A review by mezzarella
Both Can Be True by Jules Machias

emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

In Both Can Be True by Jules Machias, main characters Ash and Daniel work together to save an elderly dog from being euthanized prematurely. While the who characters bond over their dog rescuing efforts, each one has their own personal arc which unfolds over the course of the novel. Ash is adjusting to a new school and the pressure to find a label that fits their gender identity comfortably. Daniel is learning how to accept his deeply emotional and empathetic nature. While reading this novel, I reflected on many of my gender nonconforming students who are the ages of the characters in this novel. Much of what Ash describes in the novel is a similar journey that my own students are living in present day, which gives this book a great deal of power through representation. I'm thrilled that Machias is out there creating Own Voices narratives about young people who feel caught in between expectations and popular terminologies. Figuring out who you are isn't always easy, and I'm happy that stories exist in 2021 that normalize gender identity exploration.   

While reading the novel, I acknowledged that Machias' experiences create a very specific perspective of the gender nonbinary spectrum which is unique to the author. Ash feels a great deal of pressure from those they are close to and know about their gender identity to come out, even before the character has selected a label that they feel most comfortable with. The pressure to pick sides is stressful for Ash, describing themselves as Asher or Ashley at parts of the book, rather than one whole individual. The decision to choose which bathroom to enter is also a difficult one, even when gender neutral options are present. While these are all very valid and common experiences for trans and gender non-conforming people, many of Ash's pressures to identify themself came from external sources. Ash's ideologies surrounding the term gender nonbinary (that it "felt like a place people stay rather than actually are" and that it "wasn't a real thing") come from Ash's father, who places great interest in Ash picking one gender. Ash also feels pressure to choose a label from their friends also, even though past experiences that Ash has have shown how dangerous (emotionally and physically) it can be to do so. Ash's eventual identity selection culminates in a
girl at school threatening to out Ash with a bullying video which deadnames Ash. While the girl never outs Ash and is stopped by Ash's other trans friends, Ash later goes up to the girl and thanks her for giving them the push they needed to make a decision.
. While Ash's fathers ideas are challenged, they are undone by the interaction Ash has with a girl towards the end of the book. I wish there had been a part of the book where Ash recognized that while labels and coming out can be life-changing in positive ways, it should be done something in the person's own time. Ash felt constantly pushed to make a decision, which left me feeling as though there were mostly external reasons for selecting an identity. After all,  Ash stated several times throughout the book that they personally felt it was more important to just be themselves without a particular defining identity. 

Daniel's part of the story is mostly straight-forward. I appreciate that Daniel's emotions are shown to be a strength, but that he still struggles with overwhelming feelings of stress and anxiety throughout the book. Daniel's assumptions about Ash's gender identity was interesting, and it was great to see him grow into a more accepting individual over the course of the story. His responses to things outside of his comfort zone are sometimes laced with anger and harmful remarks, which made sense for his character and his own biases. Daniel exists in the story to add nuance to both gender norms, gender expression, and animal rights. While there is a lot going on in both Ash and Daniel's lives, I liked the grounding influence the two characters had on each others' lives. While there is romantic drama in the story which drives Ash and Daniel apart, a resolution is made that feels realistic and properly paced. 

Overall, this story is a great one for a middle school classroom. Even if it misses some of the marks, it is great to have a realistic story which will allow other gender nonconforming kids feel seen and represented in literature. 





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