The Art of Being Normal--"Normal is such a stupid word. What does it even mean?"

Title:  The Art of Being Normal

Author:  Lisa Williamson


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): David feels that he* is really a girl and really wants to tell his* parents--before it's "too late" and David develops into a man.  Leo is a new kid at school, and when he sticks up for David in a fight, he and David become friends, and David discovers Leo's big secret. 


What I think (WAY OVER 250 words): Massive spoilers in this review. Also, I couldn't keep to my own limit of 250 words.  Also also, this review is from my point-of-view as a cis person raising a transgender son (as are ALL of my reviews).

I found this book by accident. I was looking for a completely different book, but then I found The Art of Being Normal lying by itself in the wrong section. Like a good librarian, I picked it up to re-shelf correctly, but then read the blurb on the back and was excited to have found it!  My trans-son is only in second grade, but I really want him to be able to find books to relate to when he is older.

Being Jazz--"Easy-to-read memoir"

Title:  Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen

Author: Jazz Jennings

What it's about (in 75 words or fewer):  Being Jazz is a memoir written by transgender teenager Jazz Jennings.  Jazz was assigned male at birth, but has lived most of her life as girl.  Her transgender advocacy at such a young age has been documented on the TLC reality show I am Jazz.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): This was a super-easy and quick read, and I enjoyed it. I have a transgender son of my own (the opposite of Jazz--my child is a biological female who has always lived as a boy) and felt that I could emphasize with some of the issues that Jazz's family (especially her parents) had to deal with. I am very grateful to Jazz and her family for being pioneers for transgender children.  

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe--"I Love them SO MUCH"

Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  This is such a character-driven book, it's difficult to explain what it is about.  It's about Dante and Aristotle and their wonderful friendship.  It's about being Mexican-American and relating to your extended family, siblings, and parents.  It's about love, prison, art, PTSD, literature, homophobia, poetry, and feeling confused. It's about the power of close friendships and coming-of-age.  It's about finding yourself and discovering the secrets of the universe.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  My favorite romance novel review site has a category called Desert Isle Keeper (DIK), reserved for books that the reviewers think are so good, that they would save them from a shipwreck to read forever while stranded on a desert isle. 

My equivalent review to DIK is Warm Cuddly Teddy Bear (WCTB)--the books that you keep forever just to reread over and over again, the ones that you are so familiar with that you can literally open to any page and just start reading without any confusion, your favorites that you pick up and read when you are stressed and need to relax. The warm, cuddly teddy bears of books.

Simon Vs. The Homosapiens Agenda--"White shouldn't be the default anymore than straight should be the default. There shouldn't even be a default."

Title: Simon Vs. the Homosapiens Agenda

Author: Becky Albertalli

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Simon is gay and hasn’t come out to the world yet.  He is in an email “relationship” with Blue, another student from his high school in the same situation.  Simon thinks he might be falling in love with Blue, but when some jerky kid finds out about the emails, Simon’s life suddenly becomes much more complicated.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  First of all, this book reminded me of all of the GOOD times I had in high school--NOT the angsty parts.  Definitely a point in its favor!