A review by kateywumpus
The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy

4.0

So few books about trans people really explore the idea of gender euphoria which, I think, is a damn shame. Out of everything, I think gender euphoria defines what it means to be trans more than dysphoria does, after all, not all trans people get dysphoria. It's just nice to see a book about a trans girl who's still figuring herself out, and getting those little giddy moments when her gender is validated. There's a point in the story when the main character finds out that there's a spell that could give her a girl's body only to realize later that she already *has* a girl's body. Towards the end of the book, she's in a situation where she says 'I don't want to die a boy,' and the people that she's with tell her, 'Idiot. You're a girl.' and that gives her strength.

All in all the book is pretty good, and a fun read. My only real complaint with it is that the bad guy at the end is almost ludicrously two-dimensional. I would have hoped for a little more nuance there, but sometimes YA books just be like that. Not much more to say other than I give it four stars.