Alex Gino, in a timely and deeply thoughtful debut novel, explores what life is like for 10-year-old George. The gender George was assigned at birth doesn't reflect what she knows herself to be: "Melissa was the name she called herself in the mirror when no one was watching."
For George, it feels like there's an impenetrable divide between how she sees herself and how the world views her. Gino makes this distinction easy for young readers to follow: when George is perceived by others, they refer to George as "he." When referring to herself, George always uses "she."
At several points, George comes to the brink of revealing her true identity to her mother and to her best friend, Kelly. George sees the perfect opportunity to bring Melissa out into the world when Ms. Udell announces auditions for a class play based on Charlotte's Web. George and Kelly rehearse their lines together, and George confides to Kelly her plans to try out for Charlotte. Ever the supportive friend, Kelly points out that in Shakespeare's times, men often played the women's roles. Kelly even admits that George reads Charlotte's lines better than Kelly can. But Ms. Udell will allow only girls to audition for the role of Charlotte.
Through George's eyes, Gino allows readers to see how often others make assumptions based on outward appearances. George's former best friend Rick has buddied up with Jeff, the class bully, and they mock George for crying at the end of reading Charlotte's Web ("Some girl is crying over a dead spider," one of them sneers).
Gino chronicles George's journey to become Melissa beautifully, especially her breakthroughs and moments of honesty, such as when she finally reveals her secret to Kelly, and when George's brother discovers what's going on inside George. Gino is also realistic about George's struggle, with examples of how far most people need to evolve in order to be ready for her. Even Ms. Udell, who's "always going on about how we're not supposed to let people's expectations limit our choices," as Kelly puts it, can't seem to broaden her perspective enough to allow George to play Charlotte.
The ending leaves readers on a high note, as Gino suggests that all it takes is one or two people who see you as you really are to help you through the challenges on life's journey. For children who have felt like outsiders, Gino has given them a brave companion to share their path. And for children who identify with George, they may be recognizing themselves for the first time in children's literature. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness
Shelf Talker: In an extraordinarily honest and moving debut novel, Alex Gino introduces 10-year-old George, who was born into the wrong body.