Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for an advance digital copy of this book.
“…life doesn’t wait until you’re perfect, or better, or out of pain for you to be alive.”
This book is much more than a simple transgender love story. The struggles that both Chris and Maia go through in this book is a great representation of being a teenager. This felt real and true. The unabashed selfishness that all of the teens have (including Hayden, Gabby, Mallory, and Neil) is something that I know teens go through without realizing it. There is nothing wrong with being selfish at times, which is what I loved about parts of this book.
The parents also had some great development in this book. It seems that parents are often either overlooked in YA books or problematic to further the story. I think both Chris and Maia’s parents are dealing with their own struggles and it’s important for YA books to discuss those struggles to raise awareness to youths that they aren’t the only ones going through struggles.
While I do think some of the topics in this book can be difficult for some to deal with, I think it was handled in a great way and does tread lightly. This book probably has the least heavy subject matter I’ve read in this regard but there can be some triggering material. Personally, I do think Amber Smith could have pushed some of the issues a little further. I felt that a lot of the issues were dealt with just on surface level.
“…life doesn’t wait until you’re perfect, or better, or out of pain for you to be alive.”
This book is much more than a simple transgender love story. The struggles that both Chris and Maia go through in this book is a great representation of being a teenager. This felt real and true. The unabashed selfishness that all of the teens have (including Hayden, Gabby, Mallory, and Neil) is something that I know teens go through without realizing it. There is nothing wrong with being selfish at times, which is what I loved about parts of this book.
The parents also had some great development in this book. It seems that parents are often either overlooked in YA books or problematic to further the story. I think both Chris and Maia’s parents are dealing with their own struggles and it’s important for YA books to discuss those struggles to raise awareness to youths that they aren’t the only ones going through struggles.
While I do think some of the topics in this book can be difficult for some to deal with, I think it was handled in a great way and does tread lightly. This book probably has the least heavy subject matter I’ve read in this regard but there can be some triggering material. Personally, I do think Amber Smith could have pushed some of the issues a little further. I felt that a lot of the issues were dealt with just on surface level.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Amber Smith’s Something Like Gravity chronicles the story of Chris, a transgender boy who’s coming to terms with his shifting family dynamic and a horrific assault, and Maia, a girl who is grieving her older sister and attempting to understand how she makes sense in the grand scheme of life. It’s a heartwarming, beautifully written story that had me smiling, laughing, and of course, crying.
Chris and Maia are wonderfully rounded, beautifully flawed characters. Told in a dual perspective, we get the chance to live inside both of their heads through the course of the story, providing a solid connection to the two and cementing their individual journeys in the story. And that is something about this book that I loved-- though Chris and Maia’s storys obviously intertwine, they still are on paths to acceptance and closure by themselves as well. Instead of being the entire grounding point of their growth, their relationship is an additional factor, a nudge in the right direction for both of them.
We meet Chris and Maia at very uncertain points in their lives-- they both have this mindset of “If only X would happen then things would be almost normal.” It’s a very common issue teenagers deal with, regardless of the factors that lead to it, and Smith identified and handled this so brilliantly that their believability as living, breathing people is absolute. For myself, I saw so many of my thoughts and feelings I had at these tender years in Chris and Maia. Though I haven’t experienced their situations, their pain was so real and honest that I could somehow relate.
Beyond the characters themselves, the plot was executed wonderfully as well. Though, as common with a lot of YA contemporaries, there weren’t massive bombs being dropped or jaw-dropping revelations, I never felt bored with the pacing or wished that something bigger would happen. At its core, this is a story about healing and finding your place in life, and the plot did just that. We moved at the pace that Maia and Chris were as they experienced these three months of their life.
This book handles a wide range of hard-hitting and oftentimes triggering topics-- the development and acceptance of gender and identity, grief, toxic masculinity, loss, and parental trauma. Smith handled all of these issues with careful, precise hands and in just under four hundred pages managed to deliver a story that was charming yet poignant, heartbreaking yet hopeful. In a world where representation in media is still far too slim for the LGBTQ+ community, this type of story is so incredibly important to share.
DISCLAIMER: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Chris and Maia are wonderfully rounded, beautifully flawed characters. Told in a dual perspective, we get the chance to live inside both of their heads through the course of the story, providing a solid connection to the two and cementing their individual journeys in the story. And that is something about this book that I loved-- though Chris and Maia’s storys obviously intertwine, they still are on paths to acceptance and closure by themselves as well. Instead of being the entire grounding point of their growth, their relationship is an additional factor, a nudge in the right direction for both of them.
We meet Chris and Maia at very uncertain points in their lives-- they both have this mindset of “If only X would happen then things would be almost normal.” It’s a very common issue teenagers deal with, regardless of the factors that lead to it, and Smith identified and handled this so brilliantly that their believability as living, breathing people is absolute. For myself, I saw so many of my thoughts and feelings I had at these tender years in Chris and Maia. Though I haven’t experienced their situations, their pain was so real and honest that I could somehow relate.
Beyond the characters themselves, the plot was executed wonderfully as well. Though, as common with a lot of YA contemporaries, there weren’t massive bombs being dropped or jaw-dropping revelations, I never felt bored with the pacing or wished that something bigger would happen. At its core, this is a story about healing and finding your place in life, and the plot did just that. We moved at the pace that Maia and Chris were as they experienced these three months of their life.
This book handles a wide range of hard-hitting and oftentimes triggering topics-- the development and acceptance of gender and identity, grief, toxic masculinity, loss, and parental trauma. Smith handled all of these issues with careful, precise hands and in just under four hundred pages managed to deliver a story that was charming yet poignant, heartbreaking yet hopeful. In a world where representation in media is still far too slim for the LGBTQ+ community, this type of story is so incredibly important to share.
DISCLAIMER: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and Simon And Schuster Children’s Publishing for a copy of this eARC.
If you are looking for a sweet story about a transgender male... THIS IS IT! Without giving any spoilers this story is about Chris who spends the summer at his aunt’s house in a small town to escape and recover from the bigots and hatred he experienced at home. He meets Maia who recently lost her older sister. Both of them have some healing to do and they are just what each other need.
I gave this story 4 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend it. The writing style is good and its surprisingly a feel-good novel. I took a long time to get to this one since I lost my older sister this year and anything with the lost of a sibling has been hard to read but I’m glad I read it.
If you are looking for a sweet story about a transgender male... THIS IS IT! Without giving any spoilers this story is about Chris who spends the summer at his aunt’s house in a small town to escape and recover from the bigots and hatred he experienced at home. He meets Maia who recently lost her older sister. Both of them have some healing to do and they are just what each other need.
I gave this story 4 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend it. The writing style is good and its surprisingly a feel-good novel. I took a long time to get to this one since I lost my older sister this year and anything with the lost of a sibling has been hard to read but I’m glad I read it.
From the moment the meet Maia and Chris click. Both having been through hardships for different reasons they have let themselves becoming fairly isolated socially. The moment they meet is also interesting as Chris almost runs Maia over with his car. Despite the awkward beginning, however, they start to build a tentative friendship. At first, they keep their biggest secrets to themselves. Maybe not wanting to scare the other one off or out of fear of being judged but as time goes on they grow closer.
This novel was definitely the sweet romance that it was advertised to be with a bit of a twist due to the fact that Chris is transgender. I think the subject matter was handled well by the author and did not take away from the book in any way. I think that stories like this one need to be told more often because for every story out in the world there are people who can identify with it. It’s important that folks from all walks of life are represented in the media in a kind and loving way. It is what makes us all different that makes us beautiful.
This novel was definitely the sweet romance that it was advertised to be with a bit of a twist due to the fact that Chris is transgender. I think the subject matter was handled well by the author and did not take away from the book in any way. I think that stories like this one need to be told more often because for every story out in the world there are people who can identify with it. It’s important that folks from all walks of life are represented in the media in a kind and loving way. It is what makes us all different that makes us beautiful.
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the perspective and look into a couple of fictional teens who are so completely different from me. There were definitely a few tropes but none I couldn’t personally deal with as a straight woman, but I do wonder how authentic the trans voice is when written by someone who isn’t actually trans.
That said, because I am a Christian and have lots of fellow Christian followers, I hope you all understand that one of the reasons I read is to gain insight and understanding into people who are very different from me. This was one of those choices. It was a good book.
That said, because I am a Christian and have lots of fellow Christian followers, I hope you all understand that one of the reasons I read is to gain insight and understanding into people who are very different from me. This was one of those choices. It was a good book.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the main characters of this book is a trans boy, and I personally cannot speak to that representation. However, there were many parts of this book that did not sit well with me, and after reading a few own-voices reviews, I can not recommend this book.
Here is one review if you want to read more: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2842160815
Here is one review if you want to read more: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2842160815
Chris is a transgender teen who is sent to live out in the country with his grandmother after a violent bullying incident when he came out. One night he almost hits a girl on a bike while he is out driving. It turns out that the girl is Maia, who lives in the closest house. Chris and Maia develop a confusing friendship/relationship with lots of secrets on both sides.
While the writing is beautiful, there is a lot of controversy as the author is not trans and so it not as authentic as an #ownvoices story. Sexual situations and language make this more appropriate for high school.
While the writing is beautiful, there is a lot of controversy as the author is not trans and so it not as authentic as an #ownvoices story. Sexual situations and language make this more appropriate for high school.