Not Always a Happy Birthday

Birthday by Meredith Russo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A difficult but worthwhile read. Main characters Eric and Morgan are immediately engaging and you root for them all the way through. Story is told using alternating POV chapters, which works well. Word of warning that there is content here that is confronting: death of a parent; violence and domestic abuse – it puts you through the wringer.
Not a spoiler to say there is a ray of hope at the end, so don’t give up on this one.
However, I would venture to say that this book is at the more adult end of the YA spectrum, so keep that in mind!
For ages 16 and up.

A Transformative Origin Story

Dreadnought by April Daniels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This book is a killer superhero origin story – but it’s so much more than that. It’s about identity, acceptance, fighting transmisogyny, family, friendship – and yes, superheroes. Danny, who has never felt comfortable in her “male” body, gets caught up in a battle between superheroes – which in this world is a regular occurance – and becomes the vessel for superhero powers. As a result of this, she transitions into a female body; and awesome superpowers (like flying) into the bargain. As if transitioning so quickly wasn’t enough of a rollercoaster, April Daniels decides to give her protagonist an aggressive father, a superhero nemesis, and a murder plot to solve!
I loved this first instalment in this series. Can’t wait to see what adventures await Dreadnought in the next volumes!
For anyone who seeks to understand the transgender experience, the good and the bad, and enjoys seeing a superhero become what they were destined to be – this is for you.
Highly recommended. Ages 12 and up.

Ten letters, no repeats

Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved this book. I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you want a gentle story that lets transgender and gender neutral kids know they are SEEN, read this. Show them THIS. Lisa Bunker has crafted a wonderful, sensitively written story for all those kids who have no-one to tell what it is like to be them. To have to navigate a world and ways of thinking that have never considered them important. Zenobia is a joy, as are her fabulous aunts, and her friend Arli is a revalation in middle fiction. Arli is a beacon for Zenobia and they are someone who shows Zen what real friendship is supposed to be. No judgement, no agendas, just real human interactions. The only low note for me were the “interlude” chapters where we see Zen or Arli through someone else’s eyes. I found these to be a misstep in an otherwise brilliant novel. Quite simply those interlude chapters were unnecessary. Bunker’s writing is good enough to not need that extra exposition. But this is a small quibble.
Just read it. Please.
Suitable for readers 12 and up.

Donut miss this one

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Lily is about to start 8th grade and is trying to work herself (and the rest of the world) out. Where she fits, where her parents (especially her father) want her to fit, and how she is going to get there. When she goes out to help Dad bring in the groceries she locks eyes with a new boy in the neighbourhood. A boy carrying a Dunkin’ Donuts bag. They smile at each other and Lily’s heart races – until her blustering father who doesn’t like her to be outside the house “dressed like that” forces her inside. Norbert, the boy with bag, has recently moved to Lily’s town and comes with his own set of family hassles, and also wonders where he fits.
Lily and Norbert (Dunkin) become friends and we travel through their story in alternating narrative. Lily is desperate to start taking hormone blockers in the next step to becoming who is she is inside. Her mother is supportive, but Dad is just not on the same page. She is bullied at school and to top things off, the tree she and her grandfather loved to climb together is scheduled to be felled to make way for a community park. Emotions are running high in her family. Then she meets Dunkin and a friendship blossoms.
Dunkin has his share of family stuff going on as well. He is addicted to donuts and iced coffee for one thing. For another his superfit, super-motivated Bubbie is always trying to get him to do some kind of physical activity. Dunkin has anxiety issues, but they start to dissipate a little when he bravely tries out for the basketball team. His superior heigh means he is an instant hit and it seems he may have found a niche. But then he stops taking his medication and things spiral.
Lily wants to tell Dunkin who she really is, her story, but is reluctant to do so when he starts hanging out with the “jocks”. Dunkin’ wants to tell Lily heis secrets, but doesn’t know how and now that guy Phineas is talking in his head all the time making things really difficult at home and at school, and mentally he is on a knife edge.
These two characters are on a collision course that eventually sees them up a tree protesting it’s impending demise. Lily and Dunkin’ are relatable characters – their circumstances as a transgender person (Lily) and someone with a mental illness (Dunkin’) just serves to highlight all their amazing qualities – especially their resilience. Supporting characters, especially Dunkin’s grandmother Bubbie, and Lily’s friend Dare, are also well realised and help to move the story along with their loyalty and support of the protagonists.
A wonderful, affirming, novel for young adults – and even us older adults.
For ages 12 and up.