Book Review: George by Alex Gino

How about a wee book review for George by Alex Gino. Great for #NationalComingOutDay, which today is!

George is a 4^th grader who knows that she is a girl, despite what her outside body looks like. This year, her class is putting on Charlotte’s Web. You know how I feel about books with theatre references, y'all! George desperately wants to play the title role, even though she knows that some people will say she shouldn’t because they don’t know that she is a girl.

This is a cutie wootie story of a young girl figuring out who to trust with her truth. She and her best friends hatch a plan to help everyone, including George’s mother, see that George is more than her genitalia.

Of note, this is a great intro into the transgender experience, but is certainly not meant to represent to spectrum that all people, regardless of their gender expression go through to figure out how to be their most authentic selves.

I love that this book is about a young person. I love that a teacher supports George, as a boy, to be sensitive. I love that George has many safe places and a parent who is just almost ready to give George exactly what she needs.

Can I tell you how many youth I work with who have all kinds of symptoms of depression and anxiety who just relax and do a complete 180 when they share their "secret." It's exhausting to pretend to be someone else every damn day. 

Mx. Gino identifies as genderqueer which makes me think this can go into the #ownVoices book pile. Other thoughts about that are welcome!