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jen_the_librarian13's review against another edition
3.0
When I first started reading Alex As Well I almost immediately hated it. I didn't like how her mom's chapters were all from blog posts and it was super annoying that she'd break from the story to talk directly to the reader, but once we started getting to the meat of the story I really started to like it. So give it a chance and read at least the first half.
katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
I couldn't help but compare this to Abigail Tartellin's Golden Boy as I was reading. Golden Boy follows an intersex teen who identifies as male. Alex As Well's narrator is an intersex teen who identifies as a girl. Though her parents have classed her as a boy on her birth certificate.
I didn't find this as moving or well-written as Golden Boy, I'll be honest. It's a topic that I applaud the author(s) for writing about. But Alex herself is not very likeable. Granted, her mum refuses to call her a girl. Is trying to force male hormones on her. But she's 14 and moves herself to a new school. She hires a lawyer. She gets a modelling job. Without their knowledge of permission.
The aspect that's meant to be the knockout one - male Alex talks to her in her head - didn't work for me. It didn't appear frequently enough to make an impact or really do much other than act as a contrary voice in head when it did appear.
I liked best the occasional blog post entries from Alex's mum, with other people's comments. It showed her (biased and unstable) side well, the comments ranging from the expected platitudes and sarcastic to the overly positive and realistic. Wanted more of these. Dad was underused though, only got a couple of scenes.
It's an interesting tale but there were holes - how could Alex even register at a new school without parental signatures? How come gender identity issues had never been picked up in the (surely she had some?) counselling?
Hated the ending too. Without a spoiler - would this be realistic for a 14 year old?
I might have liked it more if I hadn't read Taretellin's book first. But that for me is the powerful story of an intersex teenager.
I didn't find this as moving or well-written as Golden Boy, I'll be honest. It's a topic that I applaud the author(s) for writing about. But Alex herself is not very likeable. Granted, her mum refuses to call her a girl. Is trying to force male hormones on her. But she's 14 and moves herself to a new school. She hires a lawyer. She gets a modelling job. Without their knowledge of permission.
The aspect that's meant to be the knockout one - male Alex talks to her in her head - didn't work for me. It didn't appear frequently enough to make an impact or really do much other than act as a contrary voice in head when it did appear.
I liked best the occasional blog post entries from Alex's mum, with other people's comments. It showed her (biased and unstable) side well, the comments ranging from the expected platitudes and sarcastic to the overly positive and realistic. Wanted more of these. Dad was underused though, only got a couple of scenes.
It's an interesting tale but there were holes - how could Alex even register at a new school without parental signatures? How come gender identity issues had never been picked up in the (surely she had some?) counselling?
Hated the ending too. Without a spoiler - would this be realistic for a 14 year old?
I might have liked it more if I hadn't read Taretellin's book first. But that for me is the powerful story of an intersex teenager.
migimon2002's review against another edition
3.0
This is an important novel for a current age steeped in gender identity and equality controversies. Much can be learned from this compelling come-of-age story, if the reader's mind is open. I felt myself rooting for Alex as a character, excited when she made independent decisions for herself. My main complaint of this novel - and the reason it only scores an average rating - is because the latter half felt very rushed, and the ending was abrupt.
pineapple104_xx's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mxsallybend's review against another edition
3.0
“He looks at me and sees a hot chick—a smooth Clinique girl. I look at him and see a chimpanzee tugging on his little noodle.”
And so ends the first revealing chapter of Alex As Well, a powerful coming of age tale that isn’t afraid to put both tears and smiles on the page, and which doesn’t pretend there’s one perfect answer to the question of gender. Alex was born intersex, but while her mother decided to raise her as a boy, complete with a lifetime of hormone treatment, she doesn’t agree, and just wants to be a girl.
What immediately distinguishes Brugman’s tale is the way in which she tells it. Alex acts as our primary narrator, relating to us not just the events of her life, but also what she’s thinking and feeling behind the scenes. At the same time, she relates to us her struggle with the other Alex, the boy who used to live on the outside. It’s a conflict that’s painful, and which has the potential to be melodramatic, but it’s handled with just the right about of humour.
Alex’s transition is not an easy one. Her classmates don’t handle it well, prompting the change in schools; her father doesn’t handle it well, prompting him to walk out of her life; and her mother doesn’t handle it well, prompting her to take out her anger and her fear on Alex. Even though it’s her father who walks out, it’s really Alex’s mother who serves as the sort-of ‘villain’ of the piece. She takes everything personally, accuses Alex of screwing up her life, and even gets physically abusive in a few instances.
Her mother does introduce an interesting angle to the story, however, with her narrative pieces involving an online forum. Here we see how Heather presents her story to the world, and what kind of comments others have for her. It really opens your eyes to the different perspectives out there, and puts the biological question of Alex into context.
“I want to have a family who can love me as a girl, and just be normal. They say I am a weirdo and a pervert. If I was normal, they would not be like this with me.”
Alex is a typical teenager, self-centred and full of drama, but there’s a genuine pain beneath all her angry bravado. She doesn’t always make the best decisions, but who does at that age? Ultimately, she just wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, rather than questioned and criticised for not being something else. The conclusion of her tale may come across as a bit harsh to some readers, but I found it a realistic approach to providing closure, leaving the door open for a more hopeful future.
Originally reviewed for Frock Magazine
And so ends the first revealing chapter of Alex As Well, a powerful coming of age tale that isn’t afraid to put both tears and smiles on the page, and which doesn’t pretend there’s one perfect answer to the question of gender. Alex was born intersex, but while her mother decided to raise her as a boy, complete with a lifetime of hormone treatment, she doesn’t agree, and just wants to be a girl.
What immediately distinguishes Brugman’s tale is the way in which she tells it. Alex acts as our primary narrator, relating to us not just the events of her life, but also what she’s thinking and feeling behind the scenes. At the same time, she relates to us her struggle with the other Alex, the boy who used to live on the outside. It’s a conflict that’s painful, and which has the potential to be melodramatic, but it’s handled with just the right about of humour.
Alex’s transition is not an easy one. Her classmates don’t handle it well, prompting the change in schools; her father doesn’t handle it well, prompting him to walk out of her life; and her mother doesn’t handle it well, prompting her to take out her anger and her fear on Alex. Even though it’s her father who walks out, it’s really Alex’s mother who serves as the sort-of ‘villain’ of the piece. She takes everything personally, accuses Alex of screwing up her life, and even gets physically abusive in a few instances.
Her mother does introduce an interesting angle to the story, however, with her narrative pieces involving an online forum. Here we see how Heather presents her story to the world, and what kind of comments others have for her. It really opens your eyes to the different perspectives out there, and puts the biological question of Alex into context.
“I want to have a family who can love me as a girl, and just be normal. They say I am a weirdo and a pervert. If I was normal, they would not be like this with me.”
Alex is a typical teenager, self-centred and full of drama, but there’s a genuine pain beneath all her angry bravado. She doesn’t always make the best decisions, but who does at that age? Ultimately, she just wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, rather than questioned and criticised for not being something else. The conclusion of her tale may come across as a bit harsh to some readers, but I found it a realistic approach to providing closure, leaving the door open for a more hopeful future.
Originally reviewed for Frock Magazine
goosemixtapes's review against another edition
2.0
(2022 monthly goals: whichever book has been on my TBR longest)
i mean, it's... fine? it's a book. i'm not sure i'll remember it in a month. some thoughts:
>this is one of those books with a very promising premise and opening (fourteen-year-old alex has been raised as a boy and identifies as a girl; she doesn't know she's intersex & that the pills her parents make her take are testosterone supplements) that then... doesn't really do much with that premise and opening. this book isn't REALLY about alex learning she's intersex and what that means. it's about alex buying clothes and reinventing herself as a girl and having fights with her parents, who are horrible. and there's nothing WRONG with those things happening, but the book doesn't really have a... how you say... plot. also, this book could have been longer than 200 pages. the ending in particular wraps up way too fast.
>i can't speak to the intersex rep, but some of this Did hit from a trans perspective (i would consider alex trans as well as intersex since she doesn't identify with her assigned gender). some people in the reviews have expressed frustration with the idea of Girl Alex and Boy Alex as two minds in one body, but i actually liked that narrative device; i didn't see it as a literal thing but a way for alex to process her experience and the feeling of being in-between. (i'm biased because during my questioning era i had a similar framing device in my brain, but hey, that proves it happens.)
>that said. some of it did Not hit. hey, what the fuck is up with that first chapter where Girl Alex tries on clothes and then Boy Alex jacks off in them? why are we furthering the idea that trans women are trans because they're sexually attracted to themselves in feminine clothing? and what about that scene where alex makes moves on her friend, who has claimed to be straight, including trapping her in place to lick her ear? i mean, yeah, it's done jokingly, but it's also kind of creepy, and while i think trans characters should be flawed just like anyone else, writing a lesbian trans girl who keeps pushily hitting on her straight cis friends is. um. it's bad, man! i'm not gonna pretend it's not bad! there seems to be a drive on brugman's part to draw a line between Girl Alex, who is normal, and Boy Alex, who is a boy and therefore gross, and it feels weirdly bioessentialist (in terms of "boys are impulsive and always thinking about sex and hitting on people") for a book that literally purports to be about a character who doesn't fit into essentialist gender roles. (more reviews that touch on this here, here, and here)
>there are some off-color comments that made me wince. calling the brazilian and black girls alex meets "exotic," for one thing, or saying that clapping her hands very quickly to calm down makes her "look autistic." also lots of referring to her mother as insane/a psychopath, which, okay, alex's mother is a monster, but i don't love the idea of pathologizing that. sometimes people are abusive and transphobic without being mentally ill.
>alex's narrative voice often feels pretty young for fourteen. sometimes that makes it more effective, because it reminds you that this is a kid who has to deal with emotional and sometimes physical abuse from her parents along with ostracization at her former school. but also, she keeps calling her penis her "noodle," which . come on
i enjoyed this book while reading it, but stepping back to look at it from a more critical angle makes it just sort of fall apart. there isn't much substance to it; again, i'm not sure how well i'll remember it in a month.
i mean, it's... fine? it's a book. i'm not sure i'll remember it in a month. some thoughts:
>this is one of those books with a very promising premise and opening (fourteen-year-old alex has been raised as a boy and identifies as a girl; she doesn't know she's intersex & that the pills her parents make her take are testosterone supplements) that then... doesn't really do much with that premise and opening. this book isn't REALLY about alex learning she's intersex and what that means. it's about alex buying clothes and reinventing herself as a girl and having fights with her parents, who are horrible. and there's nothing WRONG with those things happening, but the book doesn't really have a... how you say... plot. also, this book could have been longer than 200 pages. the ending in particular wraps up way too fast.
>i can't speak to the intersex rep, but some of this Did hit from a trans perspective (i would consider alex trans as well as intersex since she doesn't identify with her assigned gender). some people in the reviews have expressed frustration with the idea of Girl Alex and Boy Alex as two minds in one body, but i actually liked that narrative device; i didn't see it as a literal thing but a way for alex to process her experience and the feeling of being in-between. (i'm biased because during my questioning era i had a similar framing device in my brain, but hey, that proves it happens.)
>that said. some of it did Not hit. hey, what the fuck is up with that first chapter where Girl Alex tries on clothes and then Boy Alex jacks off in them? why are we furthering the idea that trans women are trans because they're sexually attracted to themselves in feminine clothing? and what about that scene where alex makes moves on her friend, who has claimed to be straight, including trapping her in place to lick her ear? i mean, yeah, it's done jokingly, but it's also kind of creepy, and while i think trans characters should be flawed just like anyone else, writing a lesbian trans girl who keeps pushily hitting on her straight cis friends is. um. it's bad, man! i'm not gonna pretend it's not bad! there seems to be a drive on brugman's part to draw a line between Girl Alex, who is normal, and Boy Alex, who is a boy and therefore gross, and it feels weirdly bioessentialist (in terms of "boys are impulsive and always thinking about sex and hitting on people") for a book that literally purports to be about a character who doesn't fit into essentialist gender roles. (more reviews that touch on this here, here, and here)
>there are some off-color comments that made me wince. calling the brazilian and black girls alex meets "exotic," for one thing, or saying that clapping her hands very quickly to calm down makes her "look autistic." also lots of referring to her mother as insane/a psychopath, which, okay, alex's mother is a monster, but i don't love the idea of pathologizing that. sometimes people are abusive and transphobic without being mentally ill.
>alex's narrative voice often feels pretty young for fourteen. sometimes that makes it more effective, because it reminds you that this is a kid who has to deal with emotional and sometimes physical abuse from her parents along with ostracization at her former school. but also, she keeps calling her penis her "noodle," which . come on
i enjoyed this book while reading it, but stepping back to look at it from a more critical angle makes it just sort of fall apart. there isn't much substance to it; again, i'm not sure how well i'll remember it in a month.
tellingetienne's review against another edition
1.0
I wasn't impressed with the writing. This novel had such great potential when I picked it up, but it let me down quite hard. There were some excellent parts, some clever writing, but it was all tangled up in an ill executed plot and a hasty ending that didn't actually provide any kind of closure. All of the character, aside from Alex, lacked depth and development. (Although I think the point of Alex's mother was not to develop as a character.) I didn't like Alex, but I don't think you need to like the main character to enjoy a book. I felt like she was very much a teenager who was in a really fucked up situation with no support. That was very emotionally compelling.
While I don't read YA often, I was also very confused by some of the things Alex was able to do without a consenting guardian? Like get a modeling job, register in a school on their own, etc? That was just kind of messed up to me and kept me from really being able to take the narrative seriously.
While I don't read YA often, I was also very confused by some of the things Alex was able to do without a consenting guardian? Like get a modeling job, register in a school on their own, etc? That was just kind of messed up to me and kept me from really being able to take the narrative seriously.
mesy_mark's review against another edition
2.0
I'll start with one thing that I like d about the book. I liked the break up of the chapters of Alex PoV and her Mom's blog post/ comments.
And here what I took away from the book that left a sour taste in my mouth. One not really understanding the intersex condition that Alex had. Some are listed but it is never actually discussed which I think could have helped better visualizing the main character as is. Plus I was always curious so I kept waiting for a reveal or sit down to discuss the condition with Alex.
Identity seemed to be obscured. Gender identity and biological sex never seemed to be well laid out as two different things.
The Alexes being one and the same was hard to get straight right away. I thought they were two different people and since they share a name with no variation of which Alex is being addressed I had a hard time keeping straight.
Communication. In short, there is none. Mommy goes to the internet, Dad leaves, and Alex just avoids talking to them.
Alex's past behavioral issues are never fully explained as in way other than to prove she has always been a trying child and this could be why her parents are so bat shit crazy when it comes to her being herself now.
I loath the masturbation scenes. Not because I am anti-masturbation but because now it is confusing the fact autogynephilia is being confused with trans/intersex people. Not needed when there are so few books of intersex characters.
Overall the only reason it is two instead of one star is that I was able to read through it.
And here what I took away from the book that left a sour taste in my mouth. One not really understanding the intersex condition that Alex had. Some are listed but it is never actually discussed which I think could have helped better visualizing the main character as is. Plus I was always curious so I kept waiting for a reveal or sit down to discuss the condition with Alex.
Identity seemed to be obscured. Gender identity and biological sex never seemed to be well laid out as two different things.
The Alexes being one and the same was hard to get straight right away. I thought they were two different people and since they share a name with no variation of which Alex is being addressed I had a hard time keeping straight.
Communication. In short, there is none. Mommy goes to the internet, Dad leaves, and Alex just avoids talking to them.
Alex's past behavioral issues are never fully explained as in way other than to prove she has always been a trying child and this could be why her parents are so bat shit crazy when it comes to her being herself now.
I loath the masturbation scenes. Not because I am anti-masturbation but because now it is confusing the fact autogynephilia is being confused with trans/intersex people. Not needed when there are so few books of intersex characters.
Overall the only reason it is two instead of one star is that I was able to read through it.
shelvesofsecrets's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a step out of my comfort zone. Not only was it a contemporary read, but it dealt with subject matter I don't have much experience with. However, this year I want to push myself a bit with the books I read, plus increase the diversity of the main characters in the books I read.
This book deals with growing up and being different, specifically with gender identification. Alex was raised as a boy, but recently has begun to identify more strongly as a girl. The book is written as if there are really two Alexes, a boy and girl sharing the same body. It was an interesting way to read and, while I don't know if it is accurate, I did enjoy how different it was. However, I found I didn't like boy Alex, as I was happy when he faded more and more into the background. Girl Alex was a likable character and I really felt for her. She dealt with the same insecurities other teenagers do, only on a larger scale than most.
However, Alex's parents sucked, especially her mom, who was actually crazy. I liked having blog posts from her mom's point of view, which gave a tiny bit of insight into her mind. But she really was a terrible parent and clearly insane. And Alex's dad was mostly just absent. I understand how it would be difficult for Alex's parents to deal with her situation, but I really felt like they were selfish and should have had much better communication with Alex.
Alex as Well was a different sort of read for me and I really ended up enjoying it, despite the writing style of the two Alexes taking some time to get used to. It showed me how good it can feel to step outside of my fantasy/dystopian comfort zone and try something new.
This book deals with growing up and being different, specifically with gender identification. Alex was raised as a boy, but recently has begun to identify more strongly as a girl. The book is written as if there are really two Alexes, a boy and girl sharing the same body. It was an interesting way to read and, while I don't know if it is accurate, I did enjoy how different it was. However, I found I didn't like boy Alex, as I was happy when he faded more and more into the background. Girl Alex was a likable character and I really felt for her. She dealt with the same insecurities other teenagers do, only on a larger scale than most.
However, Alex's parents sucked, especially her mom, who was actually crazy. I liked having blog posts from her mom's point of view, which gave a tiny bit of insight into her mind. But she really was a terrible parent and clearly insane. And Alex's dad was mostly just absent. I understand how it would be difficult for Alex's parents to deal with her situation, but I really felt like they were selfish and should have had much better communication with Alex.
Alex as Well was a different sort of read for me and I really ended up enjoying it, despite the writing style of the two Alexes taking some time to get used to. It showed me how good it can feel to step outside of my fantasy/dystopian comfort zone and try something new.