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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
Definitely interesting and valuable to help people understand transgender issues, but overall, I found the book tedious and the retelling of Nicole's transformation overly theatrical. I am not disregarding the situations this family faced, only that the author's word choice rubbed me the wrong way...
Great primer for those who are new to the topic and engaging for those already in the know. This is as much the story of a family's struggle as it is about Nicole's essential self. I would live to read more about this family.
Amazing story, and the book was very well written. The educational parts (a lot of which were new to me) were smoothly integrated with the story of the Maines family. As a parent the book takes the wind right out of you, and I hope I could do as well by my kids.
Thought provoking
To watch this family struggle, grow and love through it all was eye opening and beautiful. It was particularly touching to read Wayne's growth. When he finally understood that he loved his daughter I cried.
To watch this family struggle, grow and love through it all was eye opening and beautiful. It was particularly touching to read Wayne's growth. When he finally understood that he loved his daughter I cried.
Valuable first-hand account
I chose this book because I wanted to gain a better understanding of what it means to be transgender. This book allowed me to walk side by side with the Maines, experiencing what they experienced and because of that I evolved alongside them as well. This book helped me understand what transgender is from the inside out and experience the pain and joy that came with it. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs an awakening.
I chose this book because I wanted to gain a better understanding of what it means to be transgender. This book allowed me to walk side by side with the Maines, experiencing what they experienced and because of that I evolved alongside them as well. This book helped me understand what transgender is from the inside out and experience the pain and joy that came with it. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs an awakening.
Becoming Nicole is the true story of a Nicole (born as Wyatt) Maines and her family. Nicole's parents, Wayne and Kelly adopted her and her brother, Jonas, when they were infant twin boys. As early as toddler's, Wayne and Kelly noticed that each boy gravitated to different types of toys & activities: Jonas to trucks and traditional boy toys, Wyatt to dress-up clothes and dolls. There is a scene in the book where Wyatt, age 2, is dancing in a tutu in front of his reflection in the oven door. Happily adoring the swishing of the skirt. As he grew older and better able to verbalize his thoughts, he asked Kelly when it was his turn to be a girl and referred to himself as a boy-girl. (Those broke my heart.) As Wyatt grows up, his parents must decide how much of his desire to 'be a girl' they should allow and, as puberty approaches, what is the best way to allow him to transition. None of these discussions or decisions are handled lightly and without some conflict. And although they receive a lot of support from their friends & school, not everyone is accepting. In fact, a battle for Nicole to use the girl’s bathroom in middle school leads to a landmark decision in favor of transgender rights.
Pulitzer prize-winning author, Amy Ellis Nutt, spent four years reporting the story of the Maines family and getting so close that the Nicole and Jonas call her Aunt Amy. The thoroughness of the book reflects this intimacy. Although Nicole might be the center of the story, Amy Ellis Nutt captures the perspective of each family member: Kelly, Wayne, and Jonas. Kelly arms herself with research and knowledge from the transgender community and doctors specializing in gender issues. Wayne has a harder time with Nicole's transition but ultimate becomes a vocal advocate for transgender rights. What I remember about Jonas is that he unconditionally accepted his sister and at one point says he always considered Nicole his sister - even as a young child.
Amy Ellis Nutt is a health & science writer for the Washington Post so there are several chapters about the science behind sex development and gender development which I found fascinating and illuminating. It explained a lot to me. This is one of the first books I have read about the transgender experience, and I highly recommend it as a first read on the topic.
Transgender rights and issues are in the political spotlight right now. If more people afraid of transgender people would take the time to read Nicole’s story and learn about other’s experiences, I think there might be more empathy and acceptance. We can hope.
(If you are looking for a novel with transgenders as the main characters, I recommend Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters. I reviewed that on Goodreads as well.)
Pulitzer prize-winning author, Amy Ellis Nutt, spent four years reporting the story of the Maines family and getting so close that the Nicole and Jonas call her Aunt Amy. The thoroughness of the book reflects this intimacy. Although Nicole might be the center of the story, Amy Ellis Nutt captures the perspective of each family member: Kelly, Wayne, and Jonas. Kelly arms herself with research and knowledge from the transgender community and doctors specializing in gender issues. Wayne has a harder time with Nicole's transition but ultimate becomes a vocal advocate for transgender rights. What I remember about Jonas is that he unconditionally accepted his sister and at one point says he always considered Nicole his sister - even as a young child.
Amy Ellis Nutt is a health & science writer for the Washington Post so there are several chapters about the science behind sex development and gender development which I found fascinating and illuminating. It explained a lot to me. This is one of the first books I have read about the transgender experience, and I highly recommend it as a first read on the topic.
Transgender rights and issues are in the political spotlight right now. If more people afraid of transgender people would take the time to read Nicole’s story and learn about other’s experiences, I think there might be more empathy and acceptance. We can hope.
(If you are looking for a novel with transgenders as the main characters, I recommend Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters. I reviewed that on Goodreads as well.)
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I first heard about Nicole during an NPR interview of Kelly and Wayne. I consider myself a very progressive person and accepting of all gender identities yet didn't know squat about the actual science and biology of a transgendered person. This book is such an important read for ALL families. I wish the Maines family all the best and commend Amy Ellis Nutt for putting her pen to paper on such a serious issue.
Complete, original review can be seen here, on my blog: https://herewearegoing.wordpress.com/2015/12/22/reading-in-brief-and-year-end-rush/
Reportage rather than biography, this covers the becoming of a transgender girl, and the awakenings of her identical twin brother, parents, and community. The bigotry and ignorance she encounters is predictably horrifying, the end result reasonably heartwarming, but, I wished for more of her voice, her feelings about the experience. That really wasn’t what this book was; instead, it had the feel of an extended, padded newspaper personality/social issues piece – a bit rushed and surface.
Reportage rather than biography, this covers the becoming of a transgender girl, and the awakenings of her identical twin brother, parents, and community. The bigotry and ignorance she encounters is predictably horrifying, the end result reasonably heartwarming, but, I wished for more of her voice, her feelings about the experience. That really wasn’t what this book was; instead, it had the feel of an extended, padded newspaper personality/social issues piece – a bit rushed and surface.