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I pretty much enjoy any book that features trans characters but this one was kind of disappointing in all other respects. All of the characters seemed kind of flat and, although they appeared to be going through all the appropriate motions, most (if not all) lacked the emotional depth that allows me as a reader to really get into and love a book. The writing style was fine, the plotline was fine, most things were fine, but it just didn't have that sincere heart that it could have.
every library with a young adult section (and in turn, every high school library) should have this book in their collection. cris beam writes her characters and dialogue so realistically; i could even picture j's photography in my mind.
also: the only reason i gave it 4 stars because it took me a while to really get into it, the story takes time to develop.
also: the only reason i gave it 4 stars because it took me a while to really get into it, the story takes time to develop.
Being born male in a female body and dealing with that, silently, for your whole life....that's where we meet J at the beginning of his senior year. This book puts you inside J's head...and is intriguing and illuminating. Very much enjoyed. Fascinating.
3.5 stars. Unique, flawed, first person point of view of a transboy. While J's story is moving, at times he comes across as a complete asshole. He pushes away the people who can help him, ostracizes himself from the people who love and struggle to understand him, and elevates himself (in his mind) to a status far above the people in situations similar to him. Overall, this book is a glimpse into the life of a teen who is struggling to answer the age old question: "Who am I?"
A very thought-provoking book following a transgender teenage boy, J, as he realizes he wants to transition while dealing with the complications of love, family, and getting into college. J is a wonderfully realized character; at times he can be downright unlikable, but he's very real and his reactions to the troubled time he's going through are understandable. Although I'm not trans myself, J's feelings seem very authentic. Whenever someone refers to J as a girl or she, it feels like an insult. I'm also glad the book touched into other complex issues of gender and sexuality, such as J's friend calling him on his homophobia and J wondering why his transwoman friend follows such strict gender roles. As J is just learning about transgenderism, transitioning, and the LGBT community, some parts of the book can feel a bit expositiony--but some lessons need to be taught, especially for trans teens new to the community and cisgendered readers who don't know what their trans peers are going through.
I liked the concept but the writing was really weak. J felt like nothing but a prop, rather than a character I cared about.
Important topic. But I had a hard time getting involved with the story. It seemed very distant - not quite didactic, but almost like a book report.