Melissa - bookrastinating.com

208 pages

Published Aug. 25, 2015

BE WHO YOU ARE. 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, 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.

BE WHO YOU ARE. 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, 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.

2 editions

Sean Randall reviewed Melissa by Alex Gino

Review of 'Melissa' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Surely one of the hardest things to do in a story aimed at young people showcasing gender fluidity is to get them to see things from the protagonists point of view. I don't know how well this would have worked had I read it to my daughter, but she is a little younger than the target audience yet.

For me, it was interesting on several levels, and a brave emotionally-rich story to boot.