The Other Boy

June 27, 2016
As far as his best friend, classmates, and baseball teammates know, 12-year-old Shane is a typical boy. Shane feels that way, too, but it’s not the whole story. He takes hormone blockers to prevent the onset of female puberty, and he wants to start taking testosterone. Unfortunately, his divorced parents share custody, and although his mother is supportive, his father hopes this is a phase. Debut author Hennessey effectively depicts Shane’s life as both ordinary and very particular. All adolescents chafe at parental control, but Shane’s father can prevent him from taking the drug he needs to be the person he feels he already is. All adolescents keep secrets, but when rumors start about Shane, it’s extra scary. While coping with his father, baseball rivalries, his first crush, and his friends’ reactions, Shane keeps working on his graphic novel; illustrated excerpts show how it helps him work through fears and worries. It’s another nice touch in a warm, realistic book that offers a sensitive take on a topic that’s very much in the air. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Stephanie Kip Rostan, Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary.

June 15, 2016
Twelve-year-old Shane Woods is seriously into baseball, video games, the graphic novel he's drawing, and a redheaded classmate named Madeline. The white sixth-grader has been inseparable from his Chinese-American best friend, Josh Choi, since they met, but Josh can tell Shane's distracted by something. Josh figures it's Madeline, but Shane's about to get a prescription for testosterone, which will allow him to start puberty and catch up with cisgender kids his age. Shane is in "stealth mode," when a trans person keeps their gender status private until they share it with someone important to them. It's bugging Shane that he hasn't told Josh, but he's still too scared. His own story is ripped out of his control when a bully finds out and spreads it around the whole school. Though his mother, a blonde, vegan midwife, is supportive and loving, after days of being the school pariah and the threat of losing everything, Shane finds that only Alejandra, a Latina trans girl he befriended in a support group, shines a light and gives him perspective. Hennessey does a good job normalizing what many people find incredibly different. The adults in Shane's life don't always get everything right, but they basically want to support him, which feels both realistic and aspirational. Alejandra is a valuable reminder that not all kids enjoy Shane's privilege. This is the story with a triumphant-but-realistic ending that trans kids haven't had enough of. It's challenging but not tragic, and it ends with bright, beautiful hope. (Fiction. 8-12)

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July 1, 2016

Gr 5-7-For the past three years, Shane, now in sixth grade, has been living with his mom in L.A., where he has good friends and a crush, is a star on the baseball team, and spends his free time working on his sci-fi graphic novel. However, Shane is dealing with issues in his private life that his schoolmates know nothing about: Shane was assigned female at birth, and his dad still acts like Shane is just going through a phase, and refuses to accept Shane's gender identity. When a classmate outs Shane to the entire school, he has a lot more to worry about than baseball regionals. Shane's voice rings true, and the writing is straightforward and accessible. School bullies, issues with parents, first crushes, and sports drama make this title relatable to a broad range of readers. Additionally, it's refreshing to read a story with a young trans character already living life as his true gender and never questioning his identity. While some of the conflict and characterization lack depth and the ending is a little too pat, the book still has wide appeal. The selected pages of Shane's graphic novel, interspersed between chapters, are a fun addition, and readers will enjoy the parallels to Shane's real-life drama. VERDICT A worthwhile addition to middle grade collections, particularly where contemporary realistic stories are in demand.-Jenna Friebel, Deerfield Public Library, IL

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Grades 4-7 When Shane, born a girl, switched schools three years ago, things really started to fall into place. Finally, he could be the boy he's known he was since age 3, without being treated differently. Plus, now that he's 12, he's old enough to begin hormone therapy and is nearly giddy at the prospect of the manly chest hairs he'll get from the testosterone injections. When a school bully shows students an old picture of Shane dressed as a girl, however, rumors fly, and Shane worries he'll lose everything now that his secret is out. First-time author Hennessey sensitively portrays typical sixth-grade trials (first crushes, embarrassing parents, etc.), compounded by the confusion and prejudice that can accompany transitioning. Although Shane is a victim of some hate, he is the recipient of far more acceptance and support, particularly from his mother, baseball teammates, and support-group buddy. Spreads from the sf comic that Shane is drawing preface several chapters, each hinting at upcoming struggles. An honest, encouraging addition to the growing ranks of transgender lit for the middle grades.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)