Everyone needs a Kelly in their lives.
3 stelle
We follow Melissa going from reading Charlotte's Web to her class doing a play based on the book. She wants to play Charlotte but she is told no because she was born a boy. This gives Melissa the courage to begin opening up to those closest to her and explain that she is a girl, not a boy. She obviously gets mixed responses, but thankfully none are super negative.
This book is aimed for middle school kids, and honestly that's a big reason why I can't give it a full 4 stars. NOT because of the main topic, but other issues I found.
First, Melissa resorts to bullying a bully which is not something that I would feel comfortable with telling any child to do. She never discussed the bullying with anyone, just decides to react to it and then doesn't get in trouble for it when the bully punches …
We follow Melissa going from reading Charlotte's Web to her class doing a play based on the book. She wants to play Charlotte but she is told no because she was born a boy. This gives Melissa the courage to begin opening up to those closest to her and explain that she is a girl, not a boy. She obviously gets mixed responses, but thankfully none are super negative.
This book is aimed for middle school kids, and honestly that's a big reason why I can't give it a full 4 stars. NOT because of the main topic, but other issues I found.
First, Melissa resorts to bullying a bully which is not something that I would feel comfortable with telling any child to do. She never discussed the bullying with anyone, just decides to react to it and then doesn't get in trouble for it when the bully punches her. I feel like that's just sending a slight bit of a wrong message.
Second, I am very glad that this book is encouraging kids to feel ok with who they feel they are and with be open about it with friends and family. Everything works out for Melissa when she does start correcting people and telling them that she IS a girl. None of the reactions are really malicious in nature, and I feel like that is a little too idealistic. Kids and teens are still abused and ridiculed by their own families when they come out in any way, and it feels a little dangerous to be giving kids the feeling that those people in their lives will still love them no matter what because it doesn't work that way in real life.
Melissa's mom gives a little pushback after being told because she has a hard time grappling with the facts. But by the end, she tells Melissa that she wants to get a therapist for Melissa and herself because they both have some stuff to work on to making sure that Melissa is able to live her best life without her mom accidentally pushing back again. Ideal situation at the end of it all, great to point out that therapy is super important.
As for Kelly: Kelly is the best friend of Melissa and the first person that she comes out to. Melissa asks some questions to understand what Melissa is saying, then shrugs and says "ok, cool" and continues with the conversation as normal. She comes up with a plan to help Melissa be Charlotte in the play even with the teachers all saying no. Everyone needs a Kelly in their lives.
I think I'll need to pick up some other books that focus on transgender tweens and see how they compare. I know there's a fine line between scaring kids with the truth and making things feel too much like fantasy and like nothing could go wrong. I'd be interested to see if other authors are able to construe more of the realities that could happen, or if I'm just too much of an adult to really be able to appreciate how this is portrayed to middle age children.