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Melissa
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.
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.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2015
943 people are currently reading
38.5k people want to read
About the author
Alex Gino
11books943followersAlex Gino loves glitter, ice cream, gardening, awe-ful puns, and stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of being alive.
Gino is genderqueer and uses singular they pronouns and the honorific Mx.
Gino is genderqueer and uses singular they pronouns and the honorific Mx.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,338 reviews
January 13, 2019
George stopped. It was such a short, little question, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the sounds.
Mom, what if I’m a girl?
This might be the most important novel released this year. is a sensitive, honest, and much-needed story about a trans girl.
The simplicity of the story makes it even more emotional. Alex Gino never tries too hard to turn this book into a lesson, and there is no attempt to make us cry, but - personally - I think the subtle sadness, frustration and loneliness of George's tale is what makes it so incredibly powerful and moving.
It's an important subject, but like all great stories, this novel's strength comes not from what it is about, but how it is told. One might think a first person narrative would make us feel closer to George and her story, but the clever third person narration immediately introduces George in female pronouns - a fact that completely changes the way we read the book. George is not a boy wanting to be a girl, but a girl in a world where no one else can see it. It's an important distinction.
is a middle-grade book, but that didn't put me off in the slightest. It follows George as she longs to play Charlotte in her school play but is told she cannot even audition for the part because she is a boy. But she knows that she's a girl. And she wants more than anything for the rest of the world to see it.
The story is sad and eye-opening - partly because of the bullying George endures, but even more so because of her loving mom's inability to understand:
“You will always be my little boy, and that will never change. Even when you grow up to be an old man, I will still love you as my son.�
Though, ultimately, this is not a depressing book. It's a heartwarming tale about learning to accept who you are, and it also educates the reader. It tells other Georges out there that they are not alone, that they have options, and that there is a support network available to them.
We should be giving this book to all children - male, female, transgender, intersex, genderqueer, or otherwise.
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June 30, 2023
How woke can you be? This is the story of George, who is a boy who wants to play Charlotte in the school play of Charlotte's Web and plots with his friend to not only do so but to come out as Melissa. It would be a terrible thing to deadname a fictional character right? Especially since it is important that George be identified as a boy in the book until he enlightens everyone to the fact that outsides be damned, he was really Melissa, a girl. I think the renaming of the book was a mistake.
__________
If you met me, you'd think I was a very girlie girl (superannuated!) I've got curly red hair and I'm curvy in all the right places (and some more, sadly) and a definite girlie voice. But what I'm into is adventure. I've sailed an ocean, lived up the Amazon, hunted with spears, flown a plane, climbed a mountain, driven at Daytona, done off-road driving, trekked in a desert etc . What I've never done is had a white wedding, I've never had a husband I've called my DH, I have never had a spa day, I've never baked or owned a frilly 50s pinny, although I do wear make up and high heels and pretty lingerie, and lots of feminine things like that.
I've fought, not always nicely or fairly, against bosses that expected me to do things like make them coffee or pick up shopping or anything they wouldn't ask a male employee to do. I fixed computers and other stuff they thought I couldn't do instead. Admission: I put salt in one guy's coffee after he asked three times for coffee and never once got me one. I made another guy's computer play 'Captain Hornpipe' when it switched on. And I deleted all the 'E's in his documents. Actually I lie. I did it to the whole office, everyone lost their Es. I was good at that sort of shit back then. I got fired.
When I was a little girl I preferred shorts to dresses, although I did have a favourite green velvet one. I climbed trees, rode a bike, preferred Dandy and the Beano to the girlie magazines. I read all the time and was always 'inventing' things from cardboard and spools of thread. My only interest in dolls was taking them apart to see how they worked.
All my friends, four of us, were like this. We all had long hair and I suppose were pretty because all little girls are. But we scoffed at the girls who dressed their dollies, played house and liked skipping games and talked about party dresses and silver shoes. We had a lot of freedom in those days and spent whole days out in the country, home only by teatime. So we would outfit ourselves with sandwiches, squash, apples and Cadbury's fruit and nut bars, pocket knives, ropes and binoculars and go off exploring. Without boys. The ones we knew liked doing the same things but they always wanted us to do things their way.
We didn't feel like boys.
So why is it that every time I read of a boy who thinks he is a girl inside, or a man who has or wants to transition, they always talk of how they always liked pink best, read girlie magazines and tried on their sister's and mother's clothes and wanted to wear makeup? I'm not saying they aren't transgender, I'm saying why is it always these things that define femaleness, womanhood, being a girl for them?
None of these things define us at all. I was no less a girl for crying one birthday when I was given a very expensive doll and miniature Silver Cross pram and refusing to touch it (it went back to the shop three days later) because I wanted a Meccano set and a remote-controlled Scalectrix race track with a chicane like my brother.
I am not discussing here any other issues to do with transgender, I'm only commenting on one issue, so no trolling and telling me I'm a TERF and all that shit.
If the definition of gender has changed from being the sex your body is to the one your mind is insisting on. Then why does this very false definition of what makes up a girl persist as a defining experience they all seem to have had? It's like saying that I wasn't a proper girl if I didn't like those things because that's what femininity in little girls is all about. Or else maybe in my brain I wasn't a 'proper girl'? I wonder if I might have had thoughts of transgender put into my head for my preferences in clothes and playing if I'd been a child now? That started off being a rhetorical question, but I'm not sure....
Can a boy not like doing the things I liked, 'boy' things and then say he feels like a girl? Would that be jeered at unless he did like pink, want to wear dresses and mess with his mother's make up?
__________
If you met me, you'd think I was a very girlie girl (superannuated!) I've got curly red hair and I'm curvy in all the right places (and some more, sadly) and a definite girlie voice. But what I'm into is adventure. I've sailed an ocean, lived up the Amazon, hunted with spears, flown a plane, climbed a mountain, driven at Daytona, done off-road driving, trekked in a desert etc . What I've never done is had a white wedding, I've never had a husband I've called my DH, I have never had a spa day, I've never baked or owned a frilly 50s pinny, although I do wear make up and high heels and pretty lingerie, and lots of feminine things like that.
I've fought, not always nicely or fairly, against bosses that expected me to do things like make them coffee or pick up shopping or anything they wouldn't ask a male employee to do. I fixed computers and other stuff they thought I couldn't do instead. Admission: I put salt in one guy's coffee after he asked three times for coffee and never once got me one. I made another guy's computer play 'Captain Hornpipe' when it switched on. And I deleted all the 'E's in his documents. Actually I lie. I did it to the whole office, everyone lost their Es. I was good at that sort of shit back then. I got fired.
When I was a little girl I preferred shorts to dresses, although I did have a favourite green velvet one. I climbed trees, rode a bike, preferred Dandy and the Beano to the girlie magazines. I read all the time and was always 'inventing' things from cardboard and spools of thread. My only interest in dolls was taking them apart to see how they worked.
All my friends, four of us, were like this. We all had long hair and I suppose were pretty because all little girls are. But we scoffed at the girls who dressed their dollies, played house and liked skipping games and talked about party dresses and silver shoes. We had a lot of freedom in those days and spent whole days out in the country, home only by teatime. So we would outfit ourselves with sandwiches, squash, apples and Cadbury's fruit and nut bars, pocket knives, ropes and binoculars and go off exploring. Without boys. The ones we knew liked doing the same things but they always wanted us to do things their way.
We didn't feel like boys.
So why is it that every time I read of a boy who thinks he is a girl inside, or a man who has or wants to transition, they always talk of how they always liked pink best, read girlie magazines and tried on their sister's and mother's clothes and wanted to wear makeup? I'm not saying they aren't transgender, I'm saying why is it always these things that define femaleness, womanhood, being a girl for them?
None of these things define us at all. I was no less a girl for crying one birthday when I was given a very expensive doll and miniature Silver Cross pram and refusing to touch it (it went back to the shop three days later) because I wanted a Meccano set and a remote-controlled Scalectrix race track with a chicane like my brother.
I am not discussing here any other issues to do with transgender, I'm only commenting on one issue, so no trolling and telling me I'm a TERF and all that shit.
If the definition of gender has changed from being the sex your body is to the one your mind is insisting on. Then why does this very false definition of what makes up a girl persist as a defining experience they all seem to have had? It's like saying that I wasn't a proper girl if I didn't like those things because that's what femininity in little girls is all about. Or else maybe in my brain I wasn't a 'proper girl'? I wonder if I might have had thoughts of transgender put into my head for my preferences in clothes and playing if I'd been a child now? That started off being a rhetorical question, but I'm not sure....
Can a boy not like doing the things I liked, 'boy' things and then say he feels like a girl? Would that be jeered at unless he did like pink, want to wear dresses and mess with his mother's make up?
August 19, 2015
This year, only two books have made me cry so hard I had to stop reading. This was one of them.
But it's not because it's sad--it's actually a sweet, hopeful book filled with the ordinary joys of childhood. It's more the understanding of how isolated the Georges of the world must feel, and the hope that every single one of us takes the time to listen, to understand, to be supportive, and to be kind.
Review to come.
But it's not because it's sad--it's actually a sweet, hopeful book filled with the ordinary joys of childhood. It's more the understanding of how isolated the Georges of the world must feel, and the hope that every single one of us takes the time to listen, to understand, to be supportive, and to be kind.
Review to come.
July 9, 2019
The cutest.
March 21, 2017
I honestly could not give this book any less than 5 stars. It was beautiful and heartwarming. I felt so much for George and really connected to her. This book is just so important, and whilst as a middle-grade this is an easy ready with a simple writing style, I think that everyone should read it.
September 5, 2015
This review is also posted at
Before I get into my review of this story, I need to tell you a little bit about myself, because my own personal experiences heavily impacted my thoughts on this novel.
When I was in elementary school, I did swim team and softball. In middle school, I gravitated towards martial arts and rock climbing. In high school, I played a lot of tennis, basketball and bowling. I went to college to go work in motorsports. Starting in middle school, I started wearing jeans from the boys' department, because I didn't like how tightly formed jeans from the girls' department were (especially how useless the pockets were). And you were likely to catch me in a t-shirt of my favorite sports team pared with it (and NEVER with a purse, as I don't own one since I have pants that have usable pockets and thus don't need one). I even kept my hair cut short to help keep the sweat off my neck in the summer.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I was/still am a "tomboy". As I got older, things didn't "improve" much. Instead of going shopping at the mall, I went to hockey games with my dad. And instead of watching Dancing with the Stars with my mom, I would either be outside playing kickball or playing Around the World with the neighborhood kids or I would be sitting in front of the tube watching an IndyCar race with my dad.
So now let's look at George. A charming fourth grader, George is struggling with her identity. She knows she's a girl, even though she was born inside a boy's body. She has a secret stash of Seventeen magazines (which I never personally read) she has to keep hidden from her mother and her older brother, because she doesn't think they will understand. She has to deal with constant taunting from boys at school, one of which was kind of her friend for a while, and a school play dear to her heart that is not going the way she would like at all.
I love little George, don't get me wrong. I can relate to little George, because in a lot of ways I struggled with some of the same insecurities as she does. Luckily, I had a dad who embraced my love of sports, and not a mother who told me I needed to conform.
I have two issues with this novel, and neither have to do with George herself, but more of the way Gino tries to send a message about transgender kids and kids alike. The first one being that I did not like that George resorts to bullying to counteract bullying. That is not a message I would ever send my kids. I know sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire, but what George does sends the wrong message completely (especially with how the adults deal with it).
The second, and much more important, is how Gino treats gender stereotypes. This is a hugely personal topic for me, since I've always been labeled a "tomboy". While I understand the difficulties of being transgender in today's society, Gino makes George out to be transgender simply because he doesn't fit his own gender stereotypes. In addition, it's kind of offensive the way Gino portrays what it means to be a girl.
To George, being a girl means she gets to wear lots of makeup. First of all, I don't want my fourth grader wearing makeup. Second of all, I never wear makeup even now. It also means getting to try on high heels and wear a skirt. Because, and a character in this novel points out, "When girls dress up, they wear skirts. I have a lot to teach you about being a girl." Being a girl DOES NOT mean you have to wear a skirt or a dress to dress up. My version of dress up is a button down blouse and a nice pair of black slacks. Over high heels, I wear a pair of very nice sneakers or flats.
Another character makes the comment to George, "No offense, but you don't make a very good boy." What the heck is that supposed to mean? Because George would rather play Mario Kart and read Seventeen magazine over playing bloody first person shooter games with his brother, he doesn't make a good boy? The gender stereotypes in this book are INSANE.
Yes, I think it's important that we stop being so narrow minded and judgmental about transgender people. Yes, I love George with all my heart. But I would not want a son or daughter, or even a niece or nephew of mine, to read this book and think that they ever have to act a certain way or do certain things or dress in certain clothes because that is what society has decided is "appropriate". I think Gino tries to bring one social issue - treatment of transgender people - to light by throwing another important social issue - gender stereotypes - completely under the bus. That part of this book I found highly offensive, through no fault of George's. And I realize perhaps I am reading too much into it and that a fourth grader or someone in the target audience for this book would not even realize what I saw, but I wouldn't give it to them to ever make that mistake.
Before I get into my review of this story, I need to tell you a little bit about myself, because my own personal experiences heavily impacted my thoughts on this novel.
When I was in elementary school, I did swim team and softball. In middle school, I gravitated towards martial arts and rock climbing. In high school, I played a lot of tennis, basketball and bowling. I went to college to go work in motorsports. Starting in middle school, I started wearing jeans from the boys' department, because I didn't like how tightly formed jeans from the girls' department were (especially how useless the pockets were). And you were likely to catch me in a t-shirt of my favorite sports team pared with it (and NEVER with a purse, as I don't own one since I have pants that have usable pockets and thus don't need one). I even kept my hair cut short to help keep the sweat off my neck in the summer.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I was/still am a "tomboy". As I got older, things didn't "improve" much. Instead of going shopping at the mall, I went to hockey games with my dad. And instead of watching Dancing with the Stars with my mom, I would either be outside playing kickball or playing Around the World with the neighborhood kids or I would be sitting in front of the tube watching an IndyCar race with my dad.
So now let's look at George. A charming fourth grader, George is struggling with her identity. She knows she's a girl, even though she was born inside a boy's body. She has a secret stash of Seventeen magazines (which I never personally read) she has to keep hidden from her mother and her older brother, because she doesn't think they will understand. She has to deal with constant taunting from boys at school, one of which was kind of her friend for a while, and a school play dear to her heart that is not going the way she would like at all.
I love little George, don't get me wrong. I can relate to little George, because in a lot of ways I struggled with some of the same insecurities as she does. Luckily, I had a dad who embraced my love of sports, and not a mother who told me I needed to conform.
I have two issues with this novel, and neither have to do with George herself, but more of the way Gino tries to send a message about transgender kids and kids alike. The first one being that I did not like that George resorts to bullying to counteract bullying. That is not a message I would ever send my kids. I know sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire, but what George does sends the wrong message completely (especially with how the adults deal with it).
The second, and much more important, is how Gino treats gender stereotypes. This is a hugely personal topic for me, since I've always been labeled a "tomboy". While I understand the difficulties of being transgender in today's society, Gino makes George out to be transgender simply because he doesn't fit his own gender stereotypes. In addition, it's kind of offensive the way Gino portrays what it means to be a girl.
To George, being a girl means she gets to wear lots of makeup. First of all, I don't want my fourth grader wearing makeup. Second of all, I never wear makeup even now. It also means getting to try on high heels and wear a skirt. Because, and a character in this novel points out, "When girls dress up, they wear skirts. I have a lot to teach you about being a girl." Being a girl DOES NOT mean you have to wear a skirt or a dress to dress up. My version of dress up is a button down blouse and a nice pair of black slacks. Over high heels, I wear a pair of very nice sneakers or flats.
Another character makes the comment to George, "No offense, but you don't make a very good boy." What the heck is that supposed to mean? Because George would rather play Mario Kart and read Seventeen magazine over playing bloody first person shooter games with his brother, he doesn't make a good boy? The gender stereotypes in this book are INSANE.
Yes, I think it's important that we stop being so narrow minded and judgmental about transgender people. Yes, I love George with all my heart. But I would not want a son or daughter, or even a niece or nephew of mine, to read this book and think that they ever have to act a certain way or do certain things or dress in certain clothes because that is what society has decided is "appropriate". I think Gino tries to bring one social issue - treatment of transgender people - to light by throwing another important social issue - gender stereotypes - completely under the bus. That part of this book I found highly offensive, through no fault of George's. And I realize perhaps I am reading too much into it and that a fourth grader or someone in the target audience for this book would not even realize what I saw, but I wouldn't give it to them to ever make that mistake.
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February 7, 2017This was so wonderful. I've said this before but I LOVE seeing LGBTQ+ middle grade books. Society has a problem of thinking these topics are inappropriate for kids and that is so backwards and harmful.
This is about George/Melissa, a 10 year old girl born as a boy. I loved how Gino used female pronouns through the entire book. This was so lovely to see, since George thought of herself as a girl. Gino explained what transgender means in such a simple way for kids to understand.
This book is so important no matter your age. I highly recommend.
This is about George/Melissa, a 10 year old girl born as a boy. I loved how Gino used female pronouns through the entire book. This was so lovely to see, since George thought of herself as a girl. Gino explained what transgender means in such a simple way for kids to understand.
This book is so important no matter your age. I highly recommend.
November 9, 2017
“It takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination.�
This book had me right from the start. George is such a sweet and special character. You want to hug her and tell her everything will be alright.
I don't think I need to tell people how important representation is, especially for kids. I hope this book will help readers understand and open their eyes, as well as help many families and children in similar situations.
This book had me right from the start. George is such a sweet and special character. You want to hug her and tell her everything will be alright.
I don't think I need to tell people how important representation is, especially for kids. I hope this book will help readers understand and open their eyes, as well as help many families and children in similar situations.
June 6, 2017
Well, this was just exactly as good as everyone said it was. I'm so happy after finishing this.
March 7, 2016
A George le dicen que es un chico, pero no siente que lo sea. Una novela sobre conocerse a sí mismo, ser aceptado y aceptarse.
La historia que me he encontrado en esta novela me ha sorprendido y gustado a partes iguales. No me esperaba un tono tan 'infantil', pero creo que es justamente lo que la novela necesitaba. Una niña de unos diez años encerrada en un cuerpo de chico vive una pesadilla continúa, teniendo que ocultar su verdadera identidad de su familia, amigos y compañeros de clase.
Con escenas de bullying, conversaciones familiares y varios personajes que hacen frente a su confesión, la novela es realmente interesante pues consigue plasmar perfectamente la incomprensión de un mundo cerrado de mente, cuadriculado y opresor.
George. Simplemente sé tú mismo es, sin embargo, una novela que se queda como algo superficial. No he conseguido conectar del todo con Melissa (el nombre con el que George se siente de verdad identificada), y me han faltado escenas más llenas de emoción -aunque las que tenía con su mejor amiga Kelly han sido lo mejor de la novela.
Me ha dejado muy buen sabor de boca, y es una novela que no me cansaré de recomendar. Quizá es porque es un tema que me interesa y del que ya sabía muchas cosas por lo que la novela no me ha terminado de llegar, pero para la gente que desconozca esta realidad puede cambiarles la vida. Además, creo que es una novela que no expone la transexualidad como si fuera un elemento de circo, sino que lo normaliza, y eso es lo mejor que se podría haber hecho. Genial para niños y niñas de la edad del protagonista. Muy recomendable.
La historia que me he encontrado en esta novela me ha sorprendido y gustado a partes iguales. No me esperaba un tono tan 'infantil', pero creo que es justamente lo que la novela necesitaba. Una niña de unos diez años encerrada en un cuerpo de chico vive una pesadilla continúa, teniendo que ocultar su verdadera identidad de su familia, amigos y compañeros de clase.
Con escenas de bullying, conversaciones familiares y varios personajes que hacen frente a su confesión, la novela es realmente interesante pues consigue plasmar perfectamente la incomprensión de un mundo cerrado de mente, cuadriculado y opresor.
George. Simplemente sé tú mismo es, sin embargo, una novela que se queda como algo superficial. No he conseguido conectar del todo con Melissa (el nombre con el que George se siente de verdad identificada), y me han faltado escenas más llenas de emoción -aunque las que tenía con su mejor amiga Kelly han sido lo mejor de la novela.
Me ha dejado muy buen sabor de boca, y es una novela que no me cansaré de recomendar. Quizá es porque es un tema que me interesa y del que ya sabía muchas cosas por lo que la novela no me ha terminado de llegar, pero para la gente que desconozca esta realidad puede cambiarles la vida. Además, creo que es una novela que no expone la transexualidad como si fuera un elemento de circo, sino que lo normaliza, y eso es lo mejor que se podría haber hecho. Genial para niños y niñas de la edad del protagonista. Muy recomendable.
April 28, 2024
Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
1.0 out of 5 stars
Politically correct propaganda
April 12, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: August 25, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00SZIBREW
This book came to my attention through an article on Bookbub, The ALA (American Library Association) reports the most challenged books of 2018.
I quite clearly remember being a child and am the father of an eleven year old girl. I know that children, even most teenagers, have no real idea what they want or even should want from life. Human brains are not fully matured untll sometime between age 20 and 25. Yet the politically correct, woke crowd favors allowing, even encouraging, children to make permanent physical changes to their bodies. Often over the objections of parents. That is insanity foisted on society by those who make decisions based upon the way they want the world to be rather than the way the world actually is. In a sane society much of what they advocate would be considered child abuse. Feelings do not trump reality.
Despite gushing nonsense from School Library Journal this is not suitable for children. Children have enough trouble growing up without being confused by adults with a political agenda. A political agenda which maintains that thoughts and feelings trump biology. An agenda pushed by people who can say with a straight face, "If nature is unjust, change nature." - Laboria Cuboniks,XENOFEMINISM: A Politics for Alienation. Also the title of a piece of music recorded by Serena Butler.
Addendom 2/6/24: Amazon has removed this review.
Addendum 4/27/24: When I wrote this review the title of the book was GEORGE.
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
1.0 out of 5 stars
Politically correct propaganda
April 12, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: August 25, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00SZIBREW
This book came to my attention through an article on Bookbub, The ALA (American Library Association) reports the most challenged books of 2018.
I quite clearly remember being a child and am the father of an eleven year old girl. I know that children, even most teenagers, have no real idea what they want or even should want from life. Human brains are not fully matured untll sometime between age 20 and 25. Yet the politically correct, woke crowd favors allowing, even encouraging, children to make permanent physical changes to their bodies. Often over the objections of parents. That is insanity foisted on society by those who make decisions based upon the way they want the world to be rather than the way the world actually is. In a sane society much of what they advocate would be considered child abuse. Feelings do not trump reality.
Despite gushing nonsense from School Library Journal this is not suitable for children. Children have enough trouble growing up without being confused by adults with a political agenda. A political agenda which maintains that thoughts and feelings trump biology. An agenda pushed by people who can say with a straight face, "If nature is unjust, change nature." - Laboria Cuboniks,XENOFEMINISM: A Politics for Alienation. Also the title of a piece of music recorded by Serena Butler.
Addendom 2/6/24: Amazon has removed this review.
Addendum 4/27/24: When I wrote this review the title of the book was GEORGE.
August 1, 2018
“My point is, it takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination.�
This review contains *spoilers*.
I needed a breather after Crooked Kingdom, so George came at the perfect time for me to pick up. The premise of this middle-grade novel tells the story of Melissa, a ten-year-old girl who desperately wants to play Charlotte in her classroom’s theatrical production of Charlotte’s Web.
“I want to be Charlotte,� George whispered.
Kelly shrugged. “That’s cool. If you want to be Charlotte, you should try out for Charlotte. You make such a big deal out of everything. Who cares if you’re not really a girl?�
George’s stomach dropped. She cared. Tons.�
I was rooting for her to get the part with all my heart. But Ms. Udell says she can't even try out for it.
“George knew she couldn’t have possibly expected to hear Ms. Udell call her name. Still, her heart sank. She had genuinely started to believe that if people could see her onstage as Charlotte, maybe they would see that she was a girl offstage too.�
George's best friend Kelly ends up with the part of Charlotte, the wonderful, kind spider. They have a bit of a falling out over this, but fortunately drift back together after giving it some time. And, above all else, a weight lifted of my shoulders when George finally had someone to be completely honest with.
“She told Kelly about her bag of girls� magazines, and about Mom taking it.
“But that’s not fair!� Kelly was indignant. “You didn’t steal them! What right does she have to take them from you?�
“Sometimes transgender people don’t get rights.� George had read on the Internet about transgender people being treated unfairly.
“That’s awful.�
“I know.�
George hatches a plan with her best friend, so that everyone can know who she is once and for all.
Since there are two performances in the day. Kelly could take one and George could have the other.
“She would be Charlotte’s Charlotte, deeply hidden in the shadows.�
And by the time Ms. Udell realizes it’s not Kelly performing, it’ll be too late. George’ll already be onstage and there won’t be a thing she can do about it.
Understandably, George was ecstatic about the idea of playing Charlotte onstage, and it was hard not to show it (same for me, too).
She's going to be Charlotte!!!!
And George didn’t disappoint at all because watching her fulfil her dream role made my heart sing. My love for her is never-ending.
“Charlotte was dead, but George was alive in a way she had never imagined.�
Also, that last chapter made my day because we finally get to see her use her private name: Melissa. I’m really proud of her for being herself one step at a time. And I seriously need some fanart of my best girlfriends, Melissa and Kelly, getting to dress up and go out to the Bronx Zoo with Kelly's uncle.
“What if your uncle figures out I’m not really a girl?� Melissa asked.
“Look at you. Why would he think you’re anything else?�
A++ for this beautiful friendship.
And another thing: This book made me open up my eyes and see how many unnecessary things are gendered in our lives... from who got to play jump rope at recess to standing in girls� and boys� lines to leave class� I'm absolutely livid at myself that I never took notice upon this.
So I'm grateful that I got educated in the most honest way. This book may be small, but it speaks volumes. And in the short amount of pages that I got to read about Melissa, I felt like I got to know her so well. I'm dreaming for a sequel to come.
Also, listening to made my reading experience that more incredible, which is saying a lot.
On that note, please let me know in the comments if you have more LGBTQIA+ book recommendations for me to read and love.
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying George, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with
This review contains *spoilers*.
I needed a breather after Crooked Kingdom, so George came at the perfect time for me to pick up. The premise of this middle-grade novel tells the story of Melissa, a ten-year-old girl who desperately wants to play Charlotte in her classroom’s theatrical production of Charlotte’s Web.
“I want to be Charlotte,� George whispered.
Kelly shrugged. “That’s cool. If you want to be Charlotte, you should try out for Charlotte. You make such a big deal out of everything. Who cares if you’re not really a girl?�
George’s stomach dropped. She cared. Tons.�
I was rooting for her to get the part with all my heart. But Ms. Udell says she can't even try out for it.
“George knew she couldn’t have possibly expected to hear Ms. Udell call her name. Still, her heart sank. She had genuinely started to believe that if people could see her onstage as Charlotte, maybe they would see that she was a girl offstage too.�
George's best friend Kelly ends up with the part of Charlotte, the wonderful, kind spider. They have a bit of a falling out over this, but fortunately drift back together after giving it some time. And, above all else, a weight lifted of my shoulders when George finally had someone to be completely honest with.
“She told Kelly about her bag of girls� magazines, and about Mom taking it.
“But that’s not fair!� Kelly was indignant. “You didn’t steal them! What right does she have to take them from you?�
“Sometimes transgender people don’t get rights.� George had read on the Internet about transgender people being treated unfairly.
“That’s awful.�
“I know.�
George hatches a plan with her best friend, so that everyone can know who she is once and for all.
Since there are two performances in the day. Kelly could take one and George could have the other.
“She would be Charlotte’s Charlotte, deeply hidden in the shadows.�
And by the time Ms. Udell realizes it’s not Kelly performing, it’ll be too late. George’ll already be onstage and there won’t be a thing she can do about it.
Understandably, George was ecstatic about the idea of playing Charlotte onstage, and it was hard not to show it (same for me, too).
She's going to be Charlotte!!!!
And George didn’t disappoint at all because watching her fulfil her dream role made my heart sing. My love for her is never-ending.
“Charlotte was dead, but George was alive in a way she had never imagined.�
Also, that last chapter made my day because we finally get to see her use her private name: Melissa. I’m really proud of her for being herself one step at a time. And I seriously need some fanart of my best girlfriends, Melissa and Kelly, getting to dress up and go out to the Bronx Zoo with Kelly's uncle.
“What if your uncle figures out I’m not really a girl?� Melissa asked.
“Look at you. Why would he think you’re anything else?�
A++ for this beautiful friendship.
And another thing: This book made me open up my eyes and see how many unnecessary things are gendered in our lives... from who got to play jump rope at recess to standing in girls� and boys� lines to leave class� I'm absolutely livid at myself that I never took notice upon this.
So I'm grateful that I got educated in the most honest way. This book may be small, but it speaks volumes. And in the short amount of pages that I got to read about Melissa, I felt like I got to know her so well. I'm dreaming for a sequel to come.
Also, listening to made my reading experience that more incredible, which is saying a lot.
On that note, please let me know in the comments if you have more LGBTQIA+ book recommendations for me to read and love.
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying George, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with
January 3, 2022
"My door is always open." ❤️
February 9, 2021
TW: transphobia, bullying
April 10, 2018
PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW!!!
I don't want someone to see this one star rating and instantly write this off as someone who was offended by this book so they gave it one star. That is not the case at all. In fact I'm sure enough people are going to comment and share their opinions about the topics of this book that I'm not even going to bothering chiming in. The fact is it doesn't matter because there is a super tangible reason why no one should ever read this book. The writing is straight up terrible, like some of the worst I have ever read terrible. I couldn't stand how absolutely fake everything felt and I'm not sure if this author has ever had a conversation with a ten year old before. It felt very detached from reality, like to the point where even if this book was not about a transgender student, the way things played out would not have happened.
I'm guessing this author was on a mission to make a statement and didn't feel like they needed to actually find out what an average elementary school kid would be like. (And to provide some justification to myself I'm an elementary teacher, so I think I kinda have a grasp on what they are like). I also want to meet a parent who talks to their kids the way this mother does.
Basically, the character felt forced and unrealistic, transgender aside, the book should be destroyed and never read due to its horrible writing!
____________________________________________________________
Okay round 2 of the review, because I was called out for my critique of this book by the author of "Lily and Dunkin", a far superior book about a transgender boy dealing with similar problems as Geroge. In my review of "Lily and Dunkin" I gave the author credit for writing a story that sheds light on the subject in a way that is more accessible to children who are struggling with this transition.
Right off the bat, I'm not changing my 1-star rating. "George" deserves every bit of that and "Lily and Dunkin" helped to confirm that.
Some of the comments I've gotten about "Geroge" was that I should consider the perspective of a 4th grader and I've read numerous reviews (and I agree with myself) that "George" is not appropriate for a 4th grader to read. If there was a 4th grader who was dealing with these issues I'd recommend "Lily and Dunkin" to them. Again another book that I don't think is appropriate for the age group, but if you're going to recommend one at least have it be good literature.
After rereading this book (an incredible feat in and of itself because I NEVER reread books) I still found the overall lack of writing skills to be apparent. Donna Gephart, author of "Lily and Dunkin" makes it a point in her author's note to address how much research went into the writing of her book. I'd venture to guess that Alex Gino's research involved sharing the experience that they had as a child. Although there is credit to an author's personal experiences, I think that 99% of kids who are experiencing a transition like George would not have it play out anywhere near what happens in this book. Super supportive "4th Grade" friend (most 4th graders probably don't even know what transgender is, let alone would be willing to just completely buy into their friend telling them about it), a principal who shares the secret with the student, the bullying that occurs. I feel like if anything the bullying that happened to George wasn't any more than the amount of bullying the average 4th grader encounters on a regular basis. It needed to be more extreme. There just was no connection to what the life of a 4th grader is really like and I think if any kid started reading this book they would instantly realize how unrealistic it is.
I know I said in my initial review I didn't want to share my thoughts on the issues at hand in the book and instead focus on the choppy, disjointed, unrealistic writing, but I've dug the hole this deep I might as well chime in with a few other things that rubbed me the wrong way, help justify my thoughts:
1) This book starts out by just flat out spoiling the ending to the greatest book ever!!!!!! If a kid gets their hands on this book before they've read "Charlotte's Web" it will literally take away one of the most magical moments an elementary school child can experience. The fact that chapter 1, boom, you find out what the climax of "Charlotte's Web" is, should, in my opinion, be punishable by law (hence the reason I'm even beating around the bush in this review, I don't want to say what happens).
2) With the issue of transgender comes a lot of "feelings". To me this book was all about "telling" a story, there were no "feelings involved.
3) A lot of mention of kissing boys. Regardless of the topic not appropriate for the elementary level.
4) Again, who cares what the topic of the book is, just a lot of talk about human anatomy. This is a conversation kids need to have with their parents and won't happen for most until middle school, 4th grade is way too young.
5) 4th graders even knowing what the word "transgender" is. Do some? Of course, but for those students who don't, this book is not the place for them to discover that. It just opens up a whole new can of worms, that needs to be discussed between child and parent and to say that by 4th grade this should happen is just way too early.
6) Talks about "porn", enough said.
7) Kelly is just 100% accepting of it from the start, this fact was way too unbelievable for me to swallow. What are the odds that Kelly would even know what it is, and she's just all about embracing, no questions asked (because let's be honest a 4th grader wouldn't know what to ask).
8) Just the comment about 4th grade boys trying to look up girls skirts all the time. Middle school boys maybe, the random deliquent 4th grader it's a stretch, but this is not something that is happening on a regular basis like Kelly makes it sound like.
9) Sharing of the underwear, just took it too far. Regardless if it was girl sharing with girl, boy sharing with boy, boy sharing with girl, who cares sharing with who cares, this didn't need to happen.
Again, just as disappointed with the second read through, felt like I needed to get more off my chest because I wasted my time twice and I'm going to stick to my guns and finish with the final statement. If you see a kid who is screaming out for help in this area don't direct them to this book, pass along "Lily and Dunkin" it just approaches the subject in a lot more heartfelt and meaningful way.
I don't want someone to see this one star rating and instantly write this off as someone who was offended by this book so they gave it one star. That is not the case at all. In fact I'm sure enough people are going to comment and share their opinions about the topics of this book that I'm not even going to bothering chiming in. The fact is it doesn't matter because there is a super tangible reason why no one should ever read this book. The writing is straight up terrible, like some of the worst I have ever read terrible. I couldn't stand how absolutely fake everything felt and I'm not sure if this author has ever had a conversation with a ten year old before. It felt very detached from reality, like to the point where even if this book was not about a transgender student, the way things played out would not have happened.
I'm guessing this author was on a mission to make a statement and didn't feel like they needed to actually find out what an average elementary school kid would be like. (And to provide some justification to myself I'm an elementary teacher, so I think I kinda have a grasp on what they are like). I also want to meet a parent who talks to their kids the way this mother does.
Basically, the character felt forced and unrealistic, transgender aside, the book should be destroyed and never read due to its horrible writing!
____________________________________________________________
Okay round 2 of the review, because I was called out for my critique of this book by the author of "Lily and Dunkin", a far superior book about a transgender boy dealing with similar problems as Geroge. In my review of "Lily and Dunkin" I gave the author credit for writing a story that sheds light on the subject in a way that is more accessible to children who are struggling with this transition.
Right off the bat, I'm not changing my 1-star rating. "George" deserves every bit of that and "Lily and Dunkin" helped to confirm that.
Some of the comments I've gotten about "Geroge" was that I should consider the perspective of a 4th grader and I've read numerous reviews (and I agree with myself) that "George" is not appropriate for a 4th grader to read. If there was a 4th grader who was dealing with these issues I'd recommend "Lily and Dunkin" to them. Again another book that I don't think is appropriate for the age group, but if you're going to recommend one at least have it be good literature.
After rereading this book (an incredible feat in and of itself because I NEVER reread books) I still found the overall lack of writing skills to be apparent. Donna Gephart, author of "Lily and Dunkin" makes it a point in her author's note to address how much research went into the writing of her book. I'd venture to guess that Alex Gino's research involved sharing the experience that they had as a child. Although there is credit to an author's personal experiences, I think that 99% of kids who are experiencing a transition like George would not have it play out anywhere near what happens in this book. Super supportive "4th Grade" friend (most 4th graders probably don't even know what transgender is, let alone would be willing to just completely buy into their friend telling them about it), a principal who shares the secret with the student, the bullying that occurs. I feel like if anything the bullying that happened to George wasn't any more than the amount of bullying the average 4th grader encounters on a regular basis. It needed to be more extreme. There just was no connection to what the life of a 4th grader is really like and I think if any kid started reading this book they would instantly realize how unrealistic it is.
I know I said in my initial review I didn't want to share my thoughts on the issues at hand in the book and instead focus on the choppy, disjointed, unrealistic writing, but I've dug the hole this deep I might as well chime in with a few other things that rubbed me the wrong way, help justify my thoughts:
1) This book starts out by just flat out spoiling the ending to the greatest book ever!!!!!! If a kid gets their hands on this book before they've read "Charlotte's Web" it will literally take away one of the most magical moments an elementary school child can experience. The fact that chapter 1, boom, you find out what the climax of "Charlotte's Web" is, should, in my opinion, be punishable by law (hence the reason I'm even beating around the bush in this review, I don't want to say what happens).
2) With the issue of transgender comes a lot of "feelings". To me this book was all about "telling" a story, there were no "feelings involved.
3) A lot of mention of kissing boys. Regardless of the topic not appropriate for the elementary level.
4) Again, who cares what the topic of the book is, just a lot of talk about human anatomy. This is a conversation kids need to have with their parents and won't happen for most until middle school, 4th grade is way too young.
5) 4th graders even knowing what the word "transgender" is. Do some? Of course, but for those students who don't, this book is not the place for them to discover that. It just opens up a whole new can of worms, that needs to be discussed between child and parent and to say that by 4th grade this should happen is just way too early.
6) Talks about "porn", enough said.
7) Kelly is just 100% accepting of it from the start, this fact was way too unbelievable for me to swallow. What are the odds that Kelly would even know what it is, and she's just all about embracing, no questions asked (because let's be honest a 4th grader wouldn't know what to ask).
8) Just the comment about 4th grade boys trying to look up girls skirts all the time. Middle school boys maybe, the random deliquent 4th grader it's a stretch, but this is not something that is happening on a regular basis like Kelly makes it sound like.
9) Sharing of the underwear, just took it too far. Regardless if it was girl sharing with girl, boy sharing with boy, boy sharing with girl, who cares sharing with who cares, this didn't need to happen.
Again, just as disappointed with the second read through, felt like I needed to get more off my chest because I wasted my time twice and I'm going to stick to my guns and finish with the final statement. If you see a kid who is screaming out for help in this area don't direct them to this book, pass along "Lily and Dunkin" it just approaches the subject in a lot more heartfelt and meaningful way.
October 31, 2016
This book is so lovely, well-done, and important! I wish I would have read this as a kid and I just adore the fact that it exists, especially as a kid's book. George's story is so relevant and heart touching and I love the way that this one was done! I just took a star off because since it is middle grade the writing was a bit simplistic, but it was still very quick and I will definitely be recommending this to people as an LGBTQ+ read!
June 21, 2016
I'm so happy that this book exists.
March 22, 2016
UNA NOVELA SENCILLA Y CERCANA A LA QUE LE FALTRA PROFUNDIDAD Y MADUREZ.
George es una novela contemporánea con una protagonista transexual de diez años. Una novela que nos hace reflexionar, que pone el tema de la transexualidad sobre la mesa pero, que a mi gusto, se queda corta y está poco argumentada. Me ha faltado profundizar la transexualidad, me ha faltado romper con los estereotipos sobre la transexualidad y darle un poco más de contenido a la historia no centrándola solo en la cuestión de género de la protagonista.
George ha sido una novela que me ha gustado, está bien escrita y tiene unos personajes buenos; pero me ha faltado mucho en cuanto a la transexualidad y creo que se banaliza y simplifica demasiado intentando crear una historia sencilla que se acerque a todo tipo de público.
Como digo los personajes de George están bien construidos, no son nada del otro mundo pero están bien caracterizados y tienen cierta trayectoria y evolución a lo largo de la novela. Me gusta porque los principales están profundizados y llegamos a conocer a George, a su familia y a su mejor amiga. Sin embargo, creo que deberían haber jugado papeles más directos y ser más actantes de la historia. Están un poco de adorno alrededor de George.
George sin duda es el mejor personaje. Una niña transexual que no sabe cómo decirle a su familia que es una niña y que necesita normalizar y naturalizar su género. Me gustó que el autor se refiriera todo el tiempo a George por "ella" y no por "él" cuando todavía no se lo había comunicado a su familia. He leído novelas con protagonistas transexuales a los que se les refiere por el pronombre de su sexo en vez de por el de su género, lo que me parece terrible. Sin embargo, Gino utiliza el pronombre del género que George tiene.
Como comenté antes creo que se banaliza y simplifica mucho la transexualidad. Parece que George es una niña porque le gustan las revistas que son consideradas para niñas y porque quiere dejarse el pelo largo. No nos muestra cómo George siempre ha sido una niña sino que da a entender que por una serie de cosas absurdas y banales sabe que, de pronto, es niña y que antes ni siquiera se lo había planteado. Creo que se podría haber profundizado mucho más en la transexualidad de George y no superditarla a querer hacer el papel de un personaje femenino a una obra de teatro. No vi conflictos reales de George con el mundo al querer mostrarse físicamente como niña, ni tampoco una enseñanza clara a través de la historia.
Me da un poco de repelús la campaña que tiene la novela de "ser diferente es bueno" cuando George NO es diferente. Es una niña que nace son sexo varón. Punto. No es diferente, no tenemos que hacerla diferente. Y luego las trans no se pueden reinsertar en el mercado laboral por ser "diferentes". Así que vaya campaña más contraproducente tiene George.
El ritmo de la novela es bueno, no hay mucha historia pero se va contando lentamente, lo que hace que lxs lectorxs disfruten de la lectura. La historia es bastante corta, creo que se podría haber alargado más y profundizado muchísimo.
En resumen, una novela entretenida que intenta acercar a todo tipo de públicos la transexualidad. Pero a la que le falta profundidad, historia y personajes más relevantes. Aún así me ha gustado, es una historia sencilla y cercana.
George es una novela contemporánea con una protagonista transexual de diez años. Una novela que nos hace reflexionar, que pone el tema de la transexualidad sobre la mesa pero, que a mi gusto, se queda corta y está poco argumentada. Me ha faltado profundizar la transexualidad, me ha faltado romper con los estereotipos sobre la transexualidad y darle un poco más de contenido a la historia no centrándola solo en la cuestión de género de la protagonista.
George ha sido una novela que me ha gustado, está bien escrita y tiene unos personajes buenos; pero me ha faltado mucho en cuanto a la transexualidad y creo que se banaliza y simplifica demasiado intentando crear una historia sencilla que se acerque a todo tipo de público.
Como digo los personajes de George están bien construidos, no son nada del otro mundo pero están bien caracterizados y tienen cierta trayectoria y evolución a lo largo de la novela. Me gusta porque los principales están profundizados y llegamos a conocer a George, a su familia y a su mejor amiga. Sin embargo, creo que deberían haber jugado papeles más directos y ser más actantes de la historia. Están un poco de adorno alrededor de George.
George sin duda es el mejor personaje. Una niña transexual que no sabe cómo decirle a su familia que es una niña y que necesita normalizar y naturalizar su género. Me gustó que el autor se refiriera todo el tiempo a George por "ella" y no por "él" cuando todavía no se lo había comunicado a su familia. He leído novelas con protagonistas transexuales a los que se les refiere por el pronombre de su sexo en vez de por el de su género, lo que me parece terrible. Sin embargo, Gino utiliza el pronombre del género que George tiene.
Como comenté antes creo que se banaliza y simplifica mucho la transexualidad. Parece que George es una niña porque le gustan las revistas que son consideradas para niñas y porque quiere dejarse el pelo largo. No nos muestra cómo George siempre ha sido una niña sino que da a entender que por una serie de cosas absurdas y banales sabe que, de pronto, es niña y que antes ni siquiera se lo había planteado. Creo que se podría haber profundizado mucho más en la transexualidad de George y no superditarla a querer hacer el papel de un personaje femenino a una obra de teatro. No vi conflictos reales de George con el mundo al querer mostrarse físicamente como niña, ni tampoco una enseñanza clara a través de la historia.
Me da un poco de repelús la campaña que tiene la novela de "ser diferente es bueno" cuando George NO es diferente. Es una niña que nace son sexo varón. Punto. No es diferente, no tenemos que hacerla diferente. Y luego las trans no se pueden reinsertar en el mercado laboral por ser "diferentes". Así que vaya campaña más contraproducente tiene George.
El ritmo de la novela es bueno, no hay mucha historia pero se va contando lentamente, lo que hace que lxs lectorxs disfruten de la lectura. La historia es bastante corta, creo que se podría haber alargado más y profundizado muchísimo.
En resumen, una novela entretenida que intenta acercar a todo tipo de públicos la transexualidad. Pero a la que le falta profundidad, historia y personajes más relevantes. Aún así me ha gustado, es una historia sencilla y cercana.
August 4, 2018
Assigned reading for MLIS 7421: Multicultural Youth Literature.
George is the story of a child who's realized that she is a girl, even if she was born into a body that was assigned "male" at birth. Given the subject matter, it's already a heavy read at times, but when you add in the transphobia from many other characters—including George's own mother—it's downright heartbreaking in places. That said, I don't think it would be a spoiler to tell you that this children's story ends happily, and we get to watch George blossom into Melissa, her true self, complete with frilly dresses and bows. It's absolutely precious to watch her grow not only to accept herself, but also to start being accepted by her family, as well as her incredibly supportive best friend.
I listened to the audiobook format of this story, of which there are two versions; the one I listened to is narrated by trans actress Jamie Clayton, and knowing that the voice telling the story belonged to a woman who had undergone so many of the same feelings that are detailed in the story added a tremendously touching layer of authenticity. There are actually a couple of scenes in which you can hear the emotion in Jamie Clayton's voice, and those moments really drove the impact home of how important and powerful this story is. If you have the chance, I highly recommend Jamie's narration of the book.
George is the story of a child who's realized that she is a girl, even if she was born into a body that was assigned "male" at birth. Given the subject matter, it's already a heavy read at times, but when you add in the transphobia from many other characters—including George's own mother—it's downright heartbreaking in places. That said, I don't think it would be a spoiler to tell you that this children's story ends happily, and we get to watch George blossom into Melissa, her true self, complete with frilly dresses and bows. It's absolutely precious to watch her grow not only to accept herself, but also to start being accepted by her family, as well as her incredibly supportive best friend.
I listened to the audiobook format of this story, of which there are two versions; the one I listened to is narrated by trans actress Jamie Clayton, and knowing that the voice telling the story belonged to a woman who had undergone so many of the same feelings that are detailed in the story added a tremendously touching layer of authenticity. There are actually a couple of scenes in which you can hear the emotion in Jamie Clayton's voice, and those moments really drove the impact home of how important and powerful this story is. If you have the chance, I highly recommend Jamie's narration of the book.
October 1, 2020
I read this in honor of Banned Books Week. This was at the top of the list for books banned most often in 2019. It is the sweet, compelling story of a pre teen who feels like a girl, even though she was born a boy. George is a regular kid with a devoted mom and a typical teenage brother. George likes to look at teen magazines and think about wearing makeup and girls' clothes. No one in her life knows what she is feeling, because, she keeps it to herself and hides the magazine's from her family and friends.
George has a wonderful best friend who is a girl. Some of the male bullies at school make fun of George. George realizes she has a talent for acting and wants to be in the school play which is Charlotte's Web. She wants to play Charlotte, but her teacher won't let her. George finally confided in her best friend and then her family and even gets to act in the play. This is a triumphant book for kids dealing with these issues.
George has a wonderful best friend who is a girl. Some of the male bullies at school make fun of George. George realizes she has a talent for acting and wants to be in the school play which is Charlotte's Web. She wants to play Charlotte, but her teacher won't let her. George finally confided in her best friend and then her family and even gets to act in the play. This is a triumphant book for kids dealing with these issues.
December 31, 2015
This book is so important. I mean, so important .
George explains what transgender means and how it's manifested in kids and what it feels like for kids who are trans so simply and in a way that is so easy to understand. Granted, I am 19 years old and already know pretty well what transgender means but really Alex Gino put George/Melissa's situation in such simple terms that this has to be true. The best thing that Gino did in George was to refer to George in female pronouns the entire novel. Genius. George thought of herself in terms of being a girl so of course she would use she/her for herself. And that's what made this so wonderful. Gino didn't use he/him then switch pronouns--honestly, that might confuse younger kids. And this is a middle grade novel. Which is also just so wonderful that this book is out there and exists for kids to learn about what transgender is so they can grow into being good allies. And for kids to read this book and see themselves in George.
.
I can't say enough how important and so, so well written this book is. I'm so happy and just thrilled that a book like this, written as well as it is, exists for young readers. More middle grade books need to be written about diverse topics just like this one was written, and hopefully they'll be written by Alex Gino (who only has this one book and man I was disappointed when I read that).
I cannot recommend this book enough. It doesn't matter your age: this story about a young girl who just wants to be herself will warm your heart till it melts.
George explains what transgender means and how it's manifested in kids and what it feels like for kids who are trans so simply and in a way that is so easy to understand. Granted, I am 19 years old and already know pretty well what transgender means but really Alex Gino put George/Melissa's situation in such simple terms that this has to be true. The best thing that Gino did in George was to refer to George in female pronouns the entire novel. Genius. George thought of herself in terms of being a girl so of course she would use she/her for herself. And that's what made this so wonderful. Gino didn't use he/him then switch pronouns--honestly, that might confuse younger kids. And this is a middle grade novel. Which is also just so wonderful that this book is out there and exists for kids to learn about what transgender is so they can grow into being good allies. And for kids to read this book and see themselves in George.
.
I can't say enough how important and so, so well written this book is. I'm so happy and just thrilled that a book like this, written as well as it is, exists for young readers. More middle grade books need to be written about diverse topics just like this one was written, and hopefully they'll be written by Alex Gino (who only has this one book and man I was disappointed when I read that).
I cannot recommend this book enough. It doesn't matter your age: this story about a young girl who just wants to be herself will warm your heart till it melts.
September 24, 2018
Find all of my reviews at:
Y’all got your banned book ready? No time like the present. I have been reading at least one banned or challenged book during Banned Books Week for years now. Mainly to make sure my children always know that no one’s voice should ever be silenced. This year I chose George - because it made this list . . . .
The premise behind George is pretty simple . . .
It was such a short, little question, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the sounds. Mom, what if I’m a girl?
George is advertised as a middle-grade book, but really unless you’re one of the buttholes who doesn’t want the thing in schools at all, it would be perfect for older elementary students. It’s not a story that gets preachy with a message, the characters are too young to be interested in boyfriend/girlfriend relationships so there’s no kissing or sex, it doesn’t insist on understanding all of the ABCs regarding gender identity � it simply asks for acknowledgment. I thought it was wonderful and once you got to know George, it was hard not to support her. If everyone took a second to think of the human behind the issue rather than their black and white view of the issue itself, maybe the world wouldn’t be such a crummy place.
Y’all got your banned book ready? No time like the present. I have been reading at least one banned or challenged book during Banned Books Week for years now. Mainly to make sure my children always know that no one’s voice should ever be silenced. This year I chose George - because it made this list . . . .
The premise behind George is pretty simple . . .
It was such a short, little question, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the sounds. Mom, what if I’m a girl?
George is advertised as a middle-grade book, but really unless you’re one of the buttholes who doesn’t want the thing in schools at all, it would be perfect for older elementary students. It’s not a story that gets preachy with a message, the characters are too young to be interested in boyfriend/girlfriend relationships so there’s no kissing or sex, it doesn’t insist on understanding all of the ABCs regarding gender identity � it simply asks for acknowledgment. I thought it was wonderful and once you got to know George, it was hard not to support her. If everyone took a second to think of the human behind the issue rather than their black and white view of the issue itself, maybe the world wouldn’t be such a crummy place.
June 6, 2020
A hugely important read for so many kids out there who need to feel seen. This is the first middle grade I've read with a trans main character. George was born a boy, but she knows that she is a girl.
All George wants is to be Charlotte in the school play for Charlotte's Web - but looking like a boy to everyone else does not reflect how she is on the inside. She IS a girl, no matter what anyone else thinks, and she WILL play Charlotte, even when the drama teacher thinks she's joking, or when her own mother doesn't understand. George is a girl and she needs to be seen by others as a girl.
This dealt with some very tough subject matters for younger readers who may not understand what being trans means. However, I found that it was more the adults in the story who had to be educated more than the children. I thank God for Kelly, George's best friend, who embraces George instantly. This was such a good story to get through and it will be easy to feel empathetic towards George and her situations.
All George wants is to be Charlotte in the school play for Charlotte's Web - but looking like a boy to everyone else does not reflect how she is on the inside. She IS a girl, no matter what anyone else thinks, and she WILL play Charlotte, even when the drama teacher thinks she's joking, or when her own mother doesn't understand. George is a girl and she needs to be seen by others as a girl.
This dealt with some very tough subject matters for younger readers who may not understand what being trans means. However, I found that it was more the adults in the story who had to be educated more than the children. I thank God for Kelly, George's best friend, who embraces George instantly. This was such a good story to get through and it will be easy to feel empathetic towards George and her situations.
October 4, 2016
George is a children's book unlike any other and is much needed in today's ever changing, ever transitioning world.
George looks like a boy on the outside, but on the inside she knows she's a girl. When it's announced that George's class will perform Charlotte's Web for the school play, George yearns to be cast as Charlotte. But Charlotte is a girl's part, and George can't even tryout because everyone thinks she's a boy. George sets her sights on playing Charlotte and devises a plan to prove who she is -- to be who she is -- once and for all.
Alex Gino's heart-warming book examines the subtle ways in which society inadvertently reinforces gender roles, bringing to light how harmful such behaviors can be. Further topics covered include the importance of being open minded toward another person's perspective, what it's like to feel trapped in the wrong body, and the importance of practicing empathy.
George looks like a boy on the outside, but on the inside she knows she's a girl. When it's announced that George's class will perform Charlotte's Web for the school play, George yearns to be cast as Charlotte. But Charlotte is a girl's part, and George can't even tryout because everyone thinks she's a boy. George sets her sights on playing Charlotte and devises a plan to prove who she is -- to be who she is -- once and for all.
Alex Gino's heart-warming book examines the subtle ways in which society inadvertently reinforces gender roles, bringing to light how harmful such behaviors can be. Further topics covered include the importance of being open minded toward another person's perspective, what it's like to feel trapped in the wrong body, and the importance of practicing empathy.
November 13, 2016
Words cannot express my love for this book. I highly recommend it to EVERYONE!
August 29, 2015
I absolutely love everything about this. I really felt for George's character, who I think is relatable to a lot of people whether they're trans or not. I'm happy to be living at a time where books like this are available to young people, and I really hope its message can help promote acceptance and understanding in everyone; teachers and parents included.
July 13, 2017
"George" es la simple y linda historia de una niña llamada Melissa, quien a sus diez años no quiere ni ansía nada más que ser Charlotte, el personaje que merece y le corresponde en la obra teatral de su escuela. ¿El problema? Melissa es un George... o al menos eso es lo que todos a su alrededor ven.
Melissa se siente atrapada en un cuerpo que no le corresponde, teme mirar su órgano extraño al bañarse, aborrece la clase de gimnasia y a sus asquerosos compañeros del sexo opuesto. Sin embargo, y a pesar de su sombría situación, la pequeña está llena de esperanza; colecciona revistas de bellas muchachas que considera sus amigas y suspira por sus cuerpos... en el mejor y más bello de los sentidos.
"George" es esa obra que dice mucho en oraciones realmente simples; que transmite el mensaje de la manera más directa y sencilla que puede.
"George" es el clamor de una sociedad silenciada y oprimida que exige sus derechos como seres humanos iguales al resto.
"George" es la voz de aquellos que sienten que no encajan en un mundo que te dice que seas tú mismo siempre y cuando sea dentro de los parámetros que ellos desean.
"My point is, it takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination."
Melissa se siente atrapada en un cuerpo que no le corresponde, teme mirar su órgano extraño al bañarse, aborrece la clase de gimnasia y a sus asquerosos compañeros del sexo opuesto. Sin embargo, y a pesar de su sombría situación, la pequeña está llena de esperanza; colecciona revistas de bellas muchachas que considera sus amigas y suspira por sus cuerpos... en el mejor y más bello de los sentidos.
"George" es esa obra que dice mucho en oraciones realmente simples; que transmite el mensaje de la manera más directa y sencilla que puede.
"George" es el clamor de una sociedad silenciada y oprimida que exige sus derechos como seres humanos iguales al resto.
"George" es la voz de aquellos que sienten que no encajan en un mundo que te dice que seas tú mismo siempre y cuando sea dentro de los parámetros que ellos desean.
"My point is, it takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination."
September 5, 2020
este libro tiene menos de 200 páginas y sin embargo me pareció eterno y problemático. trataré de explicar porqué.
al final del libro, en la sección sobre el autor, se nos comenta que Alex Gino ama las historias que reflejen la diversidad y complejidad de estar vivo, y sin embargo, al tratar de darle un espacio al personaje de niña transgénero que creó, redujo a las mujeres a poco más que gustar de revistas, llorar y ser sensible en general, llevar el cabello largo, usar maquillaje y por supuesto usar faldas cuando nos arreglamos.
de verdad estoy muy molesta porque muchos consideran que este libro debería ser lectura obligada en los colegios y, aunque por supuesto que los niños también deben conocer sobre este tipo de temas y algunos de ellos los necesitan para sentirse identificados, me encantaría que la lectura referente sobre un niño transgénero viniera para empezar de una persona transgénero.
hay que apoyar a los autores del colectivo lgbt y las obras que traten estos temas, claro que si, pero no si están dando visibilidad a un grupo marginado a costa de estereotipar a otro grupo, porque yo como mujer no me he sentido nada cómoda leyendo esta historia, me ha caído un poco demasiado sexista, rayando en machista en algunas ocasiones.
al final del libro, en la sección sobre el autor, se nos comenta que Alex Gino ama las historias que reflejen la diversidad y complejidad de estar vivo, y sin embargo, al tratar de darle un espacio al personaje de niña transgénero que creó, redujo a las mujeres a poco más que gustar de revistas, llorar y ser sensible en general, llevar el cabello largo, usar maquillaje y por supuesto usar faldas cuando nos arreglamos.
de verdad estoy muy molesta porque muchos consideran que este libro debería ser lectura obligada en los colegios y, aunque por supuesto que los niños también deben conocer sobre este tipo de temas y algunos de ellos los necesitan para sentirse identificados, me encantaría que la lectura referente sobre un niño transgénero viniera para empezar de una persona transgénero.
hay que apoyar a los autores del colectivo lgbt y las obras que traten estos temas, claro que si, pero no si están dando visibilidad a un grupo marginado a costa de estereotipar a otro grupo, porque yo como mujer no me he sentido nada cómoda leyendo esta historia, me ha caído un poco demasiado sexista, rayando en machista en algunas ocasiones.
June 8, 2022
Pomimo tego, że miałem do niej kilka zarzutów, to było to tak urocze i wspaniałe, że mogę przymknąć na nie oko. Nie spodziewałem się, że będę płakał na książce dla dzieci, ale nie mogę nic na to poradzić. Chciałbym, żeby ludzie częściej czytali takie książki jak „Melissa�.
May 7, 2022
Ta książka jest potrzebna i cieszę się że powstała. Jestem ogromnie wdzięczna, że jest możliwość kupienia jej/wypożyczenia tak, żeby młodsi ludzie mogli odnaleźć siebie w literaturze. Całych siebie.
Książka jest lekka, serdeczna, porusza ważne tematy i wspiera czytelnika. Polecam z całego serduszka <3
(Po polsku wydawana jest pod starym tytułem: George, ale jest to deadname głównej bohaterki i osoba autorska poleciła zasłonić to imię, prawdziwym imieniem - Melissa)
Książka jest lekka, serdeczna, porusza ważne tematy i wspiera czytelnika. Polecam z całego serduszka <3
(Po polsku wydawana jest pod starym tytułem: George, ale jest to deadname głównej bohaterki i osoba autorska poleciła zasłonić to imię, prawdziwym imieniem - Melissa)
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