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kerrygibbons's review
4.0
Very quick book. Might be because it’s for preteens. Main character is 11-12 years old so... that’s a thing. The nice thing about that is it eliminated the complication of sexual attraction or a love story being shoehorned into the story, which is refreshing. Especially for a book with an lgbt protagonist.
I’d definitely be down to read another book starring Liv and Jacob... but I don’t know that it needs to exist either.
So yeah. Conflicting thoughts on that I guess.
I’d definitely be down to read another book starring Liv and Jacob... but I don’t know that it needs to exist either.
So yeah. Conflicting thoughts on that I guess.
tellingetienne's review
4.0
The Pants Project is a cute and easily digestible story that is about being true to yourself and standing up for what you need in your life. I am delighted to see more LGBTQ themes creeping into middle grade fiction, and I wasn’t disappointed in this novel. I don’t read a lot of middle grade fiction, but I’m quick to pick up stories featuring transgender/genderqueer main characters so of course I reached for this one.
While it is very much an ~issue~ novel, it’s never presented in an uncomfortable or exploitative fashion. And it isn’t that Liv’s transness is the issue; Liv’s parents are lesbians, and honestly, that’s more of an issue in the book than Liv’s transness. The novel is more about coming into your own, making your own way, discovering new friends, and learning that sometimes you are going to lose old ones along the way.
There is some mild homophobic and transphobic language (kids lashing out at assigned at birth gender non-conformance and ew~ gay people language) but no physical violence, which was also a relief.
While it is very much an ~issue~ novel, it’s never presented in an uncomfortable or exploitative fashion. And it isn’t that Liv’s transness is the issue; Liv’s parents are lesbians, and honestly, that’s more of an issue in the book than Liv’s transness. The novel is more about coming into your own, making your own way, discovering new friends, and learning that sometimes you are going to lose old ones along the way.
There is some mild homophobic and transphobic language (kids lashing out at assigned at birth gender non-conformance and ew~ gay people language) but no physical violence, which was also a relief.
withthebanned's review
4.0
I loved the Pants Project! I loved that it tells the story of a transgender teen who was born a girl, but identifies as a boy as I feel like there is a lack of representation on this in teen fiction. I loved Liv's parents and her friendships. Everything felt very real to me. The middle grade setting was spot on. Recommended.
moxiegirlzriot's review
5.0
How outdated is it for a school uniform to force girls and AFAB people to wear skirts? Outdated enough that The Pants Project and Liv Spark decide to take them on. Full of middle school angst that is just real enough, middle school mean girls that make you want to tear your hair out, and those moments of learning your own self that you never want to repeat. A great story for middle school readers everywhere
cseanread's review
5.0
I don't even know where to start. I loved this. It made me want to reach into the book and hug Liv and let him know that I understand, he's not alone.... ugh. My feels.
There were so many times while reading this that I had to pause and breathe, because the wording was just so Spot On for what it felt like being young and knowing something about me wasn't quite matching up to the world around me, that I didn't fit for reasons beyond just being quirky or liking weird flavors or whatever. And there was another line that hit really hard... and I forgot to write it down before returning the book... but it something to the effect of Liv telling a small lie, and it's not bad to tell a small lie, if that small lie doesn't hurt anyone, right? And it was about Liv not telling his mom about him being trans, or the issues at school. And it just hit SO incredibly hard because my entire childhood was built on telling these small little lies to keep from hurting those close to me... but at the expense of myself. And if a lie only hurts you, but no one else, then that's okay too right? It's not.... but that's how I viewed things for a long time.
Anyway. This book is just phenomenal. I commend the author for doing due diligence and making sure to characterize Liv in a real and empowering way. I love the friendships and the messages behind certain events in the book. It was just such a great read. Can't recommend it enough!
There were so many times while reading this that I had to pause and breathe, because the wording was just so Spot On for what it felt like being young and knowing something about me wasn't quite matching up to the world around me, that I didn't fit for reasons beyond just being quirky or liking weird flavors or whatever. And there was another line that hit really hard... and I forgot to write it down before returning the book... but it something to the effect of Liv telling a small lie, and it's not bad to tell a small lie, if that small lie doesn't hurt anyone, right? And it was about Liv not telling his mom about him being trans, or the issues at school. And it just hit SO incredibly hard because my entire childhood was built on telling these small little lies to keep from hurting those close to me... but at the expense of myself. And if a lie only hurts you, but no one else, then that's okay too right? It's not.... but that's how I viewed things for a long time.
Anyway. This book is just phenomenal. I commend the author for doing due diligence and making sure to characterize Liv in a real and empowering way. I love the friendships and the messages behind certain events in the book. It was just such a great read. Can't recommend it enough!
mindfullibrarian's review
5.0
I’m reviewing this one in list form because that’s how my brain is working today:
- Best middle grade social issue fiction I have read to date
- Best book with two moms I have read to date (best about 2 dads is “The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher” and its sequel)
- Perfectly depicts what so often happens with school bullying and the reactions of teachers ~ initial horror and condemnation of the bully, but no follow-up. AND the inability to erase the fact that kids already heard the horrible words said.
- Liv being trans isn’t the entire point of the book and I love that. I mean, I love that he’s trans, but I appreciate that the journey in the book is about the dress code. It helps portray Liv as a more complex character that all kids can relate to, and puts him being trans into the “oh, and he’s trans” category of character traits, rather than “he’s TRANS!!!! AND NOTHING ELSE!!!!” This helps erase the “otherness” that is so often placed upon characters different than the reader, and translates toward opinions of people in real life.
- I am NOT trans, but I can relate fully to the agony of wearing clothes that don’t fit who I am, and I love how the characters react to having to wear tights. It’s 100% the way I react as a 30-something adult female!
I will be purchasing for both of my school libraries and doing a book talk on it with my middle grades.
- Best middle grade social issue fiction I have read to date
- Best book with two moms I have read to date (best about 2 dads is “The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher” and its sequel)
- Perfectly depicts what so often happens with school bullying and the reactions of teachers ~ initial horror and condemnation of the bully, but no follow-up. AND the inability to erase the fact that kids already heard the horrible words said.
- Liv being trans isn’t the entire point of the book and I love that. I mean, I love that he’s trans, but I appreciate that the journey in the book is about the dress code. It helps portray Liv as a more complex character that all kids can relate to, and puts him being trans into the “oh, and he’s trans” category of character traits, rather than “he’s TRANS!!!! AND NOTHING ELSE!!!!” This helps erase the “otherness” that is so often placed upon characters different than the reader, and translates toward opinions of people in real life.
- I am NOT trans, but I can relate fully to the agony of wearing clothes that don’t fit who I am, and I love how the characters react to having to wear tights. It’s 100% the way I react as a 30-something adult female!
I will be purchasing for both of my school libraries and doing a book talk on it with my middle grades.