George by Alex Gino: Book Review

George by Alex Gino is a middle-grade contemporary that introduces us to George, a girl who the world perceives as a boy. Released in August 2015 by Scholastic Press, George has been on the ALA Banned & Challenged Books list every year. George is a student in 4th grade who struggles to find the strength to tell the world they are wrong, and she is a girl, not the boy they see.

Synopsis from Goodreads

BE WHO YOU ARE. 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.

Positives

George is a great character. She is struggling with trying to tell the world they are wrong about her. Isn’t that something that we have all felt at some point in our lives?

The book is an easy read, and yes, I know it’s aimed at kids and not grown adults. But the story is one that everyone needs to read and understand.

Negatives

The conclusion was a bit cliche, but if it weren’t, it might scare some kids off.

My Opinons

George has been at the top of the ALA’s list of Banned & Challenged books for the past three years and fifth for one. Why? Because it features a transgender character. This is a topic many people are uncomfortable with, and that is more to ignorance and fear than anything else. I believe that there should be more authentic transgender characters in writing. The representation will help everyone.

I am the proud parent of a daughter in a similar position as George and around the same age. It took her four years to be confident enough to tell her dad and me. Our reaction surprised her. Why? Because we told her so what, we still love you. Then we asked what we could do to help her on her path. If a book like this had been readily available when she was the same age as George, she could have been more comfortable coming out sooner.

George’s brother, Scott, had the perfect reaction when he discovered George’s truth. My youngest daughter struggled a bit with the news she had a big sister and not a big brother as she had believed most of her life. But in the years since, she has become a huge supporter of her big sister. She has even stood up to her unaccepting grandparents for her sister.

All kids want to be accepted for who they are, and George is no exception. Why should it matter that George doesn’t identify as the world believes she should?

I feel this book is one that everyone can get something out of. Give it a try; you may learn a little about yourself along the way.

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.