter about Robbie and dating grows, Olivia starts to feel left out to the point of feeling invisible--literally.

Seen only by her new librarian and a friendly kid named Jules, Olivia flickers in and out of sight whenever the topic of romance comes up. As she begins to realize she might be asexual, Olivia struggles to actually use the label because of the negative perception behind it. All she wants is to be normal, but can she really fit in without disappearing completely?

About the Author

Ciera Burch is a lifelong writer and ice cream aficionado. She has a BA from American University and an MFA from Emerson College. Her fiction has appeared in The American Literary Magazine, Underground, Five Points, Stork, and Blackbird. Her work was also chosen as the 2019 One City One Story read for the Boston Book Festival. While she is originally from New Jersey, she currently resides in Washington, DC, with her stuffed animals, plants, and far too many books. Visit Ciera at CieraBurch.com.

Critical Reviews

"A timely story about complex emotions and queer identity."--Publishers Weekly

A thoughtful, heartfelt exploration of an underrepresented identity.--Kirkus

Olivia's experiences, while fantastical, are a creative and fresh approach to the idea of feeling seen, with an impressively supportive family that sets a great example for queer kids and their parents. A thoughtful and accessible addition
to the criminally underrepresented realm of asexual middle-grade fiction.--Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Publishing Information

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pub date: 2026-03-17
Length: 272 pages

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