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lpineo's review
4.0
Review by Lisa Pineo
*I received this eARC from NetGalley and Edelweiss+ in return for an honest review.
My ratings: * I hated it ** It was okay *** I liked it **** Really good ***** Great
TW (trigger warnings): transphobia, misgendering
Ciel by Sophie Labelle is a contemporary middle grade/YA novel with great LGBTQ representation but a problematic story. 4 stars
Description from the publisher:
Ciel is excited to start high school. A gender non-conforming trans kid, Ciel has a YouTube channel and dreams of getting a better camera to really make their mark. Ciel can always rely on their best friend, Stephie, a trans girl who also happens to be a huge nerd. But their friendship begins to feel distant when Stephie makes it clear she wants the fact that she’s trans to be less visible now that they’re in high school. While navigating this new dynamic with Stephie, Ciel is also trying to make a long-distance relationship work with their boyfriend Eiríkur, who just moved back to Iceland. Add to the mix a cute swim star named Liam, and Ciel’s life is becoming more complicated by the minute!
I had high hopes for this book because I love Sophie Labelle's Assigned Male comics. For me, reading the whole book as one idea wasn't as satisfying as reading the comic strip online, or even a whole comic book. The narrator seemed like a tween (which she was) but was dealing with teen issues. The author had her starting high school which for some kids is at 13 (my kids go to elementary from age 5 to 12 and high school from 13 to 18, meaning they start high school in grade 8) but most kids have middle school. This, along with 12 year olds being in long term relationships, pre-teens having years of time on social media, and dealing with heartbreak, but then making childish comments about it being “unfair and selfish” of her boyfriend's parents to move back to their hometown and not consider her and her 12 year old BF's relationship, made the book jarring.
Things I did like: the main character is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, there are two other secondary trans kids as well as multiple other LGBTQ characters. Transphobia, misgendering, problems with using the school's gendered washrooms, having teachers use different names for Ciel (but not her chosen name), kids being at different levels of comfortableness with their identity and how many people know about it, are all dealt with realistically and I felt the authenticity of the situations as the author is transgender herself.
All in all, I did enjoy the book as there are only a few well written middle grade books with transgender characters and would recommend this novel to people looking for that specific genre.
*I received this eARC from NetGalley and Edelweiss+ in return for an honest review.
My ratings: * I hated it ** It was okay *** I liked it **** Really good ***** Great
TW (trigger warnings): transphobia, misgendering
Ciel by Sophie Labelle is a contemporary middle grade/YA novel with great LGBTQ representation but a problematic story. 4 stars
Description from the publisher:
Ciel is excited to start high school. A gender non-conforming trans kid, Ciel has a YouTube channel and dreams of getting a better camera to really make their mark. Ciel can always rely on their best friend, Stephie, a trans girl who also happens to be a huge nerd. But their friendship begins to feel distant when Stephie makes it clear she wants the fact that she’s trans to be less visible now that they’re in high school. While navigating this new dynamic with Stephie, Ciel is also trying to make a long-distance relationship work with their boyfriend Eiríkur, who just moved back to Iceland. Add to the mix a cute swim star named Liam, and Ciel’s life is becoming more complicated by the minute!
I had high hopes for this book because I love Sophie Labelle's Assigned Male comics. For me, reading the whole book as one idea wasn't as satisfying as reading the comic strip online, or even a whole comic book. The narrator seemed like a tween (which she was) but was dealing with teen issues. The author had her starting high school which for some kids is at 13 (my kids go to elementary from age 5 to 12 and high school from 13 to 18, meaning they start high school in grade 8) but most kids have middle school. This, along with 12 year olds being in long term relationships, pre-teens having years of time on social media, and dealing with heartbreak, but then making childish comments about it being “unfair and selfish” of her boyfriend's parents to move back to their hometown and not consider her and her 12 year old BF's relationship, made the book jarring.
Things I did like: the main character is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, there are two other secondary trans kids as well as multiple other LGBTQ characters. Transphobia, misgendering, problems with using the school's gendered washrooms, having teachers use different names for Ciel (but not her chosen name), kids being at different levels of comfortableness with their identity and how many people know about it, are all dealt with realistically and I felt the authenticity of the situations as the author is transgender herself.
All in all, I did enjoy the book as there are only a few well written middle grade books with transgender characters and would recommend this novel to people looking for that specific genre.
miloblue's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
eddiewhy's review
4.0
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Second Story Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ciel is a cute, heart-warming book about a non-binary teen who is struggling with starting high school, a long distance relationship, and their relationship with their best friend Stephie. The book tackles a lot of issues in a short period of time, and does so in a respectful, thoughtful way that absolutely feels appropriate for the target audience.
I think Ciel is a great protagonist for non-binary, trans, and cis kids alike. They're fun, smart, and ambitious, and it's enjoyable to watch them succeed at their goals. It hurts when they're hurt by the people around them, but Ciel generally has an optimistic outlook and their life, and that's good. Ciel as a narrator also takes the time to explain a lot of concepts about gender in very clear ways that don't feel condescending. I hope that the kids who read this book gain a better understanding of what it means to be non-binary. There are also multiple trans characters besides Ciel, and it's nice to see those characters existing and being happy together.
There are a lot of mentions of transphobia in this book, but I think they're handled well and don't go into a territory that would be difficult for middle grade readers to handle. Ciel addresses most of these moments and takes them in stride. In terms of educational but enjoyable content, I think the book hits the nail on the head. It's fun, keeps things relatively light, but also gives a voice to a group of people who are under- and misrepresented in the media quite a lot.
My only problem with the book is that I felt like it ended somewhat abruptly, and not every issue was entirely resolved. This is absolutely fine, and true to real life, because not everything can be tied up in a pretty little bow, but I do wish there had been a clear resolution between Ciel and Stephie.
Stephie is a trans girl who has decided that upon entering high school, she doesn't want to be known as "the trans kid" anymore, and so she doesn't tell any of her new friends that she's trans. This puts a strain on Stephie and Ciel's relationship, because Ciel, who doesn't identify within the gender binary, is much more "obviously" trans and doesn't want to hide that part of themself. In fact, Ciel has a YouTube channel where they talk about their experiences, and one of their videos talking about how pointlessly gendered the bathrooms at their school are ends up going viral.
Ciel can tell that Stephie is pulling away from them slightly, and understands why, but they never have an open conversation with Stephie about the problem. Instead, the narrative ends with them still ambiguously being friends, just not as close as before. When the book ends, Ciel has also just started to form a closer relationship with a trans boy from their school, Liam. Again, I think this is pretty realistic. It's a good representation of how relationships shift and change as people grow up and apart or together. But in terms of the narrative, it left me wanting more. It felt like an awkward ending that didn't quite tie up all the loose ends but also didn't suggest to me that there would be a sequel to address everything. I'd love to see a sequel though!
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book, and I hope a lot of middle grade readers also get to enjoy it and feel represented or learn something or both!
Ciel is a cute, heart-warming book about a non-binary teen who is struggling with starting high school, a long distance relationship, and their relationship with their best friend Stephie. The book tackles a lot of issues in a short period of time, and does so in a respectful, thoughtful way that absolutely feels appropriate for the target audience.
I think Ciel is a great protagonist for non-binary, trans, and cis kids alike. They're fun, smart, and ambitious, and it's enjoyable to watch them succeed at their goals. It hurts when they're hurt by the people around them, but Ciel generally has an optimistic outlook and their life, and that's good. Ciel as a narrator also takes the time to explain a lot of concepts about gender in very clear ways that don't feel condescending. I hope that the kids who read this book gain a better understanding of what it means to be non-binary. There are also multiple trans characters besides Ciel, and it's nice to see those characters existing and being happy together.
There are a lot of mentions of transphobia in this book, but I think they're handled well and don't go into a territory that would be difficult for middle grade readers to handle. Ciel addresses most of these moments and takes them in stride. In terms of educational but enjoyable content, I think the book hits the nail on the head. It's fun, keeps things relatively light, but also gives a voice to a group of people who are under- and misrepresented in the media quite a lot.
My only problem with the book is that I felt like it ended somewhat abruptly, and not every issue was entirely resolved. This is absolutely fine, and true to real life, because not everything can be tied up in a pretty little bow, but I do wish there had been a clear resolution between Ciel and Stephie.
Stephie is a trans girl who has decided that upon entering high school, she doesn't want to be known as "the trans kid" anymore, and so she doesn't tell any of her new friends that she's trans. This puts a strain on Stephie and Ciel's relationship, because Ciel, who doesn't identify within the gender binary, is much more "obviously" trans and doesn't want to hide that part of themself. In fact, Ciel has a YouTube channel where they talk about their experiences, and one of their videos talking about how pointlessly gendered the bathrooms at their school are ends up going viral.
Ciel can tell that Stephie is pulling away from them slightly, and understands why, but they never have an open conversation with Stephie about the problem. Instead, the narrative ends with them still ambiguously being friends, just not as close as before. When the book ends, Ciel has also just started to form a closer relationship with a trans boy from their school, Liam. Again, I think this is pretty realistic. It's a good representation of how relationships shift and change as people grow up and apart or together. But in terms of the narrative, it left me wanting more. It felt like an awkward ending that didn't quite tie up all the loose ends but also didn't suggest to me that there would be a sequel to address everything. I'd love to see a sequel though!
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book, and I hope a lot of middle grade readers also get to enjoy it and feel represented or learn something or both!
andreinaisabel's review
4.0
Ciel is a non-binary trans kid who is starting high school and is very worried about their friendship with Stephie, who is also trans and doesn't want people at their new school to know.
This is a book that's exactly what I love: not a lot of action, just characters having normal days and talking about themselves. We only get to see the first two weeks of Ciel's high school year, but in those days the author manages to tell us about Ciel's friends, family, boyfriend, job and YouTube channel without making it too much.
I don't know if Ciel is going to be a kid we'll get to know more about, but I'd love it if this became a series. I strongly believe this is the type of book a young trans kid would need in order to know there are people like them out there in the world. The adults in the story are nice and real, which I consider is something that MG/YA books that I read don't usually have.
Overall, I just wished the story was a little bit longer so we could get to know more about characters like the rest of the people at school and Stephie's parents. Still, I'm really impressed on how the ending didn't feel abrupt being such a short final chapter. I hope I get to know more about Ciel soon!
I received an e-ARC of this story through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
This is a book that's exactly what I love: not a lot of action, just characters having normal days and talking about themselves. We only get to see the first two weeks of Ciel's high school year, but in those days the author manages to tell us about Ciel's friends, family, boyfriend, job and YouTube channel without making it too much.
I don't know if Ciel is going to be a kid we'll get to know more about, but I'd love it if this became a series. I strongly believe this is the type of book a young trans kid would need in order to know there are people like them out there in the world. The adults in the story are nice and real, which I consider is something that MG/YA books that I read don't usually have.
Overall, I just wished the story was a little bit longer so we could get to know more about characters like the rest of the people at school and Stephie's parents. Still, I'm really impressed on how the ending didn't feel abrupt being such a short final chapter. I hope I get to know more about Ciel soon!
I received an e-ARC of this story through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
tsipi's review
4.0
It's a bit difficult for me to review this book. I am a huge fan of Sophie Labelle, and have followed her comic 'Assigned Male' since its inception, so I was thrilled to support her and buy her first novel(ette?).
But the book is so clearly aimed at young children, and I, alas, hardly remember that far back :) So I thought it was a lovely read, and I would get the book for any middle-school kid in my life, and then - would love to know what they think about it.
That said, Ciel is a great character, and I really like that the story is as much about their inner thoughts as about things that "happen" (not much does, actually). There is a little bit of a feeling of a list being checked off (Trans boy? check. Trans girl? check. Non-binary character? Check! A person of color? Yep, and a disabled person? Yes, and we're good to go!) but then, that's kind of staying true to the cast of the comic, and didn't feel uncomfortable.
In a couple of spots it was obvious I was reading a translation, but hey, that should be the worst thing I read. Bottom line, it's great reading about young trans/queer kids just being kids. Here's to a LOT more of that!
But the book is so clearly aimed at young children, and I, alas, hardly remember that far back :) So I thought it was a lovely read, and I would get the book for any middle-school kid in my life, and then - would love to know what they think about it.
That said, Ciel is a great character, and I really like that the story is as much about their inner thoughts as about things that "happen" (not much does, actually). There is a little bit of a feeling of a list being checked off (Trans boy? check. Trans girl? check. Non-binary character? Check! A person of color? Yep, and a disabled person? Yes, and we're good to go!) but then, that's kind of staying true to the cast of the comic, and didn't feel uncomfortable.
In a couple of spots it was obvious I was reading a translation, but hey, that should be the worst thing I read. Bottom line, it's great reading about young trans/queer kids just being kids. Here's to a LOT more of that!
peyton_'s review
3.0
This is a good book with a powerful message. It has both positive and villainous characters, as well as a couple in between. I did fin the writing a little off at time, but I can’t quite pinpoint why.
annas_sweets_and_stories's review
4.0
I love queer middle grade/early YA. They own a special piece of my heart and no one can deny that having on page queer rep and trans rep in teens books is essential and will absolutely make a difference to queer kids everywhere.
Now I'm calling this a middle grade/early YA because it read like a middle grade but the characters were technically starting high school (which would make them roughly 13-14). The character's dialogue, mannerisms, an actions all screamed middle grade to me. The writing at times wasn't my favorite, in that it almost felt perfunctory vs conversational, especially Ciel's attitudes towards her boyfriend.
My favorite part of this book was just the way it let Ciel and Stephie and Liam live. They all have different experiences as trans kids and showing them living their lives, doing every day regular things was great. There's also a good balance in addressing transphobia both within and outside the queer community throughout the book.
Not a whole lot happens in this book and it's very character based so be aware of that before starting, but as a queer middle grade I would recommend it over and over again. We absolutely need more trans and nonbinary rep in younger books and seeing this in a school library or classroom would be amazing.
rep: nonbinary MC, trans secondary characters, queer secondary characters, set in Canada
Now I'm calling this a middle grade/early YA because it read like a middle grade but the characters were technically starting high school (which would make them roughly 13-14). The character's dialogue, mannerisms, an actions all screamed middle grade to me. The writing at times wasn't my favorite, in that it almost felt perfunctory vs conversational, especially Ciel's attitudes towards her boyfriend.
My favorite part of this book was just the way it let Ciel and Stephie and Liam live. They all have different experiences as trans kids and showing them living their lives, doing every day regular things was great. There's also a good balance in addressing transphobia both within and outside the queer community throughout the book.
Not a whole lot happens in this book and it's very character based so be aware of that before starting, but as a queer middle grade I would recommend it over and over again. We absolutely need more trans and nonbinary rep in younger books and seeing this in a school library or classroom would be amazing.
rep: nonbinary MC, trans secondary characters, queer secondary characters, set in Canada
intergalacticintrovert's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
mendezconzeta's review
4.0
Leído gracias a Netgalley :D (English below!)
Me encantó este libro.
Amo la representación LGBTQIA+ en los libros, mucho más si son middle grade y AÚN MÁS si son own voices.
Ciel es une protagonista con mucha frescura, y sentí que tenía esa voz y mente de niñe que está pasando por ciertos cambios-- cortar con tu novie, el miedo a perder a tus amigues, no saber si vas a poder ser quien sos frente a extrañes.
De nuevo, me gustó mucho y creo que a les niñes también. La historia es tierna y no da golpes bajos. Ciel perdió a su madre no hace mucho, tiene que esconder el hecho de que su mejor amiga es trans y que está en una relación a distancia con un chico que no le trata como se merece.
Lo único que encontré medio meh fue que en sí no hubo un plot que conectara todo lo que va pasando en el libro-- el canal de Youtube, la relación a distancia, el chico trans nuevo en la escuela, el dramón con la otra youtuber trans... obvio está todo relacionado, pero creo que los finales de algunos capítulos quedaban abiertos a interpretación. O la constante amenaza (mencionada numerosas veces) de que su mejor amiga iba a encontrar nueves amigues, que siempre estaba presente pero, a la vez, no lo estaba. No sé si se entiende lo que quiero decir, pero es algo que sentí hasta el último capítulo.
IGUAL creo que es un libro HERMOSO, precioso y amable, que me hizo reír en voz alta un par de veces y que nos enseña que la aceptación, el verdadero amor y las buenas y leales amistades quizás conlleven un camino largo que no siempre será fácil, pero al final la felicidad y la emoción hacen que valga la pena ❤️
------✄------
I found this book really heartwarming.
I love LGBTQIA+ representation in books, MORE if they're middle grade and even MORE if they're written by own voices.
Ciel is a refreshing protagonist and I felt they really had that childlike voice and mind that's going through some changes-- a break up, the fear of losing friends, not knowing if you're able to be who you are in front of strangers.
Again, this was heartwarming and I think it'll be for kids as well. The story is cute and doesn't have any low blow. Ciel lost their mother kinda recently, they have to hide the fact that their best friend is trans and they're on a long distance relationship with a boy that doesn't treat them as he should.
The only thing I found quite meh was that there wasn't a plot connecting everything that's happening-- the Youtube channel, the long distance relationship, the new trans boy, the beef with the other youtuber... of course it's all related, but I found some of the chapter endings kinda open to interpretarion? Or like, the constant threat of their best friends finding new friends was always there and mentioned, but at the same time it wasn't. I don't think I'm making any sense now, but that's the perception I got at the end.
NEVERTHELESS, it was a GREAT, heartwarming, kind book, made me laugh out loud a couple of times and teaches us that self-acceptance and true love and good and loyal friendship it's a long journey that may not be easy, but in the end the happiness and excitement make it worthy of it all ❤️
Me encantó este libro.
Amo la representación LGBTQIA+ en los libros, mucho más si son middle grade y AÚN MÁS si son own voices.
Ciel es une protagonista con mucha frescura, y sentí que tenía esa voz y mente de niñe que está pasando por ciertos cambios-- cortar con tu novie, el miedo a perder a tus amigues, no saber si vas a poder ser quien sos frente a extrañes.
De nuevo, me gustó mucho y creo que a les niñes también. La historia es tierna y no da golpes bajos. Ciel perdió a su madre no hace mucho, tiene que esconder el hecho de que su mejor amiga es trans y que está en una relación a distancia con un chico que no le trata como se merece.
Lo único que encontré medio meh fue que en sí no hubo un plot que conectara todo lo que va pasando en el libro-- el canal de Youtube, la relación a distancia, el chico trans nuevo en la escuela, el dramón con la otra youtuber trans... obvio está todo relacionado, pero creo que los finales de algunos capítulos quedaban abiertos a interpretación. O la constante amenaza (mencionada numerosas veces) de que su mejor amiga iba a encontrar nueves amigues, que siempre estaba presente pero, a la vez, no lo estaba. No sé si se entiende lo que quiero decir, pero es algo que sentí hasta el último capítulo.
IGUAL creo que es un libro HERMOSO, precioso y amable, que me hizo reír en voz alta un par de veces y que nos enseña que la aceptación, el verdadero amor y las buenas y leales amistades quizás conlleven un camino largo que no siempre será fácil, pero al final la felicidad y la emoción hacen que valga la pena ❤️
------✄------
I found this book really heartwarming.
I love LGBTQIA+ representation in books, MORE if they're middle grade and even MORE if they're written by own voices.
Ciel is a refreshing protagonist and I felt they really had that childlike voice and mind that's going through some changes-- a break up, the fear of losing friends, not knowing if you're able to be who you are in front of strangers.
Again, this was heartwarming and I think it'll be for kids as well. The story is cute and doesn't have any low blow. Ciel lost their mother kinda recently, they have to hide the fact that their best friend is trans and they're on a long distance relationship with a boy that doesn't treat them as he should.
The only thing I found quite meh was that there wasn't a plot connecting everything that's happening-- the Youtube channel, the long distance relationship, the new trans boy, the beef with the other youtuber... of course it's all related, but I found some of the chapter endings kinda open to interpretarion? Or like, the constant threat of their best friends finding new friends was always there and mentioned, but at the same time it wasn't. I don't think I'm making any sense now, but that's the perception I got at the end.
NEVERTHELESS, it was a GREAT, heartwarming, kind book, made me laugh out loud a couple of times and teaches us that self-acceptance and true love and good and loyal friendship it's a long journey that may not be easy, but in the end the happiness and excitement make it worthy of it all ❤️
mxfiona's review
4.0
Aww I'm really glad I read that. Ciel is a nonbinary youtuber starting high school in Montreal. Ciel has very low-self esteem, but learns to be confident throughout the book. Thats it, thats the story. Would be great for school libraries.