Author: Alex Gino

I received this book for free from Scholastic in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

BE WHO YOU ARE.

When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

What a wonderful book!! This is a MG book about a transgender girl and I can not give enough love to this. So many younger kids may know that they are not in fact the gender they are born, and this is the first book I have read that is targeted toward younger kids. George is 10 years old and she is a girl. She knows she is, but no one else does. I know from discussing with people that this may be a book that rubs some people the wrong way due to the targeted age, but I think it’s perfect. For people to say that it’s too young and that kids that age don’t know, I think that is ignorant. No one can tell someone what they feel or know in their mind and their heart. I think this is a fantastic eye opening book about what a transgender girl of this age might be going though. And I absolutely loved how from the start, there are only female pronouns used for George, since she is a girl. 🙂

George is a girl. Not by birth, but she knows she is. The only thing is, no one else knows. She has one really great best friend who she thinks would be understanding, but she doesn’t know how to tell her. When George discovers that they will be doing Charlotte’s Web for the school play, she wants more than anything to be Charlotte. When she doesn’t get it because she’s a boy, that hurts her. She finally comes clean with her best friend that she is a girl and they devise a plan so she can play Charlotte without anyone knowing until it’s too late. She also does tell her mom and brother. Her brother is super supportive and takes it well, but her mom is a bit put off at first. It’s a shock, but she comes around. Her rock through the whole thing is her best friend though, who she can just be herself around. Things aren’t always easy, but George is strong. And she prefers to go by Melissa. I loved her!!

I think that it is so great that there is a book for younger kids about being transgender. I love that a younger person who may be going through the confusion of how to tell people, or what things will be like in school could find this book helpful. To know that they aren’t alone. To be able to lose themselves in a story that they can relate to. It makes me so happy to see how much this community has grown and how many books are out there for everyone to read. Especially younger people. No matter what anyone else may say about this not being great for younger kids, I disagree. I think it is the best thing for younger kids. For any younger person regardless of whether this is a situation they are facing or not. It spreads awareness. It helps people who might feel alone. It is just a great book to get lost in. It was an uplifting and beautiful story!! I hope that this book finds its way to many, many hands!!

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