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Melissa (previously published as GEORGE) Paperback – April 19, 2022

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,092 ratings

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Melissa joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!

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.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Melissa:

Winner of the Stonewall Award

Winner of the Lambda Literary Award

A Children's Choice Book Award

"Profound, moving, and -- as Charlotte would say -- radiant, this book will stay with anyone lucky enough to find it." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

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

Praise for You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!:

"Gino's sophomore effort is every bit as affecting and important as their first." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"Necessary and rewarding." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Praise for Rick:

"An important, innovative, well-plotted book that invites a large readership." -- Booklist, starred review

"Enlightening and important." -- School Library Journal, starred review

About the Author

Alex Gino loves glitter, ice cream, gardening, awe-ful puns, and stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of being alive. Their first novel, Melissa, was a winner of the Children’s Stonewall Award, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Children’s Choice Book Award. For more about Alex, please visit them at alexgino.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press (April 19, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1338843419
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338843415
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8+ years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,092 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
3,092 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book a good introduction to transgender issues for young readers. They describe the writing as descriptive, easy to read, and authoritative. The story is described as sweet, funny, and engaging with a happy ending. Readers appreciate the relatable characters and the well-portrayed main character. The pacing is described as fast and spot-on. Overall, customers find the topic handled sensitively and with dignity.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

79 customers mention "Literacy"79 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good introduction to transgender issues for kids. They say it's written for middle schoolers and early high school students. The story is engaging and empowering for young readers, especially those who are transgender. It's accessible for its target age group without being overly simplistic.

"...Let me stress that while this technically is a middle grade novel, I believe that it is a novel that everyone should read...." Read more

"...It's a great example of a book to read with your child, to start discussions. I was fortunate enough to have parents who did that for me...." Read more

"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...." Read more

"...This book is important because it gives kids, who may be silently struggling with similar things, the knowledge that they are not alone and that in..." Read more

50 customers mention "Heartwarming"50 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and lovely. It illuminates the feelings of a young person who is confused about his or her sexual identity. The book helps children develop empathy for the LGBTQ community, and it opens deep compassion and caring questions from them. Readers appreciate that the story humanizes a very misunderstood and marginalized group without being preachy or heavy-handed.

"...could inspire a new generation to learn to be more open-minded, compassionate, and loving toward one another, ditching the hatred and the animosity..." Read more

"...The storytelling is expertly done and delivers a powerful message about acceptance without being preachy or heavy-handed. “..." Read more

"A hopeful, gentle book about a fifth-grader who knows she is a girl, even though the world tells her she's a boy...." Read more

"...Lovely storyline - told with respect and love...." Read more

42 customers mention "Writing quality"39 positive3 negative

Customers find the writing quality good and easy to read. They appreciate the authoritative, sensitive handling of the story. The storytelling is simple yet emotional and compelling. Readers praise the strong voice of the narrator and how easy it is to feel her frustration. They also mention that representation is important when growing up.

"...The storytelling is expertly done and delivers a powerful message about acceptance without being preachy or heavy-handed. “..." Read more

"...spot-on, and I found the main character compelling, complex, and well-written...." Read more

"...Thank you too for teaching me Mx. That was a much needed addition to the English language!" Read more

"...Representation is so important when you're growing up: something to point at and say to yourself, "I'm normal"; even when no one around you..." Read more

21 customers mention "Story length"18 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's story length. They find the plot sweet, with loveable characters. The book imparts knowledge in a funny and engaging way, wrapping up knowledge in a happy ending.

"...It's sweet, it's funny, it's heartbreaking, and it's thought provoking...." Read more

"...But despite being picked on, George prevails. The ending was absolutely perfect...." Read more

"...Additionally, I loved the ending - I think when writing a story like this for a young audience, it must be tempting to write a "and everyone..." Read more

"...But I want to say, the book has a happy ending. It's not another sad story about the tragic life of queer kids...." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the relatable characters and well-developed plot. They find the heroine likable and the story immerses them in the protagonist's world.

"...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...." Read more

"...The reactions of George's brother and mother were both well portrayed, his brother being a surprise stand out...." Read more

"...The structure and pacing were spot-on, and I found the main character compelling, complex, and well-written...." Read more

"...I think he really enjoyed the depth of the characters and it helped him to understand some of the normal changes kids go through at this age...." Read more

12 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it an easy read with good structure and a compelling main character. The book is described as a quick listen, perfect for long car rides.

"...Final note: Another amazing debut! I read this book for the #ReadProud challenge this month, and I regret nothing...." Read more

"This book was, in a word, perfect. The structure and pacing were spot-on, and I found the main character compelling, complex, and well-written...." Read more

"...It was a good starting point for us to discuss it. She did think it was quite unfair that George couldn’t audition to play Charlotte...." Read more

"...The principal was just as amazing, it's great to have all kinds of support. The mom at first? Whoa!..." Read more

10 customers mention "Topical content"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's topical content important and timely. They appreciate how it handles the subject with sensitivity, grace, and dignity. The book discusses serious issues like transgender youth and bullying. The main character is compelling, complex, and well-written. The premise is different and about inclusion and differences in understanding transgender.

"...and pacing were spot-on, and I found the main character compelling, complex, and well-written...." Read more

"This is an important topic that too many people don't know much about...." Read more

"...The writing is marvelous, poignant, and timely. The storyline is very engaging. I love the characters for this novel...." Read more

"...It's an important topic that is shown with sensitivity and care in this novel...." Read more

9 customers mention "Emotional content"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the story emotional, funny, and heartbreaking. They describe it as simple yet compelling.

"...It's sweet, it's funny, it's heartbreaking, and it's thought provoking...." Read more

"...The author puts out some pretty deep and challenging emotional material, and I love that there's an expectation that kids in the fourth grade..." Read more

"A fantastic book! I cried, I cringed, I hurt for George and I rejoiced for her, Melissa. Every child should have the family and friends she has...." Read more

"...It's honest and relatable, funny and sad. The topic doesn't trump the writing, nor vice versa...." Read more

George Blew Me Away
5 out of 5 stars
George Blew Me Away
This middle grade book did so much so right. I know it can often be difficult going into a middle grade book as an adult with the intention of reviewing it. Our standards of plot and character development is on such a higher scale. For me though, many years of reading bedtime stories and buddy reading with my daughter as she grew, gave me the opportunity to see this kind of writing though a different lens. That being said, George blew me away.George is transgender and this is the story of her coming to terms with the realization of who she is not in a world that defines her based on her appearance, typical stereotypes and gender roles that are prevalent in society. George experiences the world through a role she was born to play, a role that society has deemed appropriate for a boy/man. George knows that how she feels is not congruent with what she experiences or what is expected of her as a son, male student, or a boy friend. This book follows George through one week of her life, one week that will change forever how she feels about herself and the world around her.The toughest parts of this book are not what George feels, but lets be clear what she feels is very important, because for me children realizing who they are is a natural evolution. The tough parts are seeing how others, mostly adults, react to George. The reactions of George's brother and mother were both well portrayed, his brother being a surprise stand out. But it was George's best friend Kelley who got me in the feels. This book just shows, even though it is in the smallest way, that kids are more accepting and unfazed by George's secret than all of the adults were. It shows how much of the biases that children grow into come from the adults who refuse to educate themselves or who are not above spreading hate as long as it serves their narratives.This snippet is such a small window into George's life, one that had been hard up until the point we joined her. I am sure that she would continue to struggle if the story were to span her getting older because sadly, society isn't catching up fast enough. This book is important because it gives kids, who may be silently struggling with similar things, the knowledge that they are not alone and that in itself is worth spreading this book to anyone who will read it. This books is excellent for any adult trying to educate themselves or any adult reading it with or to their children to expand their own empathy and understanding of those deemed different. In the end, George wants what everyone, adult or child, wants... Acceptance.For me personally, my daughter could tell me she was a rock and I would do everything in my power to help her be the best rock she can be. I only hope for a time when being gay, transgender, non-binary and the like won't be a big deal. A time when what our children, friends, and family identify as has no barring on the beautiful people they are. Books like George take us one more step in that direction.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2016
    This review originally appeared on herestohappyendings.com

    I heard about this book back when it first came out, probably about a year ago now, and I while I was intrigued, I don't read as much middle grade fiction as I do young adult, so I never really bothered to pick a copy up until I saw it was on sale for $2.99 on Amazon for Kindle. When I saw that, I wasted no time grabbing my copy of it, and instead of being one of those books that I let sit in my Kindle library and end up forgetting about, this one nagged at me until I decided to read it.

    Let me stress that while this technically is a middle grade novel, I believe that it is a novel that everyone should read. It's sweet, it's funny, it's heartbreaking, and it's thought provoking. It will make you go back to your own childhood and wonder what you would have done if you were in George's shoes, or her friend Kelly's shoes.

    “George stopped. It was such a short, little question, but she couldn't make her mouth form the sounds.
    Mom, what if I'm a girl?”

    George is a girl in middle school who is struggling with her identity - she knows who she is, but she can't tell anyone - including her mother, who she doesn't believe would understand. So she hides in her room, looking at magazines that she's found over the years, full of make-up tips, hair advice, and models that she refers to as her friends. She keeps them hidden inside a denim bag in her closet so that no one can find them. To her mother and older brother, George is just George - a son and a little brother. George's father rarely sees her, so she doesn't feel the need to even consider discussing it with him. But when George is alone, she refers to herself as Melissa, which is the name she has picked for herself.

    School isn't easy for George, either. While she does have her best friend, Kelly, she is bullied and made fun of. When try-outs for the school play, Charlotte's Web, start up, George doesn't know what to do - she desperately wants the part of Charlotte, the spider who can spin words into her webs, but only girls are allowed to try out for the part. So what is George to do? Face ridicule and read the lines for Charlotte's character anyway, or play it safe and audition for a boy's role?

    When conflict arises and George feels like everything is falling apart for her, she isn't sure where to turn, so she turns to her friend Kelly, who is supportive, caring, and compassionate with George. She doesn't judge or care about what others will say - she encourages George to be herself.

    “She looked in the mirror and gasped. Melissa gasped back at her. For a long time, she stood there, just blinking. George smiled, and Melissa smiled too.”

    George is a beautiful novel, and honestly, I think everyone should have to read this book, both middle grade kids and adults alike. There are several important lessons to learn from this book.

    In the book, George's best friend Kelly is not only accepting of George, but she doesn't even care that George is a girl, and not a boy like everyone else believes. It doesn't change how she feels about her, and it doesn't change their friendship. As adults or teenagers, how many people can honestly say they have friends like this? A very select few, I'm sure. Imagine if we, as adults, could live by the message that this character sends? There would be much more love in the world, and a lot less hatred and violence.

    Also, George is encouraged by Kelly to follow her dreams and go for what she wants, even if no one else is keen on the idea. This is beautiful - and what we should all be encouraging each other to do.

    George is struggling silently with her identity for a good portion of the book, and she feels she must do this alone, because no one, not even her mother, would understand. This broke my heart, because as a mother myself, I know that if one of my children were feeling the emotions that George felt throughout this book, I know I would want them to come to me. I think that more parents need to be open and willing to discuss things with their children in such a way that makes them feel loved and accepted, no matter what. It saddens me to the very bottom of my heart that some children feel they cannot go to their parents and that they have to struggle through things like this alone - that should never be the case.

    I read this book through in one sitting - it isn't long or anything, but the messages that it delivers are so powerful that you won't be able to forget for a long time (if ever) after you're done reading. In fact, that's a good thing - I think that this book could inspire a new generation to learn to be more open-minded, compassionate, and loving toward one another, ditching the hatred and the animosity that is filling our society.

    Please, read this book. I'm sorry I waited so long to get a copy for myself, and I feel like everyone simply needs this book in their lives.
    31 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2025
    I had been hearing about this book since it came out, so it had been on my list for a while. I grabbed it on sale and finally had some time to sit down and read it. I was blown away and applaud the author for putting this book out there, even more so for recognizing that the book needed to be renamed to Melissa instead of George.

    George may be young, but he knows he doesn't fit into the mold that his surroundings have created for him. He knows that he feels the most comfortable as a girl. Therefore, he is a she and she is Melissa. Only it's a secret that she is hiding from the rest of the world. You can feel the pain she feels when people mislabel her or tell her that she can't do something that she knews she can. (For example, portraying Charlotte in the play of Charlotte's Web at school.) You get a sense of her discomfort as she keeps playing pretend on the outside when it conflicts who she really is on the inside.

    It's hard enough trying to figure out who you really are. It has to be even harder to know who you really are, but feel societal pressure to be someone else. Yes, we all go through some of that, but for people who are transgender, it is significantly more difficult. This book touches on some of those struggles and could make some children feel like they are not alone. They may finally actually see themselves in a book, giving them some validation. As Alex Gino says in the interview at the back of the book, they wrote a book that they would have loved to have had as a kid.

    Other children can read this book and figure out how to be supportive and how to not be a jerk. Actually, the same is true of grownups. It can give you a starting point for conversations with loved ones.

    I love Melissa's determination to be true to herself and to start getting what she wants out of life, even at such a young age. I feel like the younger generations are stronger than we ever were and love seeing characters who demonstrate that strength, even in the face of adversity. I'm so grateful that she has Kelly as a best friend, someone who loves her for who she really is. I respect the adults who are willing to step out of their own comfort zones for the good of others. Yes, everything feels like it gets tied up nicely with a big bow in this story. But isn't that what we are all striving for?

    This is a book that I hope makes it into the hands of all people who need to read it, especially the younger ones. It's a great example of a book to read with your child, to start discussions. I was fortunate enough to have parents who did that for me. There's a great Q&A section in the back of the book that can help facilitate those conversations. We need more discussion of these important topics and less banning.

    Looking forward to reading more of Mx. Gino's work in the future!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2015
    THIS.BOOK.

    Every child and adult should read this book.

    Siblings and parents should read this book.

    There's not one person who couldn't benefit from this story.

    “George stopped. It was such a short, little question, but she couldn't make her mouth form the sounds. Mom, what if I'm a girl?”

    George is a middle-grade book and I think this might be a first for me, but I heard about it on NPR and couldn't pass it up. I was afraid this story would be a soul-crushing experience and while it has sad moments, it's genuinely hopeful. And by sad moments, I mean George’s mom and her inability to see George for who she really is. That's all any child wants and it’s to be seen.

    All George wants to do is be in the school play. She desperately wants to be cast as Charlotte from Charlotte's Web and the story follows her journey in the endeavor. I won't give too much else away because there's so much to experience with this book and I loved every minute of it!

    The storytelling is expertly done and delivers a powerful message about acceptance without being preachy or heavy-handed.

    “She looked in the mirror and gasped. Melissa gasped back at her. For a long time, she stood there, just blinking. George smiled, and Melissa smiled too.”

    George is definitely worth reading.
    13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • J.H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it
    Reviewed in Germany on September 14, 2022
    I love this book a lot. ''Melissa'' is a short read that managed to make me feel with it's protagonist intensly. While following this little girl on her way to be herself and be happy, I only ever wished her the best. Melissa is a wonderful main character and I also liked her best friend Kelly a lot; their friendship was lovely! Without spoiling anything specific, I also want to say that the last lines were so powerful and hopeful to me.

    (PS: For everyone wondering if they are already too old to enjoy this book: It obviously depends a lot on the individual, but I enjoyed reading about Melissa a lot despite not being a part of the target audience.)
  • Orlando Lugo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exclente libro
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 10, 2020
    Es un libro muy sencillo pero muy bonito con un increíble mensaje para el mundo moderno.

    Es muy difícil tratar el tema "transgenero" en este mundo que no esta para nada preparado para estos temas y este libro puede servir como introducción para muchas personas.

    Es una linda historia, muy humana y muy cercana a la realidad de muchos niños que viven de esa manera, muchas veces reprimidos por sus familias o por ellos mismos que no saben lo que atraviesan.

    Lo recomiendo mucho.
    Report
  • Marta García
    5.0 out of 5 stars Genial para aprender inglés
    Reviewed in Spain on January 5, 2021
    Si tienes un nivel medio de inglés esta es una buena compra, el libro (por lo menos cuando yo lo compré) está muy bien de precio, es tapa blanda y con papel algo áspero, pero la historia es preciosa y salvo algunas palabras que tuve que buscar en internet lo he entendido muy bien. Es perfecto para iniciarte en la lectura en inglés leyendo una historia que te emocionará.
  • Elexus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Read
    Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2018
    I saw this book while teaching and it piqued my interest. I decided to download it to my Kindle and was super glad I did. It was a great story with truth behind it. George was a relatable character that brings up gender identity issues it a way the is real and heartfelt. In this day and age, transgender and intersex are a more on the table topic than once upon a time and this book segways nicely into having a conversation about such topics.
  • Silvia
    5.0 out of 5 stars important
    Reviewed in Italy on July 6, 2017
    George is the first middle grade book I read since...I don't know honestly, it feels like it's been forever. When rating this I chose to put aside my own feelings regarding the depth of this book because it's obvious that I, a twenty-something year old, need to acknowledge that this book wasn't written for me and I chose to read it knowing perfectly well the protagonist was very young.

    Melissa is a 9-10 year old girl, but everyone thinks she's a boy. In fact, they all call her George and at the beginning of the book she hasn't told anyone that the name she likes for herself is Melissa. When she auditions as Charlotte for her class play, the teacher doesn't take her seriously and the role is given to her best friend, Kelly. Kelly is the first to whom Melissa tells she's a girl, and Kelly understands her and even thinks of a ploy to have Melissa perform in the play as Charlotte so finally everyone will see that she is a girl.

    Well, I'm not going to spoil the rest of the book, but I'm so happy with how everything turned out. I like the fact that the term transgender was clearly stated, because a kid reading this might need to have a word to base their research on (if they feel like researching more about this). The friendship between Melissa and Kelly was so sweet and pure and it made me a bit nostalgic of that age because to be perfectly honest everyone should have a friend like Kelly and I didn't have it.

    At the end of the book (the paperback, but I guess all editions have it) is a FAQ by the author that I found pretty useful and should probably be read by anyone (regardless of them reading the book or not).

    What I want to add is that I hope that this book is getting into the hands of the intended target audience. It's fine for us adults to read it and review it so that more people, more parents can know about it, but if this book isn't read by kids then everything will stay the same. So I beg you, if you are a parent, consider buying this for your kid. It doesn't matter if you think your kid might be trans or not, every kid should read all different kinds of stories. Why would you allow your kid to read about dragons and magic, very entertaining aspects of fantasy worlds which I love, but forbid them to read about very real issues that real people have to deal with, in our world? I guarantee you, your child won't "become trans" if they read this book, but it will help them a lot if they are, and if they're not, it will prepare them for when they meet a trans kid or a trans adult.