I have two copies of this book, well one now, because I gave it to my
friend – who is transgender also – as I recently came out to him and he
has been nothing but supportive and really good friend. I got the second
copy because it came signed with bonus content and I could not resist.
It is a lovely story of acceptance and teenage angst.
1. That it is a book about transgender teens, but it is so much more
2. There is the class divide, between the two dominant teens: Leo and Kate. The former lives on a less well-off housing estate and the latter, a more well off.
3. Bullying plays a distinct part in both Leo and Kate’s narratives. Leo because of an ‘incident’ that caused him to re-locate schools and Kate because she came out to some extent at aged eight.
4. Mathematics brings the two characters together, with Leo tutoring Kate. It allows the characters to bond in very sweet scenes.
5. The scene at the disused swimming pool melts my heart, were Leo’s past comes back to haunt him and Kate comes out.
6. Family plays a part in the narrative, with Leo searching for his ‘heroic’ father and not getting on with his mum.
7. But also with Kate’s family accepting her for who she is.
8. The cliff hanger of Alicia at the end of the book: it resolves the relationship between Leo and Alicia, but I also don’t want it compromise the idea of Leo and Kate getting together romantically.
9. The ‘alternative’ dance, with Kate being Cinderella, her family and Leo being the fairy godmother and him being her Prince Charming.
10. The Brighton sequence, ending with the holding of hands underneath the sheets: so sweet.
1. That it is a book about transgender teens, but it is so much more
2. There is the class divide, between the two dominant teens: Leo and Kate. The former lives on a less well-off housing estate and the latter, a more well off.
3. Bullying plays a distinct part in both Leo and Kate’s narratives. Leo because of an ‘incident’ that caused him to re-locate schools and Kate because she came out to some extent at aged eight.
4. Mathematics brings the two characters together, with Leo tutoring Kate. It allows the characters to bond in very sweet scenes.
5. The scene at the disused swimming pool melts my heart, were Leo’s past comes back to haunt him and Kate comes out.
6. Family plays a part in the narrative, with Leo searching for his ‘heroic’ father and not getting on with his mum.
7. But also with Kate’s family accepting her for who she is.
8. The cliff hanger of Alicia at the end of the book: it resolves the relationship between Leo and Alicia, but I also don’t want it compromise the idea of Leo and Kate getting together romantically.
9. The ‘alternative’ dance, with Kate being Cinderella, her family and Leo being the fairy godmother and him being her Prince Charming.
10. The Brighton sequence, ending with the holding of hands underneath the sheets: so sweet.
I love this weeks topic as it means nearly all our posts are about something different. Thank you for this post, you have convinced me to read this book ASAP! I have owned a copy since last year and still haven't got to it. It sounds incredible though and I am sad I have put off reading it for so long. You can check my TTT post out here.
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