Scan barcode
bookreviewsgr's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Αυτό το βιβλίο έχει απ' τους πιο ρεαλιστικούς και relatable χαρακτήρες που έχω διαβάσει. Είναι πολύ εύκολο να καταλάβεις τον Dean και να δεθείς μαζί του ακόμα κι αν είσαι cis και straight και δεν αμφισβήτησες ποτέ τίποτα από τα δύο.
Αυτή η ταύτιση με τον πρωταγωνιστή έκανε αρκετές σκηνές να μοιάζουν με γροθιά στο στομάχι. Δε μπορώ καν να φανταστώ πόσο πολύ μπορεί να επηρεάσουν ένα τρανς άτομο, οπότε προτείνω να βρείτε μια εκτενή λίστα με trigger warnings (υπάρχουν στο Storygraph και σε αρκετά reviews τρανς ατόμων) πριν ξεκινήσετε να το διαβάζετε.
Το βιβλίο παρουσιάζει πολλές προβληματικές συμπεριφορές, ακόμα και ο ίδιος ο Dean κάνει λάθη, και είναι απόλυτα λογικό γιατί μιλάμε για παιδιά 17-18 χρόνων. Σε αντίθεση με άλλα young adult βιβλία όμως, εδώ δεν έχουμε drama για να αποκτήσει ενδιαφέρον το βιβλίο, αλλά καταστάσεις που γεννούν προβληματισμούς και τροφή για σκέψη.
Προσωπικά, το μόνο που με κούρασε κάπως ήταν οι συνεχείς αναφορές και ατάκες από το θεατρικό. Να μου πεις τι περίμενα αφού είναι βασικό κομμάτι του βιβλίου; Αλλά δεν τα πήγα ποτέ καλά με το Σαίξπηρ, και ειδικά με το Ρωμαίο και την Ιουλιέτα, οπότε επιτρέψτε μου να γκρινιάξω. Πιθανότατα, τα θεατρόφιλα άτομα να αγαπήσετε το βιβλίο ακόμα περισσότερο για αυτό.
Αυτή η ταύτιση με τον πρωταγωνιστή έκανε αρκετές σκηνές να μοιάζουν με γροθιά στο στομάχι. Δε μπορώ καν να φανταστώ πόσο πολύ μπορεί να επηρεάσουν ένα τρανς άτομο, οπότε προτείνω να βρείτε μια εκτενή λίστα με trigger warnings (υπάρχουν στο Storygraph και σε αρκετά reviews τρανς ατόμων) πριν ξεκινήσετε να το διαβάζετε.
Το βιβλίο παρουσιάζει πολλές προβληματικές συμπεριφορές, ακόμα και ο ίδιος ο Dean κάνει λάθη, και είναι απόλυτα λογικό γιατί μιλάμε για παιδιά 17-18 χρόνων. Σε αντίθεση με άλλα young adult βιβλία όμως, εδώ δεν έχουμε drama για να αποκτήσει ενδιαφέρον το βιβλίο, αλλά καταστάσεις που γεννούν προβληματισμούς και τροφή για σκέψη.
Προσωπικά, το μόνο που με κούρασε κάπως ήταν οι συνεχείς αναφορές και ατάκες από το θεατρικό. Να μου πεις τι περίμενα αφού είναι βασικό κομμάτι του βιβλίου; Αλλά δεν τα πήγα ποτέ καλά με το Σαίξπηρ, και ειδικά με το Ρωμαίο και την Ιουλιέτα, οπότε επιτρέψτε μου να γκρινιάξω. Πιθανότατα, τα θεατρόφιλα άτομα να αγαπήσετε το βιβλίο ακόμα περισσότερο για αυτό.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Outing, and Hate crime
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Deadnaming
imstephtacular's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Deadnaming
carrotcake's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Considering I read this in 2 days you can bet your ass I liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
Minor: Suicide
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was such a cute read. I loved seeing Dean come into his own and really learn who he wanted to be. I loved seeing all the friends who chose to support him on his journey. It was pretty sad to see the way some of the characters treated him, but overall it was a positive representation and I enjoyed it.
Personally, I felt like this was hitting the Romeo and Juliet references a little too hard--it didn't need to quote from the play quite so much. I did love the theater setting aspect though!
Personally, I felt like this was hitting the Romeo and Juliet references a little too hard--it didn't need to quote from the play quite so much. I did love the theater setting aspect though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Deadnaming, and Bullying
Minor: Violence
ofbooksandechos's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Non ci sono parole per descrivere cos'ha significato per me ascoltare questo libro. Bello bello bello.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, and Transphobia
Minor: Suicide
harrownova's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Light spoilers in the review--
I really enjoyed this book! I am not trans, and so many of the experiences detailed here are ones that I won't ever fully understand. But I am an educator of young people, and I did grow up with many friends who came out and transitioned while we were young. So I found this to be a powerful exploration of what I knew (the pain of breaking up after a member of a couple transitions, the pain of parents using the wrong pronouns and names) and also what I didn't! I loved the device of the play as a central feature and as a way for Dean to explore his identity. I loved his supportive best friends, and that not every friend was perfect in their support. That's real! I also was glad he had a teacher who advocated for him--who made mistakes, but who did fight for him and did stand up for him. As an educator, it's an important reminder to always stand up for our students, and to make sure sharing pronouns and gender neutral bathrooms are normalized in our schools.
I really enjoyed this book! I am not trans, and so many of the experiences detailed here are ones that I won't ever fully understand. But I am an educator of young people, and I did grow up with many friends who came out and transitioned while we were young. So I found this to be a powerful exploration of what I knew (the pain of breaking up after a member of a couple transitions, the pain of parents using the wrong pronouns and names) and also what I didn't! I loved the device of the play as a central feature and as a way for Dean to explore his identity. I loved his supportive best friends, and that not every friend was perfect in their support. That's real! I also was glad he had a teacher who advocated for him--who made mistakes, but who did fight for him and did stand up for him. As an educator, it's an important reminder to always stand up for our students, and to make sure sharing pronouns and gender neutral bathrooms are normalized in our schools.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Deadnaming
downsophialane's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Deadnaming
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thanks to Abrams for sending an ARC of this book to the library where I work! This book was on my radar and I was happy to get a chance to read it early. And I'm happy to say that I'm not disappointed! A strong coming of age story about a trans guy finding his voice.
Many of the young adult books I've read recently focus on trans teens who have already gone through their coming out. What I liked about this is it takes us through Dean's process of coming out, the highs and the lows. He joins a support group, and they show him that there is no single way to be trans. This group, this found family is one of the best things about this book. Dean gets the support he needs through them, and his friends from school.
However, Dean's journey isn't without struggles. There are some instances of bullying and his mother isn't super accepting. Stoeve does an excellent job showing the complex feelings surrounding Dean's relationship with his mother. The analogies they use throughout the book are helpful for all kinds of readers, but I especially think trans teens will connect to it.
There were also a lot of great discussions about privilege within the queer community, since Dean's best friend is Black. There's also a lot of emphasis on the fact that trans teens need spaces to figure out their identity, to be able to have the support of others that know what they're going through. All around, there are just so many great messages in this book.
Since I'm not trans myself, I'd recommend checking out some own voices reviews on Goodreads!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming, Violence, and Biphobia
Minor: Suicide
perpetualpages's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
CWs: Bullying, transphobia and transphobic violence, harassment, minor outings of a trans person, deadnaming (dead name not mentioned on the page), homophobia and homophobic slurs, mention of suicide, and explorations of dysphoria
Between Perfect and Real is a love letter to young trans readers. It's a story that shows a young character coming into his transness—fearing the unknown implications of what that can mean for him, how that might change his relationships, and how that might change how he sees and understands himself. It's a story that explores how we are often kept from our own transness because of fear, and because our minds reject that which they cannot imagine, and we are not taught to imagine ourselves as anything but static, straight, and cis.
As the story progresses, we see Dean gradually discovering these moments of gender euphoria—both on-stage and off. I really enjoy the use of theater and art as a means for exploring gender and identity. It isn't until Dean removes himself and loses himself in the character of Romeo that he's able to see himself no only inhabiting the "role" of a man, but actually being one. Theater is a safe way to move between those roles and hear his fellow actors refer to him as a man, which helps him finally make sense of the puzzle pieces. It also operates as a safe place to explore gender presentation, especially with his costuming, and it allows him to buy his first binder and safely pass it off as a "production expense." I appreciate that the story understands and celebrates the necessity of safe spaces, and theater is just one of those spaces for dean.
There's also a really great emphasis on the importance of found family and community support. This is one of the first YA books I've read that shows a young, questioning trans boy going to support groups with other queer people, having their ideas and insecurities challenged and coming to a place of feeling more confident and safe in their own body and their own experience. Dean also has a really great group of friends (some who are better allies than others). He has people he can trust to go back and forth between pronouns to avoid outing him, people who let him send discrete packages to their house so that he won't get in trouble with his parents, and people who want him to be exactly the person he is. Connection and support is so vital for young trans folks, especially, and I really appreciate that being shown on the page.
At the same time, the story doesn't shy away from hard conversations about how transness can challenge and change interpersonal relationships, and not always for the better. One of the more complex relationships at play here is the romantic relationship Dean has with his girlfriend, who got together with him when he identified as a lesbian. Throughout the story Dean decides he wants to come out to Zoe as a trans guy, and he battles with what that means for their relationship, how his transness might challenge Zoe's identity (if at all), and whether Zoe will be able to see him and love him as the boy he is, or whether she'll only ever see Dean "as a girl" because of his body and because of their shared history. There are times where Zoe makes Dean feel safe and times where she makes him feel unsafe, and that inconsistency is something a lot of trans folks experience. It's not always as simple as flipping a switch from "adjusting" to "acceptance."
That's also reflected in the relationship Dean has with his parents, specifically his mom. She has a hard time accepting his transness and seeing it as "real." This leads to Dean hiding things from his parents and tip-toeing around them, because he can never gauge whether they're going to be receptive or not. To me, not only is that a realistic reflection of what many trans kids face, but it also acknowledges the essential piece that comes from actually being seen, recognized, and respected as the gender you are—not just as "someone masquerading in different clothes." Gradually, Dean is coming to the realization that he will not minimize or erase parts of himself to make other people comfortable, even people who are as important as his parents. He is learning that he doesn't have to be grateful for scraps of decency, and that he deserves so much more.
Dean is a character who's in a really interesting place where he's questioning and exploring how he wants his own transness to look, which I think is important for young readers to see. Does he want to start wearing a binder? Does he want to go on hormones or not? Does he want to change his pronouns? Does he want to officially "come out" or does he just want to live his life for himself? There's no clear-cut right or wrong answer to any of these questions, and I think the story does a beautiful job of showing the validity of all the possibilities. Whatever Dean decides at the end isn't about what will make him "a more real trans person," but rather what is—or could be—best for him.
In the end, I think this story does a great job of showing how transness is merely a world of possibilities, and we all have to learn how to navigate those possibilities in a way that's true for us. It feels scary not because transness itself is scary, but because we are taught to fear transness and because the world continues to reinforces itself as a frightening, unwelcome, and unsafe place for trans people in so many ways. It seems scary because it's a part of ourselves we are not taught to know or recognize, and because we often lack a clear path forward—not because that path doesn't exist, but because we can't see it. I think this story is invaluable in the way it shows Dean confronting those fears, defining what's true for himself, and learning how to navigate his own path on his own terms.
To say that I recommend this book is an understatement, because it is certainly going to save and change lives.
Between Perfect and Real is a love letter to young trans readers. It's a story that shows a young character coming into his transness—fearing the unknown implications of what that can mean for him, how that might change his relationships, and how that might change how he sees and understands himself. It's a story that explores how we are often kept from our own transness because of fear, and because our minds reject that which they cannot imagine, and we are not taught to imagine ourselves as anything but static, straight, and cis.
As the story progresses, we see Dean gradually discovering these moments of gender euphoria—both on-stage and off. I really enjoy the use of theater and art as a means for exploring gender and identity. It isn't until Dean removes himself and loses himself in the character of Romeo that he's able to see himself no only inhabiting the "role" of a man, but actually being one. Theater is a safe way to move between those roles and hear his fellow actors refer to him as a man, which helps him finally make sense of the puzzle pieces. It also operates as a safe place to explore gender presentation, especially with his costuming, and it allows him to buy his first binder and safely pass it off as a "production expense." I appreciate that the story understands and celebrates the necessity of safe spaces, and theater is just one of those spaces for dean.
There's also a really great emphasis on the importance of found family and community support. This is one of the first YA books I've read that shows a young, questioning trans boy going to support groups with other queer people, having their ideas and insecurities challenged and coming to a place of feeling more confident and safe in their own body and their own experience. Dean also has a really great group of friends (some who are better allies than others). He has people he can trust to go back and forth between pronouns to avoid outing him, people who let him send discrete packages to their house so that he won't get in trouble with his parents, and people who want him to be exactly the person he is. Connection and support is so vital for young trans folks, especially, and I really appreciate that being shown on the page.
At the same time, the story doesn't shy away from hard conversations about how transness can challenge and change interpersonal relationships, and not always for the better. One of the more complex relationships at play here is the romantic relationship Dean has with his girlfriend, who got together with him when he identified as a lesbian. Throughout the story Dean decides he wants to come out to Zoe as a trans guy, and he battles with what that means for their relationship, how his transness might challenge Zoe's identity (if at all), and whether Zoe will be able to see him and love him as the boy he is, or whether she'll only ever see Dean "as a girl" because of his body and because of their shared history. There are times where Zoe makes Dean feel safe and times where she makes him feel unsafe, and that inconsistency is something a lot of trans folks experience. It's not always as simple as flipping a switch from "adjusting" to "acceptance."
That's also reflected in the relationship Dean has with his parents, specifically his mom. She has a hard time accepting his transness and seeing it as "real." This leads to Dean hiding things from his parents and tip-toeing around them, because he can never gauge whether they're going to be receptive or not. To me, not only is that a realistic reflection of what many trans kids face, but it also acknowledges the essential piece that comes from actually being seen, recognized, and respected as the gender you are—not just as "someone masquerading in different clothes." Gradually, Dean is coming to the realization that he will not minimize or erase parts of himself to make other people comfortable, even people who are as important as his parents. He is learning that he doesn't have to be grateful for scraps of decency, and that he deserves so much more.
Dean is a character who's in a really interesting place where he's questioning and exploring how he wants his own transness to look, which I think is important for young readers to see. Does he want to start wearing a binder? Does he want to go on hormones or not? Does he want to change his pronouns? Does he want to officially "come out" or does he just want to live his life for himself? There's no clear-cut right or wrong answer to any of these questions, and I think the story does a beautiful job of showing the validity of all the possibilities. Whatever Dean decides at the end isn't about what will make him "a more real trans person," but rather what is—or could be—best for him.
In the end, I think this story does a great job of showing how transness is merely a world of possibilities, and we all have to learn how to navigate those possibilities in a way that's true for us. It feels scary not because transness itself is scary, but because we are taught to fear transness and because the world continues to reinforces itself as a frightening, unwelcome, and unsafe place for trans people in so many ways. It seems scary because it's a part of ourselves we are not taught to know or recognize, and because we often lack a clear path forward—not because that path doesn't exist, but because we can't see it. I think this story is invaluable in the way it shows Dean confronting those fears, defining what's true for himself, and learning how to navigate his own path on his own terms.
To say that I recommend this book is an understatement, because it is certainly going to save and change lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming
Minor: Suicide
thedambookshelf's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to Netgalley and Amulet Books for the E-ARC of Between Perfect and Real in exchange for an honest review.
Between Perfect and Real is a YA debut about Dean Foster who is a trans boy finding his identity. Dean is a senior in high school who has adopted theater into his bones since he was a kid. Though Dean knows he is trans everyone at school, his girlfriend Zoe, and his theater director think he's a lesbian. Dean struggles with the idea of keeping who he truly is bottled down until college and makes the decision that he doesn't want to hide who he is until then.
This book was a solid three stars and I honestly struggled slightly with determining that rating because I did love this story but it dwindled out for me towards the end.
Dean is a very relatable character and as someone who is genderfluid, I could truly feel the depth of his character and struggle to find his identity and voice. I loved that Dean was written to be very complex and emotional. He felt very fleshed out to me, but his friend group? Not so much.
I loved Zoe, I found her character to be as real as Dean's. Did I enjoy her outing her boyfriend? No. Even so, she was sincere about her mistakes, and given her circumstances, I felt she was very naive, and given the chance to be educated she would have been a better character.
Ronnie was a sweetheart, Allison really irritated me because she just wasn't present much and when she was, I felt as if she was so passive. The support group Dean meets was probably my favorite, though Jade was kind of annoying with all of the negative advice or outcomes Dean could face. Yes, it's realistic that not everything is sunshine and rainbows but personally I didn't feel it was the best solution every time Dean came looking for advice. So that leaves me with how I felt about their blossoming relationship - not a fan.
Blake... that was so confusing. I feel like there was a lot of potential there plot-wise and it just fell off.
I felt the same way with the theater themes as well. We know that theater is a big part of Dean's life but we don't spend a lot of time in the theater or Romeo's role as Dean. I just expected a lot more from that.
Aside from that Dean's journey is fresh and realistic. That's why it's a solid three stars, I just didn't enjoy the ending all that much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amulet Books for the E-ARC of Between Perfect and Real in exchange for an honest review.
Between Perfect and Real is a YA debut about Dean Foster who is a trans boy finding his identity. Dean is a senior in high school who has adopted theater into his bones since he was a kid. Though Dean knows he is trans everyone at school, his girlfriend Zoe, and his theater director think he's a lesbian. Dean struggles with the idea of keeping who he truly is bottled down until college and makes the decision that he doesn't want to hide who he is until then.
This book was a solid three stars and I honestly struggled slightly with determining that rating because I did love this story but it dwindled out for me towards the end.
Dean is a very relatable character and as someone who is genderfluid, I could truly feel the depth of his character and struggle to find his identity and voice. I loved that Dean was written to be very complex and emotional. He felt very fleshed out to me, but his friend group? Not so much.
I loved Zoe, I found her character to be as real as Dean's. Did I enjoy her outing her boyfriend? No. Even so, she was sincere about her mistakes, and given her circumstances, I felt she was very naive, and given the chance to be educated she would have been a better character.
Ronnie was a sweetheart, Allison really irritated me because she just wasn't present much and when she was, I felt as if she was so passive. The support group Dean meets was probably my favorite, though Jade was kind of annoying with all of the negative advice or outcomes Dean could face. Yes, it's realistic that not everything is sunshine and rainbows but personally I didn't feel it was the best solution every time Dean came looking for advice. So that leaves me with how I felt about their blossoming relationship - not a fan.
Blake... that was so confusing. I feel like there was a lot of potential there plot-wise and it just fell off.
I felt the same way with the theater themes as well. We know that theater is a big part of Dean's life but we don't spend a lot of time in the theater or Romeo's role as Dean. I just expected a lot more from that.
Aside from that Dean's journey is fresh and realistic. That's why it's a solid three stars, I just didn't enjoy the ending all that much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide