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foreverinastory's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
The author reads the audiobook and Schuyler did an amazing job! I loved his narrator and this book so much. The author notes at the end really got me too.
Rep: Half Korean, half white trans male MC, cishet Latine female love interest, white trans male side character, cishet Korean male side character.
CWs: Transphobia/transmisia, bullying, deadnaming, misgendering, homophobia/homomisia, f-slur, violence, outing. Moderate: past mentions of suicidal thoughts, death, death of grandparent, mentions of war, toxic friendship, injury/injury detail, medical content (stitches), racism, dysphoria, grief. Minor: lesbophobia/lesbomisia, ableism, panic attacks.
Rep: Half Korean, half white trans male MC, cishet Latine female love interest, white trans male side character, cishet Korean male side character.
CWs: Transphobia/transmisia, bullying, deadnaming, misgendering, homophobia/homomisia, f-slur, violence, outing. Moderate: past mentions of suicidal thoughts, death, death of grandparent, mentions of war, toxic friendship, injury/injury detail, medical content (stitches), racism, dysphoria, grief. Minor: lesbophobia/lesbomisia, ableism, panic attacks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Violence, and Outing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, War, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Dysphoria, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Lesbophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
1979lwt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I LOVED IT and the little note at the end from the author to trans kids reading the book was AMAZING i mena the whole book i was questioning if i was “trans enough” because i had it different from Obie but omg the note helped so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Bullying, Violence, and Hate crime
Moderate: Medical trauma, Death, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Lesbophobia, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Racism
miloblue's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Transphobia
Moderate: Violence
booksgamesvinyl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Death and Violence
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for an advanced copy of this to review! I saw it on NetGalley and it definitely caught my eye. One of my goals is to read more middle grade LGBTQ books, and this fit that bill. And I’m happy to say I really enjoyed this one!
At the start, the writing feels a little rocky, since it’s a debut. But Bailar hits his stride about halfway through the book and Obie’s voice really shines through. In fact, Bailar nails Obie’s voice in this book. Part of this story is Obie finding his voice, gaining confidence and learning that he truly does have an amazing support system in place. It was great seeing a school that takes such swift action against bullying, becuase you don’t always see that in fiction.
While there is a lot of transphobia and bullying in this book (which is noted with a content warning in the beginning), it’s balanced well with Obie’s friends, parents, and teachers. They want to do what’s best for Obie, and I loved seeing that. His new friends on his new swim team absolutely have his back. There are so many of these great relationships in this book, and I would absolutely read this just for those. Plus, Obie learns to find his voice in writing, and this balances out the swimming really well in this book.
Obie is also part Korean, and his scenes with his grandma are so heartwarming. They make kimchi and talk about Korea, and these scenes are beautiful. There’s so much to love about this book, honestly!
The only reason this isn’t getting a full five stars is because the writing is shaky in a few places. But you can definitely see potential! I can’t wait to see what else Bailar comes out with, because this is a voice that needs to be heard in middle grade books.
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This had a bit of a rocky start, but by the end I was absolutely hooked by Obie's voice. Stay tuned for a full review tomorrow!
This had a bit of a rocky start, but by the end I was absolutely hooked by Obie's voice. Stay tuned for a full review tomorrow!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, and Racism
mirichasha's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
4.5
Obie is Korean-American, in seventh grade, and a competitive swimmer working hard to qualify for the Junior Olympics. He’s also transgender. A perfect classroom read, Obie Is Man Enough follows Obie as he faces transphobia at school and from his old swim team and learns to stand up for himself with the support of his community.
The transphobia in this book is very present and violent - deadnaming happens, the t and f slurs are used, and it gets kinda dark, although Obie is very well supported by most of the adults in his life and the violence is handled promptly and fully when called to adult attention. I'm not sure I would give this book to a young trans kid, but I do think it's an important book for cis kids (and adults) to read, and may be an important book for trans kids to read but with adult guidance. It may be triggering and upsetting.
The transphobia in this book is very present and violent - deadnaming happens, the t and f slurs are used, and it gets kinda dark, although Obie is very well supported by most of the adults in his life and the violence is handled promptly and fully when called to adult attention. I'm not sure I would give this book to a young trans kid, but I do think it's an important book for cis kids (and adults) to read, and may be an important book for trans kids to read but with adult guidance. It may be triggering and upsetting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Violence
Moderate: Racism and Homophobia
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