Scan barcode
growplantsreadbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Very cute. It handled a lot of trans topics really well. I don't like third act break-ups, but otherwise it was a nice read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Religious bigotry
my_weird_bookish_heart's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Outing, Bullying, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
literarylocd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? No
3.5
this was cute for the most part. there were some very VERY uncomfortable bits (re: religious bigotry) but yeah easy-ish read and i enjoyed it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Drug abuse
winglesswarrior's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
A solid adorable read that I LOVED reading. Informative and yet still with a load of heart. It reads easy and tackles tonight topics without getting too painful or sad.
A warm hug from a queer friend.
A warm hug from a queer friend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Child death and Mass/school shootings
bookswithbront's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia
Moderate: Dysphoria, Deadnaming, Outing, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Bullying
kj468's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
rep: mlm; trans man mc; gay LI; LI from religious family; enby sc; trans sc
----
tags: sports; soccer; religious bigotry; fighting transphobia; coming out
----
ratings: funny: 2 // ease: 4 // plot: 5 // romance: 4 // representation: 5 // total: 5
----
This book is a gem; I'm so glad it exists for trans youth to read and feel inspired by. It would also be a great read for anyone who doesn't quite *get* the human-level emotional harm done by transphobia and transphobic legislation policing where trans people are allowed to exist. This book does an outstanding job of making readers feel the tangible daily harm of banning trans kids from playing sports, and it highlights how it's not just trans kids who suffer -- it's cis kids, it's coaches, it's parents. It's everyone.
Despite so clearly communicating that harm, this book manages to be happy and joyful and full of wonderful characters who support each other even when their identities differ. Justice, the love interest, comes from a religious family and it was so comforting to read about him getting to explore safe queer spaces. The team's and coach's reactions to Spencer coming out as trans, and to queerness in general, was like a warm hug. Transphobia definitely exists in this book, but the author did such a great job of making that transphobia shrink in comparison to the outpouring of love for queer folks.
-----
TW explanations:
religious bigotry: the love interests family is religious and homophobic. We see his struggles living in this type of home as a young gay kid & hear some of the shitty things his family says and believes. Of note, there is a particularly visual scene of religious bigotry where Spencer and his friends go to the church's haunted house for Halloween & the horror is very Christain "values" inspired -- graphic antiabortion sentiments, gay folks going to hell, etc
bullying: Spencer was bullied at his previous school and it's why he's now at a new school, but we don't see any on page bullying.
----
tags: sports; soccer; religious bigotry; fighting transphobia; coming out
----
ratings: funny: 2 // ease: 4 // plot: 5 // romance: 4 // representation: 5 // total: 5
----
This book is a gem; I'm so glad it exists for trans youth to read and feel inspired by. It would also be a great read for anyone who doesn't quite *get* the human-level emotional harm done by transphobia and transphobic legislation policing where trans people are allowed to exist. This book does an outstanding job of making readers feel the tangible daily harm of banning trans kids from playing sports, and it highlights how it's not just trans kids who suffer -- it's cis kids, it's coaches, it's parents. It's everyone.
Despite so clearly communicating that harm, this book manages to be happy and joyful and full of wonderful characters who support each other even when their identities differ. Justice, the love interest, comes from a religious family and it was so comforting to read about him getting to explore safe queer spaces. The team's and coach's reactions to Spencer coming out as trans, and to queerness in general, was like a warm hug. Transphobia definitely exists in this book, but the author did such a great job of making that transphobia shrink in comparison to the outpouring of love for queer folks.
-----
TW explanations:
religious bigotry: the love interests family is religious and homophobic. We see his struggles living in this type of home as a young gay kid & hear some of the shitty things his family says and believes. Of note, there is a particularly visual scene of religious bigotry where Spencer and his friends
bullying: Spencer was bullied at his previous school and it's why he's now at a new school, but we don't see any on page bullying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Transphobia
Minor: Bullying
victinerary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
My first finish for the #TransRightsReadathon 2023: what a beautiful start!
This book addresses so much. First and foremost we get a look inside the mind of Spencer, a trans high school soccer star, as he navigates a new school, complicated family life, and his first crush. Those would be a lot of things to deal with for any kid... but Spencer also has to deal with the daily challenges of existing in a society that can be everything from dismissive to downright dangerous for a boy like him.
We get to see daily choices and actions made by Spencer, his family, and his friends and how differently the reality of those choices and actions effect Spencer. Everything from being able to pass as a boy at school to the challenges of navigating gendered bathrooms and locker rooms, it was definitely eye opening to see the thought behind so many situations most people would just take for granted as being easy.
While this could have just been a book about a trans kid navigating "normal" high school challenges (which would be difficult enough!), the author did a beautiful job of adding so many layers to Spencer's story to help illustrate the additional multi-faceted challenges that so many trans kids face. From growing up in a multi-racial household to having a sibling on the autistic spectrum, we learn how difficult and sometimes invalidating it can feel to interact with loved ones, even in an "accepting" family.
Then we meet Justice, Spencer's crush and fellow soccer teammate. They bond over a shared love of the beautiful game, but Justice comes from a very conservative, religious family who see the LGBT community as sinful. Through Justice and interactions with his family and church, we see how difficult it is for Spencer to separate Justice and his (more open-minded) beliefs from the hateful rhetoric most of his family believes in. Justice is on his own journey of self discovery and acceptance, and the connection between these two is beautiful, and also important to their individual and collective growth.
But don't worry, this isn't all intense emotional journey stuff. Shout out to great side characters like the soccer coach, the school GSA (gay-straight alliance) club, Spencer's rocker best friend, and of course, the boys on the soccer team. They all provide some endearing scenes, and the comic relief.
I hope this book can find it's way into the hands of trans and other lgbt youth across the country because it gives a voice, and a validation, to so many diverse aspects of the queer experience and how challenging it can be, especially in your teenage years. This is a beautiful story about community, love, and acceptance overcoming bigotry. I can't recommend it enough.
Some notes & TWs:
❤️ 🏳️⚧️ Trans MC
🧡 Gay MC
💛 Multi-racial family
💚 Autism rep (family member)
💙 Non-binary side character
💜 Little bit of side character bisexual rep
- TW: un-accepting church culture
- TW: drug use & death (discussion of past event / not current characters)
My first finish for the #TransRightsReadathon 2023: what a beautiful start!
This book addresses so much. First and foremost we get a look inside the mind of Spencer, a trans high school soccer star, as he navigates a new school, complicated family life, and his first crush. Those would be a lot of things to deal with for any kid... but Spencer also has to deal with the daily challenges of existing in a society that can be everything from dismissive to downright dangerous for a boy like him.
We get to see daily choices and actions made by Spencer, his family, and his friends and how differently the reality of those choices and actions effect Spencer. Everything from being able to pass as a boy at school to the challenges of navigating gendered bathrooms and locker rooms, it was definitely eye opening to see the thought behind so many situations most people would just take for granted as being easy.
While this could have just been a book about a trans kid navigating "normal" high school challenges (which would be difficult enough!), the author did a beautiful job of adding so many layers to Spencer's story to help illustrate the additional multi-faceted challenges that so many trans kids face. From growing up in a multi-racial household to having a sibling on the autistic spectrum, we learn how difficult and sometimes invalidating it can feel to interact with loved ones, even in an "accepting" family.
Then we meet Justice, Spencer's crush and fellow soccer teammate. They bond over a shared love of the beautiful game, but Justice comes from a very conservative, religious family who see the LGBT community as sinful. Through Justice and interactions with his family and church, we see how difficult it is for Spencer to separate Justice and his (more open-minded) beliefs from the hateful rhetoric most of his family believes in. Justice is on his own journey of self discovery and acceptance, and the connection between these two is beautiful, and also important to their individual and collective growth.
But don't worry, this isn't all intense emotional journey stuff. Shout out to great side characters like the soccer coach, the school GSA (gay-straight alliance) club, Spencer's rocker best friend, and of course, the boys on the soccer team. They all provide some endearing scenes, and the comic relief.
I hope this book can find it's way into the hands of trans and other lgbt youth across the country because it gives a voice, and a validation, to so many diverse aspects of the queer experience and how challenging it can be, especially in your teenage years. This is a beautiful story about community, love, and acceptance overcoming bigotry. I can't recommend it enough.
Some notes & TWs:
❤️ 🏳️⚧️ Trans MC
🧡 Gay MC
💛 Multi-racial family
💚 Autism rep (family member)
💙 Non-binary side character
💜 Little bit of side character bisexual rep
- TW: un-accepting church culture
- TW: drug use & death (discussion of past event / not current characters)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Minor: Death, Deadnaming, and Drug use
Deadnaming - only past descriptions of it happening, not current Drug use / death - character related to a side character, story told about them but the events do not happen in the book.ana_the_frog's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Outing
zumo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Transphobia
mxbluet18's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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? No
5.0
Trigger warnings for The Passing Playbook include: transphobia, bullying, religious propaganda, homophobia and misgendering.
☆
☆
This book has so many important elements to it. It had both open and stealth trans characters, as well as a non-binary character, and gay and bisexual characters.
~
It also showed the importanance of acceptance from a community, as well as how shit passive acceptance actually is for a community. The QSA as well as the principal of the school were accepting until it was inconvenient for them, and it would take more work to make a change. Acceptance shouldn't be conditional, or until it makes problems or makes it challenging.
~
I loved that it showed more than one perspective to the trans experience. How being open can be a benefit, not just for that person but for all the trans people who might come after them. And I liked that it openly said that non-binary people deserve to be able to use the bathroom, and that gender neutral bathrooms benefit lots of people, not just non-binary people.
~
The scene for Transgender Day of Remembrance was really touching for me. The idea of one person saying their names and it echoing around until everyone was saying it felt really special. And it also felt fitting that it started pouring rain as the names were being read out, and it stopping when they were done.
☆
☆
This book has so many important elements to it. It had both open and stealth trans characters, as well as a non-binary character, and gay and bisexual characters.
~
It also showed the importanance of acceptance from a community, as well as how shit passive acceptance actually is for a community. The QSA as well as the principal of the school were accepting until it was inconvenient for them, and it would take more work to make a change. Acceptance shouldn't be conditional, or until it makes problems or makes it challenging.
~
I loved that it showed more than one perspective to the trans experience. How being open can be a benefit, not just for that person but for all the trans people who might come after them. And I liked that it openly said that non-binary people deserve to be able to use the bathroom, and that gender neutral bathrooms benefit lots of people, not just non-binary people.
~
The scene for Transgender Day of Remembrance was really touching for me. The idea of one person saying their names and it echoing around until everyone was saying it felt really special. And it also felt fitting that it started pouring rain as the names were being read out, and it stopping when they were done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deadnaming, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use and Death