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George Hardcover – August 25, 2015

by Alex Gino (Author)

1,248 ratings

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BE WHO YOU ARE.

When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

Melissa 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. Melissa 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, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

Reading age

8+ years, from customers
Print length

208 pages
Language

English
Grade level

3 - 7
Dimensions

5 x 1 x 7 inches
Publisher

Scholastic Press
Publication date

August 25, 2015
ISBN-10

0545812542
ISBN-13

978-0545812542
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Alex Gino
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—Before her mother and older brother Scott come home, George has a few, treasured moments to experience life as she's always wanted to live it. She looks in the mirror and calls herself Melissa, combs her hair over her forehead to mimic the appearance of bangs, and reads glossy magazines full of ads for lipstick, perfume, and tampons. Once her mom and brother come home, however, the magazines must go back to their secret hiding place. While George has no doubt she's a girl, her family relates to her as they always have: as a boy. George hopes that if she can secure the role of Charlotte in her class's upcoming production of Charlotte's Web, her mom will finally see her as a girl and be able to come to terms with the fact that George is transgender. With the help of her closest ally, Kelly, George attempts to get the rest of the world to accept her as she is. While children can have a sense of their gender identity as early as the age of three, children's literature is shockingly bereft of trans* protagonists, especially where middle grade literature is concerned. George offers more than the novelty of an LGBTQ coming-out story, however. Here, what is most remarkable is the use of pronouns: While the world interacts with George as if she is a boy, the narrator only refers to her with female pronouns, which gives her girl-ness a stronger sense of validation. In addition, George comments on the fact that, in past years, gays and lesbians have achieved a certain amount of visibility and acceptance, while the trans* community is still largely ignored and misunderstood. George's mother remarks that while she can handle having a gay child, she simply can't accept her as "that kind of gay." For George, as is the case for many LGBTQ youth, coming out is a process that she must repeat until she is properly recognized. There is pain in George, but not without the promise of a better tomorrow, even if tomorrow doesn't arrive as soon as it should. VERDICT A required purchase for any collection that serves a middle grade population.—Ingrid Abrams, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Review

Praise for George:

"Timely, touching... George may be the most right-now book imaginable." -- New York Times Book Review

"Insightful... it'll resonate with anyone who has ever felt different." -- People Magazine

"George is a timely book for parents to share and discuss with their children, whether dealing with similar issues or simply to foster understanding." -- Entertainment Weekly

* "Warm, funny, and inspiring." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Profound, moving, and -- as Charlotte would say -- radiant..." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "A required purchase for any collection that serves a middle grade population." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "[A] sensitive, insightful portrayal of a transgender child coming to terms with gender identity." -- Booklist, starred review

"Readers going through a similar experience will feel that they are no longer alone, and cisgender (non-transgender) readers may gain understanding and empathy." -- BookPage

"Reading this breathtaking debut should be a requirement for living." #6 on the Indie Next Autumn '15 List -- Marisa DiNovis, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC

"Timely, touching...George may be the most right-now book imaginable." - New York Times Book Review"Insightful...it'll resonate with anyone who has ever felt different." - People Magazine"George is a timely book for parents to share and discuss with their children, whether dealing with similar issues or simply to foster understanding." - Entertainment Weekly* "Warm, funny, and inspiring." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "Profound, moving, and-as Charlotte would say-radiant..." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * "A required purchase for any collection that serves a middle grade population." -- School Library Journal, starred review* "[A] sensitive, insightful portrayal of a transgender child coming to terms with gender identity." -- Booklist, starred review "Readers going through a similar experience will feel that they are no longer alone, and cisgender (non-transgender) readers may gain understanding and empathy." -- BookPage"Reading this breathtaking debut should be a requirement for living." #6 on the Indie Next Autumn '15 List - Marisa DiNovis, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press (August 25, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0545812542
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0545812542
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8+ years, from customers
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1 x 7 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #509,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #106 in Children's Books on LGBTQ+ Families
- #642 in Children's Books on Bullying
- #8,699 in Children's Friendship Books

Customer Reviews:
1,248 ratings

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Alex Gino

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Customer reviews

5 star		85%
4 star		7%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 15, 2022

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Really good book I love it. In pretty good conditon

Absolutely amazing!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 6, 2016

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This book was so good. I feel like it should be mandatory reading for younger children, to help expose them to literature about transgendered people. These kinds of books will let kids know it’s okay to be who you are, as the first line in the summary says. I gave this 5 out of 5 stars.

I read this book for #ReadProud. I ended up reading it in one day, because I didn’t want to put it down and it’s a pretty short book. I’d heard some great things about this book, and they were definitely all correct. George is such a great main character. I felt for her while she tried to let the world know that she was a girl, not a boy. Her story touched my heart, and I’m sure it’ll touch your heart too!

First off, I really love Kelly, George’s best friend. Kelly was always there for George and didn’t judge her like a lot of other people did in the story. Kelly encouraged George to try out for Charlotte’s part in the play, and even helped George be Charlotte after the teacher said no. Kelly encouraged George to embrace being a girl in other ways as well, and I have to say bravo to Kelly’s character. If it wasn’t for her, it might have been harder, and taken George longer, to embrace her true identity.

George’s mom kind of annoyed me for most of the book. She kept dismissing George’s words, kept dismissing George when she tried to tell her mom that she wasn’t a boy. She comes around towards the end, but I feel like she’s going to take a while to come to terms with this. I wish more parents were accepting of their children, no matter what. George’s dad isn’t really in the picture, and we only hear mentioning of him a few times. George’s brother Scott was a pretty great character overall. He’s a little brash at first, but he comes around to the idea of George’s true identity much faster than the mom.

Of course, some kids can be cruel. Kids like Jeff, Rick, etc. are why more kids don’t come forward with their true identities. It breaks my heart that kids, and even adults, have to endure that kind of pain. Bullying is beyond wrong; I know from firsthand experience, but my reasons for being bullied were different. No child should have to endure bullying. But despite being picked on, George prevails. The ending was absolutely perfect. I just know George is going to be okay, even if she experiences some ups and downs.

Before I finish the review, I just want to point out one line that really stuck with me. It was said about George and I think it fits perfectly: “My point is, it takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination.”

Final note: Another amazing debut! I read this book for the #ReadProud challenge this month, and I regret nothing. You can buy a Kindle or Nook copy of this book for $2.99 right now. Go get a copy ASAP!

8 people found this helpful

Banning Books is Silly

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 30, 2022

Verified Purchase

I read “George” because it was on a list of banned books. I thought the story was very cute and absolutely could reflect the angst of a child wanting to be their true self. People who think a story could “turn” a child certainly can’t explain the opposite rationale how reading a traditional gender assignment story would turn a child inclined otherwise. SMDH

Rating is only based on overall content of the book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

Love this book! Bought it for one of the kiddos I work with in therapy. Unfortunately upon delivery it looks like it has been damaged and not properly taken care of… considering this is a new book I am very disappointed

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Chelsea R. Klingler

Classroom must have

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 29, 2022

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This text is probably more 5/6th grade reading level but I'll be putting it in my high school classroom anyway. It's a great story that can be enjoyed by any age.

One person found this helpful

An important topic

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 3, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is an important topic that too many people don't know much about. Alex Gino writes this in a way that makes it meaningful but easier to understand for people who don't know much about transgender people. This is a good read not only for early teen audiences, but also for parents who may have a child who feels similar to Melissa. Although it's not quite the same, this book could also help people understand trans guys a little more, or at least understand how important not misgendering* or deadnaming* someone is (in my opinion, anyway).
*(As a side note for those who may not know: misgendering someone is calling someone by he/him if they prefer she/her, for example. And deadnaming someone is calling someone by their birth name that they may not use anymore, such as calling someone George instead of Melissa).

5 people found this helpful

@BrigitteNevada

Transgender Girl Story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 1, 2022

Verified Purchase

It is a story about Melissa, a transgender girl. If you have daughters that are struggling with their identity, or relatives struggling with your child's identity, try this book.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

Beautiful. An easy read. Lovely story and the perfect book to introduce this topic to kids. My daughters will love to read this beauty. What a gem!

One person found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

TS

I loved Geor- Melissa's story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 6, 2021

Verified Purchase

Slightly confusing when they (the kids & teachers at her school, also her mom and brother) call George he/him at the start, as, although she is born into a boys body, she really is a girl.

Wonderful and captivating! Beautifully written!!

This story could relate to many readers. And it must be hard if you are non-binary, and you are born into a girls body (or a boys) and you kept getting called he/she. It's the same for George (she is not non binary though, but the same kinda things happen to her). When your teacher says " BOYS and GIRLS.." you would feel like you don't belong. Or if you ever have to line up in boys' and girls' lines (example from the book!)

Alexandra Florence

George by Alex Gino | Review

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

I've never read book about a transgender character before, although after discussing transgender children at uni it was certainly something that interested me. Which is why I couldn't wait to start it.

From the very beginning George is referred to as she and her in the narrative, she's set off as female, despite her anatomy. George is only in the fourth grade, yet has an understanding of her gender, that despite what her body is saying, she is a female. This might seem like a theme that's too old for a child of George's age, but Alex Gino portrayed the child-like innocence that showed George's age. This was done through the dialogue and language used, and the insult 'some jerk' that was so young and not insulting that it couldn't help but endear you to George even more.

In the book the school are reading Charlotte's Web, something I have never read, but it seemed to really touch George. She adores Charlotte, and as her class are putting on a play, she wants nothing more than to play Charlotte. Her best friend Kelly is extremely supportive of George's dream, and together they rehearse Charlotte's lines, ready for auditions. I really wanted to see George succeed and perform his Charlotte in front of the audience, but Ms Udell had other ideas. She had no time for George's audition, telling her to stop joking around. My heart went out to George, especially as Alex Gino oh so cleverly hammered in the 'boy' 'boy' 'boy' throughout the book, and I don't know about anyone else but it gave me strongly mixed feelings towards these adults. One of which was George's mum, I got so angry after more than one interaction that should not have gone the way that it did. I wanted to take George in my arms and hug her, telling her it's okay. Because she clearly needed support from the people around her, and I'm glad Kelly was there to give it to her.

George is a middle grade book, therefore the language is not the most complex thing in the world, in fact I have seen some reviews where people have used the word 'simple'. Why I am able to understand their opinions, I don't personally agree. For me, it was the simplicity of the language and the innocence that it created that really impacted me. I was so intrigued about Alex Gino after finishing George that I went ahead and did a little bit of Googling. I found this article in which both author and book are discussed. What I really liked about this interview was that Alex Gino recommended more books with LGBTQ+ themes, which I will most certainly be checking out!

George is a brilliant book that everyone needs to read. Seriously, go out and read it right now.

Have you read George? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

- TO YOU, FOR WHEN YOU FELT DIFFERENT -

6 people found this helpful

FChandu

Such a beautiful and important book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 11, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is so important and also sensitively written. My nine (almost 10 year old) read it and she really loved it. She kept asking me lots of questions but it really opened her eyes and helped her understand. She has now recommended it to her friends.

5 people found this helpful

Ms. K. Thomas

Eye opening

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 1, 2019

Verified Purchase

Eye opening, as a teacher this really made me think about how many times I use ‘boy’ and ‘girl’.
I loved Melissa’s story she’s strong and brave despite the adversity she faces at school and home.

2 people found this helpful

Gecko Dmitrievich-Shcherbatskaya

Very important book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 9, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book is a must read for any child questioning their gender or trying to come out. I read this as an adult and related to the issues facing the main character. Very fantastic book.

3 people found this helpful

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