Reviews

Obie Is Man Enough by Schuyler Bailar

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rosalyn's review against another edition

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5.0

I'm CRYING

trking's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Content Warnings

megpancoast's review

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emotional informative 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? No

4.75

Amazing novel of Obie, who is a swimmer and is transgender and has lots of support from his family but got kicked off his swim team for being trans. There is bullying and outing in this book, and a warning at the beginning for those sensitive to such scenes. It’s about making new friends and crushes and mentors. The author was the first openly transgender athlete to compete in NCAA men’s sport. Schuyler Bailar has an extensive website and is always doing workshops about trans empowerment and awareness. Afterwords for both cisgender and transgender readers. Highly recommend.

nerdbrarian's review against another edition

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5.0

Equally heart-breaking and uplifting, this middle grade novel follows Obie, a biracial (Korean/white) transgender boy who is grappling with swimming for the first time against boys, his ex-best friend becoming his bully, and his first crush. Author and swimmer Schuyler Bailar, the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division I men's team, provides a truly authentic voice for Obie. Glossary and resources in the back make this a wonderful read for anyone wanting to explore the experiences of transgender individuals, regardless of their gender identity. But the heart and authenticity infusing every moment is what makes this book essential reading for everyone.
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NetGalley provided a free digital review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

lee_noel's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

smalltownbookmom's review

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5.0

A powerfully moving semi-autobiographical middle grade story about Obie, a transgender, biracial Korean American boy who just wants to swim.

This book is so much more than just a transgender story, it deals with hate speech, bullying, self-acceptance, first love, transphobia, and the complexities of being a transgender athlete.

I really enjoyed Obie’s first dating experiences and how nerve wracking it was to try to figure out who to trust and when to share he was transgender. I also loved the extra layer of his Korean American identity and the way that made it more difficult to come out to his family.

Overall a great read I highly recommend, especially for fans of George. The book includes a great author’s note and resource guide for transgender youth too.