A review by betweentheshelves
Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve

emotional informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 Thanks to Abrams for sending an ARC of this book to the library where I work! This book was on my radar and I was happy to get a chance to read it early. And I'm happy to say that I'm not disappointed! A strong coming of age story about a trans guy finding his voice.

Many of the young adult books I've read recently focus on trans teens who have already gone through their coming out. What I liked about this is it takes us through Dean's process of coming out, the highs and the lows. He joins a support group, and they show him that there is no single way to be trans. This group, this found family is one of the best things about this book. Dean gets the support he needs through them, and his friends from school.

However, Dean's journey isn't without struggles. There are some instances of bullying and his mother isn't super accepting. Stoeve does an excellent job showing the complex feelings surrounding Dean's relationship with his mother. The analogies they use throughout the book are helpful for all kinds of readers, but I especially think trans teens will connect to it.

There were also a lot of great discussions about privilege within the queer community, since Dean's best friend is Black. There's also a lot of emphasis on the fact that trans teens need spaces to figure out their identity, to be able to have the support of others that know what they're going through. All around, there are just so many great messages in this book. 

Since I'm not trans myself, I'd recommend checking out some own voices reviews on Goodreads!
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