The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
To be published on May 31, 2016
by Farrar, Strauss and Giroux
Source: ARC from publisher for review
Synopsis from Goodreads: David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he's gay. The school bully thinks he's a freak.
Only his two best friends know the real truth: David wants to be a girl. On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal: to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in his class is definitely not part of that plan.
When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long , and soon everyone knows that Leo used to be a girl.
As David prepares to come out to his family and transition into life as a girl and Leo wrestles with figuring out how to deal with people who try to define him through his history, they find in each other the friendship and support they need to navigate life as transgender teens as well as the courage to decide for themselves what normal really means.
Review of The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
This is the second book I've read this month that featured trans characters. (You can read my review of If I Was Your Girl here.)David can barely bring himself to say the words: I wish I were a girl.
I loved the writing in this book - it was really engaging and easy to read. I thought it was interesting that the book featured two characters at different points in their transition process.
I enjoyed this one a lot - be sure to check it out!
Great review. I didn't realized there was a second character. I have this one on my list already, but now I'm even more intrigued.
ReplyDeleteTimely read what with the trans issue going around in the US. Though, I don't know why it's still an issue in your country, to be honest. Anyway, can of worms, can of worms. Lol. This book reminds me of Freak Boy. Great review, Jen.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this one a lot. I was my first book with transgender characters and I thought it was interesting but also focused on other stuff we normally see in YA and did that mix really well. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThis one looks like a fantastic read! I'll be sure to add this to my TBR pile.
ReplyDeleteKim @ Divergent Gryffindor: BLOG || VLOG
I liked this one despite a few quibbles. I still really want to read If I Was Your Girl though.
ReplyDeleteKaren @For What It's Worth
I will check it out for sure - together with If I Was Your Girl, actually. Can't believe I missed both of them!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the first one yet and I'm not quite sure that this book is for me but it makes me think of The Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Z (can't fully remember his last name?) which I loved and shared about a similar topic. So I will look into more reviews about this book before making up my mind!
ReplyDeleteMy recent review: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2016/05/the-wrath-and-dawn-book-review.html
I've never read a book like this, but it sounds really good. I have to add it to my to-read list because I think I was missing it.
ReplyDelete