While I really enjoyed the simple, straightforward prose in this memoir, I just couldn't get behind the message. This thing basically reads like a fairytale trans story: perfect parents, perfect support, perfect partners, perfect transition. The perfect is a stretch, admittedly, but I say that because I don't see a lot of challenges being overcome by the narrator that aren't very common for non-binary or gender nonconforming folks. It worries me that some kid might pick up this book and become even more depressed or feel more hopeless when things don't work out the way they have for Arin Andrews. For that reason, and because while the writing is solid, it doesn't have a lot of depth, it's a 2.5 stars for me.

It's a quick read, so if you want to check it out, the story is a good one and I wouldn't recommend against it. ( )

Included in a blog post and resource list at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/06/10/non-fiction-about-gender-and-trans-e...

Arin has had a rather smooth journey. ( )

This is a very teenager-y memoir, which is entirely appropriate, since it's written by a teenager about his life, but it took me a bit to get used to the quirks of his style and voice. Arin shows really amazing candor about the potentially embarrassing foibles and inconsistencies of teenaged romantic life, and an impressive amount of self-reflection and thoughtfulness. I hope this book will be a resource for trans and cis teenagers and for the adults who can and should support them. ( )

Review on Metapsychology Online. href> ( )