If I Was Your Girl

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But I think it’s important to show that kind of vulnerability and confusion because not everyone’s going to understand or handle the situation in the same way. It benefits straight people by normalizing straightness and keeping them in a position of power and privilege.

She’s also trans, which I think let her understand the experiences far better than a cis reader might have. Russo intentionally skipped over the medical realities and portrayed a pretty unrealistic situation where Amanda's family simply takes out a loan to cover the financial side.

We definitely don't need another trans horror story, but I wish one of the first mainstream YA trans books by a trans author didn't play it so safe. Never didactic, this debut is a valuable contribution to the slender but growing body of literature of trans teens. Now she can be herself without worrying how people react; here, they will only ever have known her as Amanda. Amanda is such an incredible character, and I loved everything about her; her strength, her bravery, her acceptance and love of herself.

There is perhaps a touch of melodrama about this event (but it’s fiction and a story does need a black moment so I gave it a pass. Anyway, Amanda moves to her new school and is immediately welcomed by a group of girl friends as well as ogled by the hormonal boys. In Lambertville, Amanda quickly makes friends with a rather diverse group of girls and, she draws the attention of a handsome boy, Grant Everett. no, but it was the best of Over the course of the story, Amanda opens up to one friend, a move which will have some far reaching consequences for her.There, Amanda’s dad assumes that it was Grant who hurt Amanda, and he storms away to Grant’s house to confront him. Amanda starts dating a football player named Grant, and she feels like she needs to be honest with him but her father urges her to focus on keeping herself safe.

When she isn't upsetting Yankees by smiling and making eye contact on the 3 train she spends her time lifting weights, playing fighting games, blowing up the mic at karaoke, glancing anxiously at her TBR pile, and, of course, working on her next book. Her dad confesses his very justified fear that if these Christians or southern teenage boys find out that she is trans they will kill her. Please note: it is wonderful to feel like your opinion is valued, but this is a trans book by a trans woman and I am a cis reader - please consider the limitations of my perspective and seek out the reviews and commentary of trans readers.You can complain all you want about how that isn’t right and shouldn’t be, and you’d be right, but it’s still a very real fear today. I realized he’d only asked about me as a formality so he could talk about himself, but I didn’t mind; it meant I didn’t have to say that much.

I’d read two young adult books in the past with transgendered central characters ( Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger and Luna by Julie Anne Peters) but If I Was Your Girl is the first book I’ve ever read that is actually written by a trans author. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. That’s she worthy and beautiful and the most important thing is that she’s living life as her authentic self. If I Was Your Girl was the first book I've read with a trans main character, and I'm definitely satisfied.Not only did she come out of her surgery and medication looking 100% like a woman, but she also has the luxury of being an attractive woman. She obviously speaks from experience and she does an excellent job of trying to reach out to those who are feeling desperate, suicidal and worthless and her appeal is so moving I was brought to tears.