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paulahe's review
4.0
Written for teens really but it helps tell an important message. It deals with the impact on the family when someone is transgender. Quite thought provoking.
itaby's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
michela_ognibeni's review against another edition
reflective
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Outing
jani_mcgonagall's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The dead naming was absolutely unnecessary. Furthermore I personally though the ending was too perfect to be true.
straciehniezdo's review against another edition
3.0
Dnes som sa spontánne pustila do tejto a musím povedať, že mám veľmi zmiešané pocity.
Prvá polovica bola super. Autor si vybral netradičný pohľad - miesto toho, aby bola hlavnou postavou transrodová osoba, máme tu jej mladšieho brata a pozeráme sa na tranzíciu jeho sestry pohľadom trinásťročného chlapca. Pre Sama je jeho brat Jason najväčším vzorom a najbližším človekom a nevie pochopiť, že jeho brat je vlastne jeho sestra. A hoci som s jeho názormi nebola stotožnená, boli pochopiteľné. Trinásťročné dieťa predsa len nie je dostatočne vyspelé na to, aby bolo schopné vytvoriť si komplexný názor na niečo takéto. O to viac, keď sú jeho rodičmi konzervatívni politici, ktorí si myslia, že ich prvorodenému dieťaťu preskočilo a je to len fáza. Mimochodom, málokde sa vidia takýto hrozní rodičia.
Bolo ale zaujímavé sledovať proces akceptovania a porozumenia, aj ich silné súrodenecké puto, aké som ja so svojim bratom nikdy nemala.
Hoci som prvú polovicu prečítala rýchlo a knižku som nevedela pustiť z ruky, po dočítaní druhej môj entuziazmus značne klesol a po dočítaní som si vravela "meh". Prečo?
V druhej polovici je zrazu hlavou témou matkino kandidovanie na premiérku, politika je zrazu v knihe témou č.1 a transrodovosť je zrazu odsunutá na druhú koľaj. Ale potom prišiel z ničoho nič neprirodzený obrat o 180° a k tomu do zaklincovala tá najviac idealistická posledná kapitola s dúhami a jednorožcami (to je obrazné).
Takže v konečnom dôsledku kniha mala výborný potenciál, ktorý ostal nevyužitý a autor to tu proste nezvládol. Avšak, bola to moja prvá kniha od autora a jeho štýl písania bol super, tak sa rada zoznámim aj s jeho ďalšou tvorbou.
Navyše pobavil nenápadný roast Trumpa.
A chválim Booklab, že takýto príbeh na Slovensko priniesol.
Prvá polovica bola super. Autor si vybral netradičný pohľad - miesto toho, aby bola hlavnou postavou transrodová osoba, máme tu jej mladšieho brata a pozeráme sa na tranzíciu jeho sestry pohľadom trinásťročného chlapca. Pre Sama je jeho brat Jason najväčším vzorom a najbližším človekom a nevie pochopiť, že jeho brat je vlastne jeho sestra. A hoci som s jeho názormi nebola stotožnená, boli pochopiteľné. Trinásťročné dieťa predsa len nie je dostatočne vyspelé na to, aby bolo schopné vytvoriť si komplexný názor na niečo takéto. O to viac, keď sú jeho rodičmi konzervatívni politici, ktorí si myslia, že ich prvorodenému dieťaťu preskočilo a je to len fáza. Mimochodom, málokde sa vidia takýto hrozní rodičia.
Bolo ale zaujímavé sledovať proces akceptovania a porozumenia, aj ich silné súrodenecké puto, aké som ja so svojim bratom nikdy nemala.
Hoci som prvú polovicu prečítala rýchlo a knižku som nevedela pustiť z ruky, po dočítaní druhej môj entuziazmus značne klesol a po dočítaní som si vravela "meh". Prečo?
V druhej polovici je zrazu hlavou témou matkino kandidovanie na premiérku, politika je zrazu v knihe témou č.1 a transrodovosť je zrazu odsunutá na druhú koľaj. Ale potom prišiel z ničoho nič neprirodzený obrat o 180° a k tomu do zaklincovala tá najviac idealistická posledná kapitola s dúhami a jednorožcami (to je obrazné).
Takže v konečnom dôsledku kniha mala výborný potenciál, ktorý ostal nevyužitý a autor to tu proste nezvládol. Avšak, bola to moja prvá kniha od autora a jeho štýl písania bol super, tak sa rada zoznámim aj s jeho ďalšou tvorbou.
Navyše pobavil nenápadný roast Trumpa.
A chválim Booklab, že takýto príbeh na Slovensko priniesol.
carolinerd's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am aware of some of the controversy surrounding this book in that it seeks to raise awareness of trans issues but is essentially a cis take on things. The novel is narrated by 13 year old Sam as he struggles to understand and accept his sibling's new gender identity. Whilst on the one hand I had little sympathy for Sam, wallowing in his own misery and being downright cruel at times, I also understood that for a lonely, neglected kid with educational issues, it must have been difficult to deal with the perceived loss of his rock, the protective big brother who had always been there for him. It's possible to acknowledge Sam's struggles whilst at the same time recognising that they are nowhere near as hard as what Jason/Jessica is going through, and I think the book makes that very clear. I found it moving and thought-provoking. It made me sad and it made me very angry at times.
I guess the author wanted to leave us with something hopeful and positive but given the levels of intolerance, ignorance and sheer horridness shown by Sam and his parents throughout the novel, it all gets resolved a bit too quickly and easily for my liking. I found that a bit unlikely.
A powerful read nonetheless and a good starting point for discussion.
I guess the author wanted to leave us with something hopeful and positive but given the levels of intolerance, ignorance and sheer horridness shown by Sam and his parents throughout the novel, it all gets resolved a bit too quickly and easily for my liking. I found that a bit unlikely.
A powerful read nonetheless and a good starting point for discussion.
kirstysbookishworld's review
3.0
I thought some of the messages in this book were important but I also felt like it had a very narrow view of what it means to be transgender. I also feel like the character growth came right out of left field just to give a happy ending.
It’s not that I don’t believe a 13 year old boy might do all of what Sam did, it’s just that I know most kids regardless of age to be a little more reasonable than Sam was. Its okay to be uneducated, but he just didn’t seem to be listening to what his Sister really wanted and that broke my heart. It’s also a tad annoying how he kept say ‘my brother jason’ and being 1/4 I know how I refer to my siblings and it’s never ‘my brother’.
I really like some aspects of this and really disliked others. Mostly the bit I hated most was the parents and again it’s not that I don’t believe some parents can be like this, but I wanted to shake them till they saw that their child was hurting. Can’t they see that?
It’s not that I don’t believe a 13 year old boy might do all of what Sam did, it’s just that I know most kids regardless of age to be a little more reasonable than Sam was. Its okay to be uneducated, but he just didn’t seem to be listening to what his Sister really wanted and that broke my heart. It’s also a tad annoying how he kept say ‘my brother jason’ and being 1/4 I know how I refer to my siblings and it’s never ‘my brother’.
I really like some aspects of this and really disliked others. Mostly the bit I hated most was the parents and again it’s not that I don’t believe some parents can be like this, but I wanted to shake them till they saw that their child was hurting. Can’t they see that?
natsbookshelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Xenophobia
the_bookish_owl's review
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I know stories about the families of trans people are probably important in a sense but this one just didn't handle anything well. The parents were awful people who somehow have a singular massive U-turn for no reason. I also didn't much like Sam. He was very whiny and I hated how much he was holding onto the idea of his brother. Also he had a cruel streak. I also felt so sorry for Jessica and how little support she had.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Outing
felix_1234's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0