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jwinchell's review
4.0
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
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.
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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
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
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.
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.
genderqueer_hiker's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
A MG book about a tween transgender who just wants to swim.
chelseayedinak's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my GOD this book! From the moment it started, I felt for Obie. Every time he got in the pool, every race, every school interaction, every struggle, I was cheering him on (sometimes out loud). This book so easily could have crossed the threshold into melodrama, but it had such a strong heart that it kept me hooked and invested the whole time. Obie is a transgender, biracial Korean American boy who just wants to be respected as he pursues his dreams and hobbies. He is a brilliant swimmer and writer who faces obstacles unique to the trans experience (e.g. transphobic bullying) but also universal problems (e.g. dating). I can only imagine how impactful this book could be in the hands of young trans readers searching for representation of their stories that features both the positives and negatives in sensitive ways and provides hope that there are more good people than bad.
If you're a cis reader, I recommend you check this out to have a small glimpse into the struggles and joy of trans experiences. If you're a trans reader, I recommend checking this out to see the ways in which Obie's story might resonate with you or at least illustrate one of the infinite ways your own story could play out.
TW: transphobia, bullying, homophobia, cursing, physical violence, verbal abuse, outing someone
Oh my GOD this book! From the moment it started, I felt for Obie. Every time he got in the pool, every race, every school interaction, every struggle, I was cheering him on (sometimes out loud). This book so easily could have crossed the threshold into melodrama, but it had such a strong heart that it kept me hooked and invested the whole time. Obie is a transgender, biracial Korean American boy who just wants to be respected as he pursues his dreams and hobbies. He is a brilliant swimmer and writer who faces obstacles unique to the trans experience (e.g. transphobic bullying) but also universal problems (e.g. dating). I can only imagine how impactful this book could be in the hands of young trans readers searching for representation of their stories that features both the positives and negatives in sensitive ways and provides hope that there are more good people than bad.
If you're a cis reader, I recommend you check this out to have a small glimpse into the struggles and joy of trans experiences. If you're a trans reader, I recommend checking this out to see the ways in which Obie's story might resonate with you or at least illustrate one of the infinite ways your own story could play out.
TW: transphobia, bullying, homophobia, cursing, physical violence, verbal abuse, outing someone
readsknitsrepeats's review
5.0
Be sure to read the TW on the first page before reading.
This book was intense and tough at some points but so amazing. Most MG books make the characters seem a bit too young for their age, in this book the characters really sounded and acted like the middle school students I see each day. I was rooting for Obie so hard in this story!
This book was intense and tough at some points but so amazing. Most MG books make the characters seem a bit too young for their age, in this book the characters really sounded and acted like the middle school students I see each day. I was rooting for Obie so hard in this story!
bajablastqueer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5