George is a trans children's book written by genderqueer author Alex Gino. It follows the fictional story of a 4th Grader named George. Everyone around him thinks he's a boy. His best friend, who's a cis girl, Kelly, his older brother Scott, his mom, his teacher, and his principal.
George's class is given the opportunity to be in the class play of Charlotte's Web. Most of the story involves George and Kelly picking their fave roles, practicing their lines, and just living their lives. There're some small side stories of relationships with his teachers, his family, and the class homo- and transphobes. Little by little there's hints about George thrown in such as George thinks of himself as a girl and prefers, she/her/hers pronouns over he/his/him pronouns and that her name is Melissa.
Melissa gets into some coming out situations with her friend Kelly, then her brother, then her Mom, but the major coming out is a triumph and one I won't give away. I found kinship with Melissa in that she had a secret stash of girls and women’s life magazines like Seventeen. In our own ways, we latch onto what we can for our gender identities and often time in secret. Truly, the girls in the magazines were some of Melissa's closest friends other than Kelly. It was amazing to read how her principal steps in and helps Melissa find some safe space!
Transitioning as a child was completely denied me and made me the subject of ridicule in my family until I put it all in the closet. Reading about a modern day nine-year-old trans girl coming out, finding support from family, and succeeding in school is marvelous to read! George was written for middle age children, is double-spaced, but also is a wonderful story for trans adults and includes a fascinating FAQ and Afterwards sections.
Nice , thanks Dasia
Thank you I t sounds like a wounderful film. I
Am so happy for the young people who will never have to fight for the basics. They can concentrate on saving the world or being a great Doctors. My gender issue did not hinder my achieving success. It would of been nice to be a little happy with who I was. Luv Stephanie ❤️
Hi Stephanie,
I'm so glad you enjoyed my book review. I enjoyed reading it. Okay, actually, it made me uncomfortable reading through experiences of oppression in a little girl's life. I really enjoyed that it's a respectful and honest trans children's story that opens up to eventually affirming her. Alex Gino is one kewl author! Anyhoo, I'm curious to discover your successes. Would you share with us? I could use some good news today.
Hi Dasia My success is I have survived as you have. I am 65 years old now. I believe it has been 58 years of getting small presious moments when I could see the feminate reflection of a young girl then a young woman, now a woman. I am still looking for me. She has been with me a long time. Sometimes it was torture . There were years of excitement in when I was out and being a young teenage girl. I loved those years I had no fear. I was free. I retreated back where society, family and friends expected of me after a dear teen age girl like me passed away violently. She introduced me to a life of excitement, taught me the power of being a girl. It was a time when boys could wear their hair long and clothing was androgenous. It only took a little make up and some attention to your hair with change in body movements. The cute mini skirts gave the final touch to being what a cis girl called me a IT. Not a girl not a boy but a IT. I was a cute IT. It was living life dangerously. It was a life of sex, drugs and rock and roll I was nineteen she was 21. The men loved her and she loved the attention. She always had the best cloths bought for her by these men . We were in a nite club together with other girls like us. She turned to me and said I will be right back I am going to pick something up. I watched her leave with a friend of ours a cute gay guy I believe his name was Billy. Well Billy returned after a hour or so without Michelle
He told me Michelle is gone.. Michelle was killed during a drug transaction. I went to her funeral and at nineteen years old I saw enough.. I no longer wanted that girl in me. I went deep only to appear 3 years later.Dasia my whole life has been about trying to be who I really am as all of us. Some of us get help and make the transition. Some of us have committed suicide because of the depression. Some of us have gone into prostitution and still do.. They have to earn a living too. Some of just continue to hide and live a life of shame only to come out when they cannot stand it anymore. My self I went to a psychiatrist when I was thirty five . I told her I had extreme anxiety and depression. I did not tell her the truth about who I was. I just told her I had anxiety and depression. She said you might be Bi polar and there was a medication for that. I took that medication religiously for twenty years. When ever I felt anxiety about my gender I took higher doses. My psychiatrist would send me that medication any where at any time if I forgot it. She liked the Idea that I was bi polar. It was the in thing to be. My needs to come out were diminishing I was drugged. My family practioner told me I was on enough medication to put a horse to sleep for a week. I was taking it every day and functioning very successful . I finally had enough of the medication it took me 9 months to withdraw. Then guess who came back ME. I love it. Some advice to my sister's when you see your therapist tell the truth about yourself. You do not need medication to accept yourself. It is ok to be yourself. I enjoyed telling this little story about my success I have survived Luv Stephanie ❤️❤️
Thanks, Stephanie, for your success story! I have Bipolar Disorder, too. I understand and can empathize with you about that. "Enough drugs to put a horse to sleep for a week". I love that! I've been there, too, but I still take the little Lithium tabs. I asked a psych prof of mine if they found a cure yet. They gave up about ten years ago since the meds work to maintain us well enough. Thppt!! Oh well...at least cancer will be cured in the next 50 years. I enjoyed your positive vibes, right on!
