George joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content! When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl. George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, … Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part . . . because she’s a boy.
With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte — but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
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4.5 stars. Oh this pulled at my heart strings so much. There were so many gut punches that made me gasp and nearly cry. But then there were moments of unflappable support and understanding. This is the start of a journey, not a HEA. Kelly is 100% my superhero and I bow to Melissa’s bravery.
This is a sweet contemporary middle grade novel about knowing yourself and standing up for what you believe in. Kelly is the friend that is needed by all especially during this age and these formative years. “Charlotte’s Web” was a book that I remember reading and having strong feelings about, that it being in the story brought me back to that age in my memories. Such an inspiring story!
You know, just a reread of one of my favorite books ever. I have a goal to make everyone read this book. It is so beautiful and I love George so much!
Ten-year-old George loves the book, Charlotte’s Web, so when her class puts on a stage production, she is desperate to play the role of Charlotte. The only problem is that everyone sees George as a boy but George knows in her heart that she’s really a girl. The teacher refuses to cast a boy in the role and George is heartbroken. But George’s best friend Kelly has an idea….
Oh my goodness. I inhaled this book in just a few hours and it left me with so much joy for George, I was almost in tears.
George is afraid to tell anyone that she’s really a girl. What will they think? But as she slowly starts to share her secret, she finds so much love and acceptance. The road isn’t perfectly smooth—that would be too unrealistic. People who know her need some time to accept the idea, which feels fair. But watching George become the person she knows she is? It’s a priceless gift to watch her transformation and journey to self-acceptance.
I loved so many of the other characters for their reactions but I feel that I have to mention two in particular. Kelly is amazing! We all need a cheerleader like Kelly in our lives. Like everyone else, she needs some time to readjust her thinking when George shares her secret. But once Kelly gets through the adjustment period, she is all in. She gives George the courage to be who she knows she really is. She encourages George in ways that mean so much to her. Kelly is a rock star and the very definition of true friendship.
I also need to mention George’s principal. She has a miniscule role in the book but it’s an important one. She has a rainbow flag in her office along with a sign that says, “Support safe spaces for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth.” When she starts to suspect that there might be something a bit different about George, she hugs her and makes a point of saying, “My door is always open.” She’s not asking questions, she’s not judging, she’s accepting and making sure that a young person in her charge has a place to feel safe and a shoulder to lean on. What a difference a figure like that can make in a young person’s life!
George herself is a sweet kid who is trying so hard to fit in but she just can’t. She cries in Charlotte’s Web. She tries to avoid the school bullies, even though she can’t help being on their radar. She loves her family and Kelly and she’s so afraid of losing them if they know she’s really a girl. The stress and the inner conflict are starting to get her down. My heart broke for her inward struggles. But by the end, George was shining and I was so proud of her for having the strength to be her authentic self and to share that self with those fortunate enough to know and love her just as she is.
I highly, highly recommend this. It’s a feel-good story and it’s an easy introduction to transgender topics for readers both young and old. It’s sure to spur questions and discussions, which can only lead to a better understanding and empathy. And don’t we need all the empathy we can get in this world?
George by Alex Gino is a book that I knew I had to read at some point as the subject matter is one I have rarely seen in any novel much less one for children. We meet George, a girl who to everyone else? Is a boy. George wants to be who she is meant to be, who she has always been inside and a school play and the loving words of her best friend? Give her the opportunity to stand tall and show her true self.
I will admit, I cried several times for George when she struggles to be heard and when she finally… is given the chance to show her Mum just how happy and freeing it is to be seen properly for the first time.
Gino’s tale of self-recognition and acceptance is one that will leave you thoughtful when the final page is at an end. The author is truly fantastic in their way of introducing the internal struggle faced by ten year old George who knows that they are a girl despite what everyone from her Mum to the children in her classroom.
I think this is a book that som many children and adults would take something from and certainly help so many people be able to find the strength to say that they too, are like George. As I said, I had wanted to read this for some time and now that I have; I wish I had shuffled my tbr pile sooner. George is an incredible story, it gives you moments of laughter, of sorrow, thoughtfulness but above all? Certainly I felt hope as I read of how a child found not only their voice; but their true selves. I wish I were able to say to the author face to face, ‘thank you. Instead I say it here.
Thank you Alex Gino for giving a voice to so many, for highlighting a very complicated and emotional experience for anyone to feel at any age. George should be a book that is guaranteed to be in every school library and given as an example that like in Charlotte’s Web (the book that is central in George’s plan to simply say ‘this is me) that anything is possible if you simply find the strength and have the love and support of those who matter around you.
This is a awesome book
beautiful story about family, sticking up for yourself, and how wonderful friends can be. made me cry buckets
From the first page, you’re hearing George referred to with the pronouns she/her, because that is her truth. Yes, she was biologically born as a boy and given the name “George,” but she knows who she is, really. That was never in question.
Her truth. Is never. In question.
And that, I think, is why I loved this book.
Kids know who they are, their own truths. George’s name in her heart is Melissa. This is Melissa’s story about taking the steps to let her best friend, brother, and mom know her truth. And maybe even the rest of her community, too.
So much in her life is divided or categorized as boy/girl: boys walk up one side of the stairs at school, girls go up the other; boys can try out for some parts in the school play, girls can try out for the others; kids like her grow up to be good men but she’ll always be her mom’s little boy. She simply can’t stay within those boxes anymore, so she doesn’t.
While it’s not a particularly heavy book, prepare for some feelings.
If you’re a kid, you might get frustrated at the adults assuming they know best for the kids, without question. As a sibling, you might be afraid for whatever her big brother’s response is to her truth. As a parent, you might cry when you see her take steps that make her vulnerable but simply must take. There is also much joy, relief, and gratitude. And so much more.
In the end, no matter who you are, you will have witnessed one story of a person being brave enough to move forward into the spotlight with their truth, prepared to accept what comes with that exposure. Along the way, you will also have picked up a bit of empathy for other peoples’ journeys that don’t match your own, and an understanding on how to be there for them as they go on it. Definitely pick this one up for yourself–no matter your age–and your family.
For ages 8 and up.
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: August 25, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00SZIBREW
I quite clearly remember being a child. I know that children, even most teenagers, have no real idea what they want or even should want from life. Human brains are not fully matured untll sometime between age 20 and 25. Yet the politically correct crowd favors allowing children to make permanent physical changes to their bodies. Often over the objections of parents. That is insanity foisted on society by those who make decisions based upon the way they want the world to be rather than the way the world actually is. In a sane society much of what they advocate would be considered child abuse.
Despite gushing nonsense from School Library Journal this is not suitable for children. Children have enough trouble growing up without being confused by adults with a political agenda. A political agenda which maintains that thoughts and feelings trump biology.
It’s a great teaching tool to to help kids understand and have empathy for kids they perceive as different , to accept them.
“But George didn’t have a normal problem. She wasn’t scared of snakes. She hadn’t failed a math test. She was a girl, and no one knew it.”
I haven’t cried this hard while reading a children’s book since I read Charlotte’s Web. Which is particularly fitting since so much of this book is weaved around that one. When other people look at George, they see a boy. But George knows better. George knows that she doesn’t feel like a boy. When George is alone and looks in the mirror, she knows she’s actually Melissa. When her fourth grade class undertakes the project of performing Charlotte’s Web, George knows she doesn’t want to play Wilbur or any other background character. She wants to be Charlotte, but her teacher says that boys can’t try out for a girl part. But George isn’t having any of that. Along with her best friend, they come up with a plan. George isn’t just going to be allowed to try out to be Charlotte, she’s also going to make sure that everyone finally understands who George really is.
I kind of loved that it just felt like the story of a young person growing up and trying to navigate the struggles of adolescence and elementary school to become who they actually are, which is something every kid goes through. This kid just happens to also be transgendered. It was thoughtful, but also super fun.
My favorite thing about this book is that it really does come from a real and honest place: the author is genderqueer. Because Gino has real life experiences, George has a strong and firm voice and in every page you can really feel her frustrations with the world around her not understanding her point of view.