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eleanormarierose's review
5.0
I listened to this book on Audible and really enjoyed it!
It’s for a slightly younger audience but perfect for teenagers and those trying to fit in at secondary school.
The book’s concept is about the main character, Izzy’s, father announces he is transgender. The story explores her learning about the transition, making friends at drama club and her relationships with her family.
It’s such an important book and would be so useful to anyone in a similar situation.
It was really addictive and I definitely think it was better to listen as an audiobook. It was fast-paced but with key themes throughout.
It’s for a slightly younger audience but perfect for teenagers and those trying to fit in at secondary school.
The book’s concept is about the main character, Izzy’s, father announces he is transgender. The story explores her learning about the transition, making friends at drama club and her relationships with her family.
It’s such an important book and would be so useful to anyone in a similar situation.
It was really addictive and I definitely think it was better to listen as an audiobook. It was fast-paced but with key themes throughout.
redheadreading's review
3.0
This was a sweet middle grade about fighting back against bullies and understanding gender identity. I would say this is more geared towards a cis readership, with the aim of helping them understand the concept of transitioning, both for the individual and the other people in their life. There is a lot of misgendering, transphobic slurs are explicitly included, and a lot of time is spent on Izzy processing Danielle's transition so it does focus heavily on her issues with it. That's not to say that trans readers won't enjoy this book, the fundamental message at the heart is one of acceptance, but nearly everyone in this book does react negatively to Danielle's transition so that may not be the most enjoyable experience for some readers. I personally wish we had spent a bit more time portraying what the experience must have been like for Danielle. Towards the end Izzy does start to appreciate how isolated and lonely she must have felt, but I just wish there was a little more focus given to balance out the conflict that permeated the rest of the novel.
anushkacs's review against another edition
5.0
What an absolute delight this book is! Young adult novels have a special place and power in the literary world, as well as a huge responsibility- to bring in delicate dialogues and establish the ensuing understanding in the impressionable minds of children and young adults. And this book achieves and conquers this Herculean task so brilliantly. Talking about trans lives, owning up to one’s identity - as well as how these decisions affect and bring a family together - this book captures it all, and is a beautiful revelation. And Of course, the story makes you fall in love with Izzy’s world!
engpunk77's review against another edition
3.0
A good realistic fiction book to have in the middle school library. Izzy's father comes out as transgender, ready to transition in 2 days time from announcing this out of the blue. Understandably, Izzy and her older sister struggle with not only having to process major changes at home but are upset about the timing of the decision. Izzy just got a starring role in a musical at school, and she'd like the world to revolve around her at the moment, which is totally age appropriate. While this reader and the rest of town had something to say about the selfishness of the decision, the girls come around, deal with the bullies, and become little social activists due to supportive friends and trustworthy adults in the community.
Hopefully, this book will allow children in this position to see that they're not alone, and there's a lot of vicarious counseling (words of wisdom) that the reader can take comfort in. Middle-schoolers who just want a good realistic fiction story who think that there are no LGBTQIA+ people in their small towns may have some awakening, empathy, and tolerance at least for families that are a bit different from the norm. I'm not sure how much understanding a reader was supposed to get about people who are transgender, though. It's more about the experience of having someone in your family come out and the attention it brings on the kids in school.
Overall, I liked it, even though it took me a while to warm up to it. It's a title that one should definitely have in their public school library.
P.S. I haven't read many books set in schools in the UK, and it took some getting used to the school jargon and everyday terms that are so different from American English.
Hopefully, this book will allow children in this position to see that they're not alone, and there's a lot of vicarious counseling (words of wisdom) that the reader can take comfort in. Middle-schoolers who just want a good realistic fiction story who think that there are no LGBTQIA+ people in their small towns may have some awakening, empathy, and tolerance at least for families that are a bit different from the norm. I'm not sure how much understanding a reader was supposed to get about people who are transgender, though. It's more about the experience of having someone in your family come out and the attention it brings on the kids in school.
Overall, I liked it, even though it took me a while to warm up to it. It's a title that one should definitely have in their public school library.
P.S. I haven't read many books set in schools in the UK, and it took some getting used to the school jargon and everyday terms that are so different from American English.
levtolstoy's review
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
emmabryn's review against another edition
1.0
This is a shockingly insensitive book that I consider grooming. As a child of a trans parent I became increasingly disturbed reading this. In the book, any child who doesn’t believe what the dad says about being trans isn’t ‘clever’. The book is littered with references to Stonewall, a charity which is mostly financed by the trans lobby which is the writer’s employer. The charity has been criticised for the aggressiveness in its campaigning on trans issues. There is a huge diversion into the issue of transitioning children, which the book is 100% in favour of.
The mother is a cypher who seems to just value loyalty above anything else. the children just want to make their father happy. There is no model of how a child can navigate their confusion and grief at what is going on.
On top of that, the prose is awful. No one speaks like a real person. The children’s voices in particular are very badly done. This is simply propaganda by a well-funded trans organisation and it does a disservice to women and children affected by this issue.
The mother is a cypher who seems to just value loyalty above anything else. the children just want to make their father happy. There is no model of how a child can navigate their confusion and grief at what is going on.
On top of that, the prose is awful. No one speaks like a real person. The children’s voices in particular are very badly done. This is simply propaganda by a well-funded trans organisation and it does a disservice to women and children affected by this issue.
booksgamesvinyl's review against another edition
3.0
this book was absolutely rife with transphobia, homophobia and misgendering and i actually had to stop and do something else a couple of times because it was just too much for me
the transwoman in this book is so apologetic about how her transness is affecting others and it just made me so sad. everyone in her life seems to react negatively to it (this book is from the pov of her 12 year old daughter, who yes, misgenders her and has issues with her transness) and it must just feel so isolating and yet we don't really see that.
i definitely think this book was written by a cis person for cis people and the journey to 'acceptance' for the mc and surrounding characters just felt a bit simplistic
the transwoman in this book is so apologetic about how her transness is affecting others and it just made me so sad. everyone in her life seems to react negatively to it (this book is from the pov of her 12 year old daughter, who yes, misgenders her and has issues with her transness) and it must just feel so isolating and yet we don't really see that.
i definitely think this book was written by a cis person for cis people and the journey to 'acceptance' for the mc and surrounding characters just felt a bit simplistic
charlottesomewhere's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? N/A
Izzy's dad is transitioning and it is an adjustment for the whole family, we see how they all react differently and I am sure their story will help many readers. Such a gorgeous story of family, friendship, acceptance and love.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
that_bookworm_guy's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
3.5
This is a very quick read and it's enjoyable.
I am a trans person, and this is something I mention every time I read a book with trans characters and themes. I am aware that I'm also not the target audience because I am 25.
This book is written by someone who is cis (not trans) but the author mentions that she had trans readers to help her, and it does show. However I do feel like this book is written for cis people. It explains stuff about what it means to be trans and it's written in a way that just doesn't strike me as being aimed at trans people. But this may be a great introduction book for children.
There are trans slurs throughout and I'm always a little bit iffy when these are shared within kids book. Thankfully, some of them are called out, but there are comments through the book that are used in a hateful way towards trans people in real life, mainly trans women.
The story is fairly simple, but that's middle-grade fiction.
If you want to read books about trans characters, I say try to read them by trans authors, but this is a great introduction and I'm glad this book is out there
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia