George
Ratings35
Average rating4.1
This was so cute!! Quick, really fun read and so important. I sincerely believe teachers, especially those of elementary and middle school, should read this. Wonderfully written, fantastic and much-needed message, easy five star rating.
Full disclosure: I won an Advanced Reader Copy.
Agreed that this is an important book, but also an overly simple book lacking in plot and movement. However, there are plenty of kids who could benefit from feeling Melissa's joy in being herself and her freedom in her friendship with Kelly
I'm a cis reader, so my opinion should have significantly less weight than that of a trans reader, but I did really enjoy this book. Just like Charlotte's Web, it's a very simple story, on the surface - it's accessible to anyone and easy to understand. It's also very emotional, in a fairly understated way. I hope this book has reached and will continue to reach a wide audience, including girls like the main character.
I like that none of the characters are perfect and wonderful - George is a little bit bratty, for example, and struggles with life in a way that feels accurate for someone her age. The friendship between Kelly and George is really sweet, but it doesn't feel too idealized; Kelly is slightly awkward with everything at first, but she does her best. A few years ago I used to read middle-grade books constantly, and I don't remember many at all with a central friendship between two girls - so that's nice to see. I also like that this story is not about Kelly, or any cis person, but focuses completely on George.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Jamie Clayton is excellent. I hope she'll do more voice acting or narration in the future.
This book is so wonderful and important and relevant. As a reader you're able to gain a little more insight on how a person young or old might be feeling when they are struggling to find the right gender identity for them. I think Alex Gino did a wonderful job at making the topic understandable for middle grade readers while still being enjoyable to older readers. I definitely had to hold back some tears a couple times as I was reading this in a car full of people but they good cries out way the bad in this book!
5 stars - well deserved!
5 stars THIS BOOK!!! It's so important and so beautiful! 💖 why isn't it more popular?? I'm so happy that this is a middle grade book 🙌🏻 I need a sequel!
This book! This book. This book!! I fell instantly in love with George. I love how every character has a distinct voice and Alex Gino did a great painting a simple yet insightful read. Simple enough for younger readers to understand and intriguing enough for older readers. Mash in the nostalgic feels of Charlotte's Web and the transgendered topic makes understanding others a little bit easier. A book that will have a special place on my bookshelf for sure. 🖤
I recommend this book to relatively open-minded people who simply have no point of contact with the idea of being transgender. Like me. I don't identify in any way at all, and so it is good to see the world through someone else's eyes. And though fictional, George's experiences sound like the snippets I have heard from adults talking about themselves as children.
A good book about a much needed topic. I hope many will look past their fear and think of their patrons when purchasing for school libraries.
George is such a lovely story of knowing who you are, despite outward appearances, and breaking past expectations to be your true self. A middle-grade read, so it's fairly simple, but inspiring and wonderful - Kelly was such a good friend to George, and I loved that she was so unfazed by anything George told her. The ending made me so happy; I couldn't help but smile all the way home. Listened to the audiobook and the narrator was perfect.
So kind and so crucial. I want to buy fifty copies of this book for every single elementary school library in this country.
George is a girl. She was born with the parts of a boy, but she knows she's supposed to be a girl - wearing skirts, playing with makeup, giggling with girlfriends, and definitely not using the boys bathroom at school. What George doesn't know is how to tell her mom, her brother, her best friend Kelly, her teachers.
An opportunity. The school play. George desperately wants the role of the wise and beautiful spider in Charlotte's Web. And Kelly encourages her to audition for the part.
“I think you've got a great idea... Ms. Udell will love that you care so much about the character that you want to play her onstage, even though she's a girl and you're a boy. Plays are all about pretending, right?”
“Um...” was all George could say. Playing a girl part wouldn't really be pretending, but George didn't know how to tell Kelly that.
“They're jerks,” said Kelly. “You're not a girl.”
“What if I am?” George was startled by her own words.
Kelly drew back in surprise. “What? That's ridiculous. You're a boy. I mean” – she pointed vaguely downward at George – “you have a you-know-what, right?”
“Yeah, but...” George trailed off and looked at the ground. She kicked a small rock that skipped into a tuft of grass. She didn't feel like a boy.
“George, I don't want to find you wearing my clothes. Or my shoes. That kind of thing was cute when you were three. You're not three anymore. In fact, I don't want to see you in my room at all.”