A review by tinyelfarcanist
True You 101 by T.J. Eckhart

lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

As a trans person myself, I was intrigued by this book. Getting your body to look the way you feel inside sounds terrific. 
Trying different eye colours, heights, body types, and even genders, students are expected to find who they really are and how their bodies can represent them. 

Stereotypes are a sort of cultural shortcut that is partly created by our minds, but which are primarily taught over generations.

Going through racial and gender prejudice, the characters are supposed to become more empathic and question their own biases.
 
For all this class expects to teach them, our main character, Blake Trudeau, spends the course playing their different changes as they think they're supposed to act. They are finally called out, and there wasn't much process into it as the classes are ending soon.
 
For a book that tries to be open-minded about diversity, in a magic world where discrimination is not supposed to be as prominent as in the mortal world, they still mix gender and sex.
 
There seems to be a set-up for future books in the series as not every question is answered, but as far as I know, this is standalone.
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