Scan barcode
eagleshouse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
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? Yes
3.0
This book is very complex, which I was expecting, but sometimes fails to be what it tries to be.
The story of Amanda, a trans girl in southern USA, is incredibly important, especially coming from a trans author. The book takes on a difficult topic and faces it bluntly and head on, and goes into detail about her emotions and difficulties in being trans. These sections were brilliantly written, and made me understand and realise things that even I as a nonbinary person had not gotten beforehand.
However, I do have a few issues with the book. First and foremost, it feels very much like a Mary Sue. Amanda seems perfect. She passes perfectly, she moves and immediately everyone loves her, she is fully transitioned at the age of 18, and gets a perfect boyfriend and life. Whilst I understand that this may be the author trying to give a trans person hope that this is an option, it feels very detached from the unfortunate reality, and also creates a pretty boring main story. The story tends to ramble about how Amanda is gorgeous, how everyone is in love with her, how she's an A* student and is homecoming queen. Until the very end, where this is questioned (no spoilers from me!), it creates a bland style of writing that took me a little to power through. Had it not also been about Amanda's struggles as a trans woman, I most likely would have put the book down within the first 10 chapters (there are 33 total).
(SPOILERS AHEAD!!)
Another small issue that I had was the only openly sapphic character being the person to out Amanda purely because she wouldn't get with her. Whilst I understand that Bee was the only one Amanda felt like she could tell due to her also being lgbt+ and a "loner" of sorts, it did feel like it fell into the "bi people are slutty" and "predatory wlw" stereotype as Bee broke up with Cloe (the other sapphic character who was closeted before Bee also outed her) just for a shot at Amanda, who she had known was straight anyway, and had even said she was only dating Cloe because she felt bad for her. Bee also sexually harassed Amanda after she turns her down, kissing her without consent. I know for the storyline to progress, Bee was the only person able to out Amanda, but it still rubbed me up the wrong way.
(END OF SPOILERS)
tldr; the book is incredibly important, showing the story of a transwoman by a transfemme author. However, the story is not without its flaws, and often ends up being bland or falling into a Mary Sue style read. I still reccommend the book, as the sections regarding Amanda's relationship with her gender is poignant and informative from the perspective of an author who understands personally what she is going through.
The story of Amanda, a trans girl in southern USA, is incredibly important, especially coming from a trans author. The book takes on a difficult topic and faces it bluntly and head on, and goes into detail about her emotions and difficulties in being trans. These sections were brilliantly written, and made me understand and realise things that even I as a nonbinary person had not gotten beforehand.
However, I do have a few issues with the book. First and foremost, it feels very much like a Mary Sue. Amanda seems perfect. She passes perfectly, she moves and immediately everyone loves her, she is fully transitioned at the age of 18, and gets a perfect boyfriend and life. Whilst I understand that this may be the author trying to give a trans person hope that this is an option, it feels very detached from the unfortunate reality, and also creates a pretty boring main story. The story tends to ramble about how Amanda is gorgeous, how everyone is in love with her, how she's an A* student and is homecoming queen. Until the very end, where this is questioned (no spoilers from me!), it creates a bland style of writing that took me a little to power through. Had it not also been about Amanda's struggles as a trans woman, I most likely would have put the book down within the first 10 chapters (there are 33 total).
(SPOILERS AHEAD!!)
Another small issue that I had was the only openly sapphic character being the person to out Amanda purely because she wouldn't get with her. Whilst I understand that Bee was the only one Amanda felt like she could tell due to her also being lgbt+ and a "loner" of sorts, it did feel like it fell into the "bi people are slutty" and "predatory wlw" stereotype as Bee broke up with Cloe (the other sapphic character who was closeted before Bee also outed her) just for a shot at Amanda, who she had known was straight anyway, and had even said she was only dating Cloe because she felt bad for her. Bee also sexually harassed Amanda after she turns her down, kissing her without consent. I know for the storyline to progress, Bee was the only person able to out Amanda, but it still rubbed me up the wrong way.
(END OF SPOILERS)
tldr; the book is incredibly important, showing the story of a transwoman by a transfemme author. However, the story is not without its flaws, and often ends up being bland or falling into a Mary Sue style read. I still reccommend the book, as the sections regarding Amanda's relationship with her gender is poignant and informative from the perspective of an author who understands personally what she is going through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Violence, and Outing
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
lindsayhotrod's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Deadnaming and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Classism
thewileyseven's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
nicholasl_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Dysphoria
Minor: Religious bigotry
mghrt06's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt
jesikasbookshelf's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Nope.
Nope.
Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope.
For the first quarter or so I thought this book was underwhelming representation in a YA novel. God, I wish I'd quit still thinking that.
This book is nothing short of irresponsible publishing.
For a book marketed as a light and sweet YA romance, this book is nothing, and I truly mean nothing, other than protracted queer trauma. The main character is trans - not only does this book make her ONLY identifiable 'personality' the idea that she is pretty and trans, it perpetuates harmful misunderstandings of the trans community from the singular need for top and bottom surgery, through the lack of ongoing therapy to the young and apparently extremely quick uptake of accessible surgery.
So in some ways, this book manages to completely gloss over the very real fight transgender people go through to live as themselves in western society, thereby failing to reflect on the ways in which the main character has had to be traumatised at a young age.
What it does instead is focus entirely on the trauma she experiences socially. Her dad continually deadnames and misgenders her. There is a long scene depicting her suicide attempt not from an explanation of how often she has learned her trans friends have succeeded. There is depictions of religious prejudice and societal homophobia/transphobia that culminate in a girl offering to be her friend even though "I think it's a sin"...and the main character THANKS HER. A bi character is shown telling people that all homophones are secretly gay, a disturbing thing to be telling kids in a book, only to progress to publically outing everyone she can think of when turned down by the straight main character. The love interests mum calls the main character a slur, he makes horrendous comments about her gender and genitalia and then offers to stick by her anyway...for which she is endlessly grateful. Her parents allow her to return to a school that has failed to protect her in a community that has harmed her.
I'm so angry. None of this is OK, particularly when none of it is then dealt with. There's no emotional arc or growth or character development here. No one learns anything or meaningfully changes their behaviour, exception only the main characters dad. There is no reflection on the trauma being unacceptable, on the need for change or the need for support and protection of rights. The book just uses trans and queer pain as plot points and acts as though that is acceptable.
And then, in this anger, I looked up the author after finishing the book and I just cannot believe any publisher is allowing this person to speak about their community with a book that includes sexual assault. Horrendous.
Nope.
Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope.
For the first quarter or so I thought this book was underwhelming representation in a YA novel. God, I wish I'd quit still thinking that.
This book is nothing short of irresponsible publishing.
For a book marketed as a light and sweet YA romance, this book is nothing, and I truly mean nothing, other than protracted queer trauma. The main character is trans - not only does this book make her ONLY identifiable 'personality' the idea that she is pretty and trans, it perpetuates harmful misunderstandings of the trans community from the singular need for top and bottom surgery, through the lack of ongoing therapy to the young and apparently extremely quick uptake of accessible surgery.
So in some ways, this book manages to completely gloss over the very real fight transgender people go through to live as themselves in western society, thereby failing to reflect on the ways in which the main character has had to be traumatised at a young age.
What it does instead is focus entirely on the trauma she experiences socially. Her dad continually deadnames and misgenders her. There is a long scene depicting her suicide attempt not from an explanation of how often she has learned her trans friends have succeeded. There is depictions of religious prejudice and societal homophobia/transphobia that culminate in a girl offering to be her friend even though "I think it's a sin"...and the main character THANKS HER. A bi character is shown telling people that all homophones are secretly gay, a disturbing thing to be telling kids in a book, only to progress to publically outing everyone she can think of when turned down by the straight main character. The love interests mum calls the main character a slur, he makes horrendous comments about her gender and genitalia and then offers to stick by her anyway...for which she is endlessly grateful. Her parents allow her to return to a school that has failed to protect her in a community that has harmed her.
I'm so angry. None of this is OK, particularly when none of it is then dealt with. There's no emotional arc or growth or character development here. No one learns anything or meaningfully changes their behaviour, exception only the main characters dad. There is no reflection on the trauma being unacceptable, on the need for change or the need for support and protection of rights. The book just uses trans and queer pain as plot points and acts as though that is acceptable.
And then, in this anger, I looked up the author after finishing the book and I just cannot believe any publisher is allowing this person to speak about their community with a book that includes sexual assault. Horrendous.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Toxic friendship
babudarabu's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Outing
Moderate: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, and Dysphoria
Minor: Mental illness, Blood, and Alcohol
bash5617's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicide
maikendignes's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying and Transphobia
reclusivebookslug's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
3.5
You gotta love a book with a trans main character, written by a trans author, with a trans model on the cover.
This was one of the first books I read about trans people when I was younger, at a time when I didn't hold any animosity toward them but was deeply uninformed on the topic. Looking back now as someone with a better grasp on the queer community, I still enjoy it. In many ways, Amanda's experience is rare, in a way that makes her story more understandable and palatable to those innocently ignorant. I admire how the author addresses this at the end of the book. I think there's some merit to introducing people to a new concept by starting with something they're more familiar with, as long as that image does not invalidate others. At the same time, Amanda is not the platonic ideal of a trans person for a cis audience, either, which balances things out for me. The book discusses her dysphoria, mental health issues, bullying, experience with transphobic hate crime, fear of rejection, and guilt about how her gender has affected her family and for "hiding" her identity from her peers in a new town.
I can't comment on the realism or relatability of the trans issues discussed, except to say that I have heard similar from other trans people, but I will say that the description of mental health issues, in particular suicidal ideation, mirrors my own experiences.
The ending, or lack thereof, is both frustrating and thematically important. It doesn't matter if she gets the guy at the end, that's out of her control. The important thing is that she has learned to accept herself and realize that she deserves love (whether or not that love comes from a specific person being mostly irrelevant). Grant does not get to determine whether or not her story has a happy ending, she does. On the other hand... I was rooting for them to be together and part of me desperately wants a fluffy monologue. The closure we get about her friends sticking by her in part makes up for the lack of romantic closure, and the friendship aspect is in many ways more important for her character.
This was one of the first books I read about trans people when I was younger, at a time when I didn't hold any animosity toward them but was deeply uninformed on the topic. Looking back now as someone with a better grasp on the queer community, I still enjoy it. In many ways, Amanda's experience is rare, in a way that makes her story more understandable and palatable to those innocently ignorant. I admire how the author addresses this at the end of the book. I think there's some merit to introducing people to a new concept by starting with something they're more familiar with, as long as that image does not invalidate others. At the same time, Amanda is not the platonic ideal of a trans person for a cis audience, either, which balances things out for me. The book discusses her dysphoria, mental health issues, bullying, experience with transphobic hate crime, fear of rejection, and guilt about how her gender has affected her family and for "hiding" her identity from her peers in a new town.
I can't comment on the realism or relatability of the trans issues discussed, except to say that I have heard similar from other trans people, but I will say that the description of mental health issues, in particular suicidal ideation, mirrors my own experiences.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Transphobia