When I was growing up there were no trans characters in children’s books, and partly because I had no examples I could point to, it took me until my forties to express and claim my gender truth. Now that I am a happily transitioned author, activist, and elected official, I champion middle grade novels by and about gender non-conforming humans because I want today’s trans kids to see themselves in stories. I hope to empower them to lead their best authentic lives from the beginning. I also hope to teach an often uninformed and sometimes prejudiced world to accept gender non-conforming kids as the beautiful healthy humans they are.
I wrote...
Zenobia July
By
Lisa Bunker
What is my book about?
As eighth grade begins, no one knows it's Zenobia’s first day going to school as the girl she has always known herself to be. Zen grew up in a family that did not accept or support her gender identity. One way she survived was by taking refuge online, where she discovered her natural genius for coding and hacking.
Now she finds herself in a new city with a new family, and a chance to be her real self in the world. She makes friends, but also tangles with a queen-bee girl and a cyber rival. Then when someone vandalizes the school website, she has to decide whether to hide her gifts, or offer to help and risk exposure.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Ana on the Edge
By
A.J. Sass
Why this book?
When it comes to misunderstood identities, it becomes crucial that there be stories by authors who have lived that story. There is no faking that authenticity. This is certainly the case with this engrossing and moving story of a young skater’s growing awareness of and interest in non-binary identity, written by a non-binary author with experience of the skating world. I particularly like that the story takes place in a setting in which the gender binary is so strongly enforced. I also appreciate the intersectionality – the main character is Chinese-American and Jewish.
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Too Bright to See
By
Kyle Lukoff
Why this book?
Pitfalls in writing a story about a particular identity can include a preachy centering of the identity issue, and overwrought, often tragic storylines. This lovely tale about a young trans boy figuring out who he is avoids both of these common errors, with a nuanced, gentle story of ghosts, family, and friendship...and, gender dysphoria, described with the subtlety and accuracy of someone who has experienced it first hand.
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Rick
By
Alex Gino
Why this book?
Gino’s novel “George” is better-known and also excellent, but it’s older, and even in the short time it has been published, some ideas have changed. Gino themself has expressed regret publicly that its main character’s deadname is the book’s title. This follow-up companion novel centers on a young boy coming to terms with a friend who is becoming a bully, and also struggling to find a word that accurately expresses his lack of interest in sex and romance. It’s a gentle and affirming book that introduces the idea of ace and aro identities to younger MG readers, and it is a delight.
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Both Can Be True
By
Jules Machias
Why this book?
I particularly like the dual narration in this 2021 debut, with two characters who challenge gender norms at different levels of intensity as they bond over a secret rescue dog. Daniel is a boy who feels all his emotions intensely, and who has been told over and over that he is too sensitive. Ash cycles through genders, feeling and expressing girl sometimes and boy other times. It’s so good to see a GNC character in a lead role. I also got a hoot out of the graphic elements, which are quirky and original.
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Felix Ever After
By
Kacen Callender
Why this book?
Of the five books on this list, this is the one that’s definitely in the Young Adult category rather than Middle Grade, but I wanted to include one of Kacen’s excellent creations. This is another book that, with its Black queer trans protagonist, does a fantastic job of exploring the complexities of intersectionality. The story is messy and emotional and real. Callender is a rising star of queer fiction for young readers.
