From Powells.com
Staff Pick
Riley’s life is complicated. A gender-fluid teen whose dad is up for reelection in Congress, Riley is struggling to navigate high school’s rocky terrain while living honestly and openly. This is a timely, important coming-of-age novel. Recommended By Ashleigh B., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
A sharply honest and moving debut perfect for fans of
The Perks of Being a Wallflower and
Ask the Passengers.
Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. But Riley isn't exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in über-conservative Orange County, the pressure — media and otherwise — is building up in Riley's life.
On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it's really like to be a gender fluid teenager. But just as Riley's starting to settle in at school — even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast — the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley's real identity, threatening exposure. And Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created — a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in — or stand up, come out, and risk everything.
From debut author Jeff Garvin comes a powerful and uplifting portrait of a modern teen struggling with high school, relationships, and what it means to be a person.
Review
"It’s the first day at a new high school and Riley is facing typical problems, such as deciding what to wear and where to sit at lunch, and a few less common ones, such as avoiding being heckled by classmates who object to Riley’s gender nonconforming appearance. Gender fluid Riley wakes up each morning in a different place on the male-female continuum. To be safe, Riley strives for neutrality, but that doesn’t necessarily feel right. As junior year starts Riley makes an unlikely friend, develops a crush, and—encouraged by a therapist acquired after years of anxiety and secrecy led to a suicide attempt—starts a blog about being gender fluid. Despite bullying that escalates into full on assault, Riley gains the courage to come out with help from friends, a love interest, and a support group. Readers never learn Riley’s birth assigned gender, but there’s no question that Riley is a smart, funny, sharp-eyed force. Debut author Garvin clearly wants to teach his readers about gender and gender fluidity, but the knowledge he imparts buoys this rewarding story, never weighing it down. Ages 14–up. Agent: Rachel Ekstrom Irene Goodman Agency. (Feb.) " Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review
“Vibrantly imagined…a welcome mirror for gender-fluid teens.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“One of the first YA books to deal with the complex issue of gender
fluidity…Riley’s emotional life and personal growth shed welcome light
on a hitherto obscure subject.” Booklist (starred review)