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iamgr00t's review
fast-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
1.5
jippieyay's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mixter86's review
emotional
sad
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? Yes
4.75
shemene's review against another edition
4.0
3,75/5 sterren
Heel indrukwekkend maar er miste iets voor mij persoonlijk. Leest makkelijk weg en was een goed boek voor tussendoor.
Heel indrukwekkend maar er miste iets voor mij persoonlijk. Leest makkelijk weg en was een goed boek voor tussendoor.
zebra54321's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
moran's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.75
meggles's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
clairewilsonleeds's review
2.0
I thought this was a not-too-bad way of tackling a lot of misconceptions about trans teenagers. The narrator (a cis boy who had the emotional maturity of a 10-11 year old despite the fact he was supposed to be 13-14) said a lot of the uneducated/insensitive things that I hear preteens say, and they were challenged appropriately. I don't feel this is a book trans young people would enjoy reading (as it frames their existence as inconveniences to other people) and struggled to work out who it was written for, as many of the references will have gone completely over teens' heads. But I think it was pretty readable, and I could see what he was trying to do.
niinalukeekirjoi's review against another edition
1.0
Kirjan päähenkilö Sam on ehkä raivostuttavin nulikka ikinä. Niin röyhkeä, ajattelematon ja itsekeskeinen että välillä ihan pahaa teki. Tätä kirjaa on kritisoitu paljon, enkä ihmettele miksi, mutta siihen en ota sen enempää kantaa. Ainoa tähti tulee siitä, että äänikirjan lukijalla oli kiva ääni.
Äänikirja, 5h 25min
Äänikirja, 5h 25min
starkva's review
1.0
The blurb reads, "Sam's known his sister, Jessica, all his life. Tonight is the first time they're going to meet." I thought this was a great sign, despite the problematic title, that the story was going to discuss its topic appropriately.
About fifty pages in, I noticed who the author was, and was surprised. An author who's taken a lot of flack for writing a story that tries to make the author feel sympathy for Nazis, well out of his lane, now writing a story about a young trans woman? I carried on regardless - and honestly wish I didn't. Moving on from humanising Nazis, now we're trying to humanise racists and bigots. What a change.
The book felt more like it was an apologist story for transphobia than an understanding of any trans experiences, entirely justifying the lack of acceptance that Jessica's family showed her (asking for electroshock therapy?!). Aunt Rose was the weirdo for accepting her, and we were constantly reminded of just how weird she was in case we forgot for a second and thought that a 'normal' person could accept Jessica for who she was. The Coach was written as supportive, though he still parroted the "you could be an alien for all I care" trope that completely invalidates gender identity as something flippant and ridiculous.
Even at the end, when we have Sam finally acknowledging Jessica, it's still alongside misgendering her. The first time Jessica brought up her gender to Sam, she said "I'm your sister" and even after all of Sam's "growth" (?!), he still calls her his brother. It is insulting that this book claims to be meaningful and progressive.
About fifty pages in, I noticed who the author was, and was surprised. An author who's taken a lot of flack for writing a story that tries to make the author feel sympathy for Nazis, well out of his lane, now writing a story about a young trans woman? I carried on regardless - and honestly wish I didn't. Moving on from humanising Nazis, now we're trying to humanise racists and bigots. What a change.
The book felt more like it was an apologist story for transphobia than an understanding of any trans experiences, entirely justifying the lack of acceptance that Jessica's family showed her (asking for electroshock therapy?!). Aunt Rose was the weirdo for accepting her, and we were constantly reminded of just how weird she was in case we forgot for a second and thought that a 'normal' person could accept Jessica for who she was. The Coach was written as supportive, though he still parroted the "you could be an alien for all I care" trope that completely invalidates gender identity as something flippant and ridiculous.
Even at the end, when we have Sam finally acknowledging Jessica, it's still alongside misgendering her. The first time Jessica brought up her gender to Sam, she said "I'm your sister" and even after all of Sam's "growth" (?!), he still calls her his brother. It is insulting that this book claims to be meaningful and progressive.