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Happy Families
Teenage twins Ysabel and Justin Nicholas are lucky. Ysabel's jewelry designs have already caught the eyes of the art world and Justin's intelligence and drive are sure to gain him entrance into the most prestigious of colleges. They even like their parents. But their father has a secret—one that threatens to destroy the twins' happy family and life as they know it.
Over the course of spring break, Ysabel and Justin will be forced to come to terms with their dad's new life, but can they overcome their fears to piece together their happy family again?
From the Hardcover edition.
Over the course of spring break, Ysabel and Justin will be forced to come to terms with their dad's new life, but can they overcome their fears to piece together their happy family again?
From the Hardcover edition.
240 pages, Library Binding
First published May 8, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
October 7, 2017
This book was awful. Maybe if you were the child of a trans parent, you'd enjoy it. But as a trans person reading this, it was horribly offensive. I would never recommend this book to anyone. I'm pretty disgusted that this gets included in every "diverse" book listing I've ever seen. Yes, it includes a trans woman as the main character. And yet she is never addressed with her proper pronouns or name or anything. Skips right past "microaggressions" into "aggressive" territory. To redeem itself, it includes a list of trans etiquette at the end of the book. None of which was adhered to or respected in the book. Cool.
March 24, 2012
Ysabel and Justin are twins, and they've had really happy and comfortable lives. That is until their father broke the news that he's really a transsexual, and now things have spun out of control.
Davis's story was really promising, and the premise was interesting, but I found the execution wasn't as engaging or as strong as it could have been. I think using dual narrators hurt the story; I never got to actually know either Ysabel nor Justin, and I never got to know their father or mother. There was a lot of potential here to really explore the implications of their father's secret, but it got lost in a whitewater rafting trip with other families dealing with this sort of issue.
I think the real problem is the book was too short and tried to tackle too many things in a tight time frame (there's a "before," where we get to know Ysabel and Justin prior to their father's truth being exposed, and it's only a handful of pages long; the "after" runs for just over a week, while the twins are at their father's house for spring break). Because it felt rushed, the emotional impact was not here. Likewise, the ending felt far too tidy and resolved.
There were some interesting threads in the story -- I was particularly drawn to the religious aspect -- but they weren't explored quite as I hoped they could or would be.
The idea is here, and I think the book fits a much-needed hole in YA fiction, but it wasn't the strongest.
Davis's story was really promising, and the premise was interesting, but I found the execution wasn't as engaging or as strong as it could have been. I think using dual narrators hurt the story; I never got to actually know either Ysabel nor Justin, and I never got to know their father or mother. There was a lot of potential here to really explore the implications of their father's secret, but it got lost in a whitewater rafting trip with other families dealing with this sort of issue.
I think the real problem is the book was too short and tried to tackle too many things in a tight time frame (there's a "before," where we get to know Ysabel and Justin prior to their father's truth being exposed, and it's only a handful of pages long; the "after" runs for just over a week, while the twins are at their father's house for spring break). Because it felt rushed, the emotional impact was not here. Likewise, the ending felt far too tidy and resolved.
There were some interesting threads in the story -- I was particularly drawn to the religious aspect -- but they weren't explored quite as I hoped they could or would be.
The idea is here, and I think the book fits a much-needed hole in YA fiction, but it wasn't the strongest.
August 17, 2012
I chose this book literally by its cover - didn't even know it was about trans issues (of which I care a little [just a little] bit more above average about] or anything. It was... OK. I felt a little uneasy about the fact that it really seems like the author researched the topic pretty well, but, if I had to guess, has never actually had a personal relationship with any transgender individual. Because of this, there was some unexpected - and possibly outdated? - word usage, strangely clinical approaches, and unrealistic moments in an otherwise straightforward YA book.
This book would probably answer some starter questions well enough for a teen or parent who recently had a transgender person come out in their family, and it reads like a guide specifically for this purpose. For me, however, it gave nothing. There is very little plot (besides a weird forced moment of fear for a chapter near the end that is quickly resolved), no memorable lines or characters... meh.
This book would probably answer some starter questions well enough for a teen or parent who recently had a transgender person come out in their family, and it reads like a guide specifically for this purpose. For me, however, it gave nothing. There is very little plot (besides a weird forced moment of fear for a chapter near the end that is quickly resolved), no memorable lines or characters... meh.
April 2, 2018
I had some issues with this book. The dad, Chris, shows up to his son's debating tournament cross-dressed as Christine without having mentioned to the family that he is a cross dresser. He claims he was running late and didn't want to miss the debate. Considering how sensitive and lovely both parents are, this seemed quite out of character. I think we are supposed to be left with the idea that Christine (the dad who inexplicably continues to go by he throughout the book and does very little cross dressing, because he doesn't feel like it most of the time (it would seem)) is a cross dresser but wants to stay male and wants to stay with the family. I am really unclear about how he actually wants to be. In addition, he separates from the family when, apparently, all four of them (Mom, Dad, two kids) want to stay together. He says he will be back sometime in the future. I wish Christine could have been more clear about what he (sic) wanted, other than to cross dress.
There are some good portrayals of other parents who are transgender towards the end of the book.
In addition, I felt the writing did not flow well. I have read some excellently written books lately and this was not one of them.
If this is a book that is supposed to help teenagers deal with transgender parents, I think it has missed its mark.
There are some good portrayals of other parents who are transgender towards the end of the book.
In addition, I felt the writing did not flow well. I have read some excellently written books lately and this was not one of them.
If this is a book that is supposed to help teenagers deal with transgender parents, I think it has missed its mark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2012
Richie’s Picks: HAPPY FAMILIES by Tanita S. Davis, Knopf, May 2012, 288p., ISBN: 978-0-375-86966-2
“We can work it out.
We can work it out.”
-- Lennon/McCartney
“Ysabel stares fixedly at the tabletop. My father smiles vaguely at the waitress, leaned away from the table so she can bustle around him, but there’s a stiffness to his face. The slope of his shoulders telegraphs hurt, and I look down at my plate, wishing I was hungry, wishing that we were just all here for real, being together like before.
“But Ysabel has it right—we’re here to say something to each other. And as the waitress bustles away, I decide there’s no time like the present.
“’We don’t know you, Dad,’ I repeat quietly, looking up at him. ‘No offense, but…I don’t want to know either. Not…the Christine part.’ I shrug. ‘I’m sorry, but…it’s how I feel.’
“My father tries to smile, but the attempt falls short. His mouth twitches. ‘Well, that was the risk, wasn’t it?’ he says finally, his voice threaded with weariness. ‘I had hoped that you would never…that we would never be…’ He stops, and everything hangs, for a moment, in that silence, which goes on forever. I shift my feet and pick up my fork, drawing away a piece of shredded lettuce from my taco and chasing it around my plate. Dad finally clears his throat. I look up at him, and there is a kindness and a tiredness and grief in his eyes. ‘I hope you both get a chance to know me again.’
“I look away. Dad wants me to understand this and be okay with things, but I can’t. I can’t understand this…thing he’s doing. I don’t want to lose my father in trade for someone named Christine, but he’s already gone. I don’t know how to take that, or what to do. I don’t know how to deal with this Christine person he’s left behind him.
“I just want my dad back.”
When we first meet twin teens Ysabel and Justin Nicholas, they are in ninth grade and it is the “before” time. They are very different from one another and both are very talented. Ysabel is a gifted artist, creating glass beads and jewelry with a miniature propane blowtorch, a small kiln, and rods of glass. Justin is the gifted academic and freshman phenom of the debate team.
After a few introductory chapters we are fast-forwarded into the following year, the “after” time – after their father has been accidentally discovered (by his father-in-law) to be dressing and living, when away from home, as a woman named Christine. After Justin has subsequently dropped off of the debate team and broken up with his girlfriend.
The story told in HAPPY FAMILIES, is that of Ysabel and Justin going to visit their father for a week. It is their first reunion with him since he was “discovered” and subsequently moved an hour away from the family. It is a week of honesty and tension and fears and frustration and a therapist and support groups – both online and in person. It is a story of love and of hope and of family and how being true to one’s self can really make a mess of things.
“Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
It’s a mixed up muddled up shook up world…”
--Ray Davies, “Lola”
Now, I know what many of you are thinking at this moment: Here we go again, pushing the envelope of tween literature. Now we have to defend the inclusion in the collection of yet another book about unnatural, perverse behavior that will cause outrage amongst certain parents when they find their kids reading it.
And all I can tell you is that you need to choose to either be in the light or be in the dark. The exceptional quality of the writing here, the sensitivity and intelligence of the writing here, the consistently positive nature of the story told here, and the extent to which the story greatly educated me about a topic of which I was quite ignorant, without ever once becoming didactic, makes HAPPY FAMILIES a book of excellent literary quality that is unquestionably worthy of and age appropriate for placement in middle school and high school collections.
I am so happy to have plucked this jewel from the stacks.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
“We can work it out.
We can work it out.”
-- Lennon/McCartney
“Ysabel stares fixedly at the tabletop. My father smiles vaguely at the waitress, leaned away from the table so she can bustle around him, but there’s a stiffness to his face. The slope of his shoulders telegraphs hurt, and I look down at my plate, wishing I was hungry, wishing that we were just all here for real, being together like before.
“But Ysabel has it right—we’re here to say something to each other. And as the waitress bustles away, I decide there’s no time like the present.
“’We don’t know you, Dad,’ I repeat quietly, looking up at him. ‘No offense, but…I don’t want to know either. Not…the Christine part.’ I shrug. ‘I’m sorry, but…it’s how I feel.’
“My father tries to smile, but the attempt falls short. His mouth twitches. ‘Well, that was the risk, wasn’t it?’ he says finally, his voice threaded with weariness. ‘I had hoped that you would never…that we would never be…’ He stops, and everything hangs, for a moment, in that silence, which goes on forever. I shift my feet and pick up my fork, drawing away a piece of shredded lettuce from my taco and chasing it around my plate. Dad finally clears his throat. I look up at him, and there is a kindness and a tiredness and grief in his eyes. ‘I hope you both get a chance to know me again.’
“I look away. Dad wants me to understand this and be okay with things, but I can’t. I can’t understand this…thing he’s doing. I don’t want to lose my father in trade for someone named Christine, but he’s already gone. I don’t know how to take that, or what to do. I don’t know how to deal with this Christine person he’s left behind him.
“I just want my dad back.”
When we first meet twin teens Ysabel and Justin Nicholas, they are in ninth grade and it is the “before” time. They are very different from one another and both are very talented. Ysabel is a gifted artist, creating glass beads and jewelry with a miniature propane blowtorch, a small kiln, and rods of glass. Justin is the gifted academic and freshman phenom of the debate team.
After a few introductory chapters we are fast-forwarded into the following year, the “after” time – after their father has been accidentally discovered (by his father-in-law) to be dressing and living, when away from home, as a woman named Christine. After Justin has subsequently dropped off of the debate team and broken up with his girlfriend.
The story told in HAPPY FAMILIES, is that of Ysabel and Justin going to visit their father for a week. It is their first reunion with him since he was “discovered” and subsequently moved an hour away from the family. It is a week of honesty and tension and fears and frustration and a therapist and support groups – both online and in person. It is a story of love and of hope and of family and how being true to one’s self can really make a mess of things.
“Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
It’s a mixed up muddled up shook up world…”
--Ray Davies, “Lola”
Now, I know what many of you are thinking at this moment: Here we go again, pushing the envelope of tween literature. Now we have to defend the inclusion in the collection of yet another book about unnatural, perverse behavior that will cause outrage amongst certain parents when they find their kids reading it.
And all I can tell you is that you need to choose to either be in the light or be in the dark. The exceptional quality of the writing here, the sensitivity and intelligence of the writing here, the consistently positive nature of the story told here, and the extent to which the story greatly educated me about a topic of which I was quite ignorant, without ever once becoming didactic, makes HAPPY FAMILIES a book of excellent literary quality that is unquestionably worthy of and age appropriate for placement in middle school and high school collections.
I am so happy to have plucked this jewel from the stacks.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
December 20, 2011
Wow.
The story here is of two twins trying to come to accept and come to terms with the fact that their father is a transgendered person.
There is a lot of emotion in this story and it always felt honest and real, never gimmicky or forced or phony. I very rarely cry unless a character dies, but there was a scene or two that had my eyes watering because their pain and confusion was just so intense and just there.
The book is narrated by both twins, Justin and Ysabel. I often like dual narrations (or multiple narrators) but I like being able to TELL who is talking. There were times when I would forget which twin was narrating in the middle of a chapter because their voices were so similar and had to wait until they spoke to their twin, so I could see the name.
Not a book that I think is for everyone, but definitely a book that needed to be written. It doesn't make excuses or condemn anyone. I also loved that the main characters were religious. And it wasn't this- Church is EVIL stuff that seems so prevalent right now. They went to church, believed in God and prayed. And it was normal. And it was normal and okay for the two main characters to have a REALLY hard time learning that their father wasn't who they had always thought him to be, that there was this whole other part of himself he had kept hidden from them.
This book was very well done and I am incredibly impressed by how well it was handled.
The story here is of two twins trying to come to accept and come to terms with the fact that their father is a transgendered person.
There is a lot of emotion in this story and it always felt honest and real, never gimmicky or forced or phony. I very rarely cry unless a character dies, but there was a scene or two that had my eyes watering because their pain and confusion was just so intense and just there.
The book is narrated by both twins, Justin and Ysabel. I often like dual narrations (or multiple narrators) but I like being able to TELL who is talking. There were times when I would forget which twin was narrating in the middle of a chapter because their voices were so similar and had to wait until they spoke to their twin, so I could see the name.
Not a book that I think is for everyone, but definitely a book that needed to be written. It doesn't make excuses or condemn anyone. I also loved that the main characters were religious. And it wasn't this- Church is EVIL stuff that seems so prevalent right now. They went to church, believed in God and prayed. And it was normal. And it was normal and okay for the two main characters to have a REALLY hard time learning that their father wasn't who they had always thought him to be, that there was this whole other part of himself he had kept hidden from them.
This book was very well done and I am incredibly impressed by how well it was handled.
January 3, 2012
Twins Ysabel and Justin have a pretty good idea about where their lives are headed. Ysabel is an artist and aiming to show her glasswork in some upcoming shows and ultimately go to art school. Justin is master of the debate team and his five-year plan includes getting in to Stanford. But nothing could prepare them for the curveball their dad throws them: he's a transgender person, enjoys dressing in women's clothing, and he's moving out. When Ysabel and Justin are forced to spend their spring break with him, they'll meet some other transgender people and start to heal their family.
This is a sensitive and realistic portrayal of a family going through some tough changes. Whether or not teen readers are dealing with this same issue, teens will find much to identify with here, as Ysabel and Justin react to the changes and start to reach out for help. The dual perspective didn't quite do it for me - neither voice was strong enough for me to tell them apart. But this is a valuable addition to the YA books being published that address GLBT issues.
Readalikes: From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson, Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher, and the adult nonfiction books She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Dress Codes by Noelle Howey.
This is a sensitive and realistic portrayal of a family going through some tough changes. Whether or not teen readers are dealing with this same issue, teens will find much to identify with here, as Ysabel and Justin react to the changes and start to reach out for help. The dual perspective didn't quite do it for me - neither voice was strong enough for me to tell them apart. But this is a valuable addition to the YA books being published that address GLBT issues.
Readalikes: From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson, Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher, and the adult nonfiction books She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Dress Codes by Noelle Howey.
June 20, 2012
I was drawn to this book because the subject matter is not something that is commonly written about in African American teen fiction. This issues book was a decent effort and will probably be helpful to other families going through a similar situation. As for me, I could not wait for this book to be over. It's told in alternating chapters in the voice of 16-year-old twins, Justin and Ysabel and shares the aftermath after their lives are turned upside down when they learn their father is transgender.
My main problem with this book was how the parents dealt with everything. Yes, I know they forced the twins into family counseling and on field trips with other trans families, but I feel like they didn't give the twins enough explanation and understanding. They kept them in the dark and got mad when they expressed/acted out their frustration.
My main problem with this book was how the parents dealt with everything. Yes, I know they forced the twins into family counseling and on field trips with other trans families, but I feel like they didn't give the twins enough explanation and understanding. They kept them in the dark and got mad when they expressed/acted out their frustration.
June 10, 2012
I took this book to music camp and, despite my Code Name Verity advertising, this was the book that my room mates decided they liked. So I am very sorry Elizabeth Wein, but musicians prefer crazy families to WW2. I hope you are happy Tanita S. Davis because I failed to make people read my mother's book, although about five people in my room told me they were buying the book/buying it on kindle/etc.
Easy to read, interesting plotline, funny in places :)
Easy to read, interesting plotline, funny in places :)
November 19, 2012
Comes off as bibliotherapy. Still- there are interesting themes here of the role of shame and societal expectations in our behaviors.
Ysabel and Justin go to their small church with their family, they go to Christian High School.
This narrates (mainly) the week they start to come to terms with Christine- their Dad Christopher's alter ego. Christopher has kept his feminine persona separate from the family all along. When Christine is discovered, he retreats and moves away. The kids miss him, are confused and embarrassed in anticipation of someone in their community finding out.
An account of a loving family feeling their way through a crisis.
Ysabel and Justin go to their small church with their family, they go to Christian High School.
This narrates (mainly) the week they start to come to terms with Christine- their Dad Christopher's alter ego. Christopher has kept his feminine persona separate from the family all along. When Christine is discovered, he retreats and moves away. The kids miss him, are confused and embarrassed in anticipation of someone in their community finding out.
An account of a loving family feeling their way through a crisis.
June 5, 2014
Short and stripped to the essentials. Excellent book and perspective. Not many books about middle class, religious, trans POC, especially in the YA canon. There is no happy ending or resolutions- just slight promises of returns to a new normalcy and comfort. Ysabel and Justin can be petulant but their imperfections and their fathers insecurities are appealing and realistic. Definitely recommend for a variety of reAsons.
February 20, 2022
this book is so fucking bad, the main character is a trans woman but not one single person uses the correct pronouns the ENTIRE book, not even other other trans people. none of the characters are likeable , i was just really annoyed throughout the entire book
May 22, 2018
The author of this book is Tanita S. Davis. Some other books by Tanita S. Davis include, Peas and Carrots, Mare’s War, Summer of Memories, Summer of Friends, and A La Carte. Tanita S Davis was awarded a NAACP image award for Mare’s War. Happy Families is Tanita's most recent book she has written. Something I have read about her books are that they are known to be “warmly drawn” and a “good conversation starter”. Tanita S. Davis's typical style of writing are novels.
The title of this book, Perfect Families fits in because it is kind of sarcastic. On the back it says “Dad’s little secret.” The front cover is a woman and man mixed together. I think that the father in the book is transgender because on the first page it says “For Jacqueline, who once was Jack,” and on the back of the book there is a transgender dictionary. This book is very interesting because I would like to figure out if the dad actually is transgender, or if someone else is.
The front of the book Perfect Families has a lady and man restroom symbol overlapping each other on the front cover. This book has a dedication page which says a lot about the book. At the end of the book there is a mini dictionary for transgender words for if the person reading the book doesn't understand certain words they can always look back. This book is set up like a big timeline. The front of the book says "Before", there's different main events that happen through the book and then theres a page that says "After".
A theme that stands out to me is “family.” So far this book is about a typical "perfect family" that would be known to have movie nights, taco Tuesday etc. Another theme can be pointed out in the book Perfect Families is “relationships.” Relationships can be a theme because the twin brother has a girlfriend. Another theme could be easily noticeable is “school life.” The twin sister is really smart and is good at science. I’m not very far in the book, but the daughter has already won an award for making jewelry, so another theme could be "arts".
In my opinion this book has the potential to be a really good book that could possibly help other people in the world that are transgender. This book isn't a very long book, so if you don't have much time to read then it wouldn't be an issue. I didn't get very far in Perfect Families and only got to the first couple of chapters read, but I was already very interested in how the book would end. In my opinion, there aren't many books about transgender people and I think it is important for students to learn about transgender people. This book is ore for high schoolers and middle schoolers because students could relate to the twin children. As of where I am right now in the book I would rate it a 4/5 star rating and would encourage other students to read this book.
The title of this book, Perfect Families fits in because it is kind of sarcastic. On the back it says “Dad’s little secret.” The front cover is a woman and man mixed together. I think that the father in the book is transgender because on the first page it says “For Jacqueline, who once was Jack,” and on the back of the book there is a transgender dictionary. This book is very interesting because I would like to figure out if the dad actually is transgender, or if someone else is.
The front of the book Perfect Families has a lady and man restroom symbol overlapping each other on the front cover. This book has a dedication page which says a lot about the book. At the end of the book there is a mini dictionary for transgender words for if the person reading the book doesn't understand certain words they can always look back. This book is set up like a big timeline. The front of the book says "Before", there's different main events that happen through the book and then theres a page that says "After".
A theme that stands out to me is “family.” So far this book is about a typical "perfect family" that would be known to have movie nights, taco Tuesday etc. Another theme can be pointed out in the book Perfect Families is “relationships.” Relationships can be a theme because the twin brother has a girlfriend. Another theme could be easily noticeable is “school life.” The twin sister is really smart and is good at science. I’m not very far in the book, but the daughter has already won an award for making jewelry, so another theme could be "arts".
In my opinion this book has the potential to be a really good book that could possibly help other people in the world that are transgender. This book isn't a very long book, so if you don't have much time to read then it wouldn't be an issue. I didn't get very far in Perfect Families and only got to the first couple of chapters read, but I was already very interested in how the book would end. In my opinion, there aren't many books about transgender people and I think it is important for students to learn about transgender people. This book is ore for high schoolers and middle schoolers because students could relate to the twin children. As of where I am right now in the book I would rate it a 4/5 star rating and would encourage other students to read this book.
July 18, 2018
The issues of transgender people shouldn’t be issues. What does it matter to other people if they want to wear combat boots or high heels, lipstick or those smudgy streaks that football players put on their cheeks? (Seriously, what is the deal with that? Is it to reduce glare or keep kicked-up dirt from getting in their eyes or what?)
But the issue goes deeper than a passing whim to don heels and a fabulous wig. It goes to the very heart of identity, the way that other people see us and relate to us as individuals. In other cultures, people who take on differing gender roles have been a staple for generations. But, in mainstream America and elsewhere, it’s still considered…odd, strange, unusual and therefore unnatural.
The impact of one man’s decision to wear a dress is sizeable, especially since he never meant to let his family know. This novel takes the viewpoint of his two children and the voices alternate between the artistic Ysabel and her argumentative yet closed-off twin brother Justin. Both children reel from what they see as betrayal and deceit and yet they’re not happy to have the veil torn from their eyes.
The novel’s content doesn’t shy away from their ugly behaviors. From lashing out to moody silences, from withdrawal from friends and family to frantic prayers to God to make Dad’s weird behavior just go away, both twins struggle to come to terms with their Dad’s newfound identity as a transgendered woman.
Digging into the transgender community, you learn that the issue is a lot more complicated than originally thought and the author helps with a small glossary at the back. But Justin and Ysabel have to bumble through what’s happening with their father. Except for the shock of seeing his father in a woman’s dress at his debate, we don’t see Christopher in his female gear again. Instead, the book focuses on his constant, never-ending attempts to reach through his children’s hostility, bewilderment, misery and frustration. The novel thus cannily centers us on the human drama not the sensationalism of a man in a dress.
There could have been a lot of chest-beating on Christopher’s part about how this is who he is and his children had better learn to deal with it. But that would have been a very different novel with a quite dissimilar tone. Instead, we get Christopher’s love for his children and his wife. That’s what shines from practically every encounter with him and we come to terms, not with his transgender issues, but with the man as a whole. He loves his family and, ultimately, they love him back.
So the book lives up to its title and leaves us the readers with the glow that emanates from its pages. Nothing hurts like family but nothing heals like family, too.
But the issue goes deeper than a passing whim to don heels and a fabulous wig. It goes to the very heart of identity, the way that other people see us and relate to us as individuals. In other cultures, people who take on differing gender roles have been a staple for generations. But, in mainstream America and elsewhere, it’s still considered…odd, strange, unusual and therefore unnatural.
The impact of one man’s decision to wear a dress is sizeable, especially since he never meant to let his family know. This novel takes the viewpoint of his two children and the voices alternate between the artistic Ysabel and her argumentative yet closed-off twin brother Justin. Both children reel from what they see as betrayal and deceit and yet they’re not happy to have the veil torn from their eyes.
The novel’s content doesn’t shy away from their ugly behaviors. From lashing out to moody silences, from withdrawal from friends and family to frantic prayers to God to make Dad’s weird behavior just go away, both twins struggle to come to terms with their Dad’s newfound identity as a transgendered woman.
Digging into the transgender community, you learn that the issue is a lot more complicated than originally thought and the author helps with a small glossary at the back. But Justin and Ysabel have to bumble through what’s happening with their father. Except for the shock of seeing his father in a woman’s dress at his debate, we don’t see Christopher in his female gear again. Instead, the book focuses on his constant, never-ending attempts to reach through his children’s hostility, bewilderment, misery and frustration. The novel thus cannily centers us on the human drama not the sensationalism of a man in a dress.
There could have been a lot of chest-beating on Christopher’s part about how this is who he is and his children had better learn to deal with it. But that would have been a very different novel with a quite dissimilar tone. Instead, we get Christopher’s love for his children and his wife. That’s what shines from practically every encounter with him and we come to terms, not with his transgender issues, but with the man as a whole. He loves his family and, ultimately, they love him back.
So the book lives up to its title and leaves us the readers with the glow that emanates from its pages. Nothing hurts like family but nothing heals like family, too.
June 12, 2020
3.75
I really liked this book. I thought the twins seemed like realistic teens. They were confused, scared, a little embarrassed; and they didn't always say the right thing, but rarely spoke with venom. Also, their father Chris didn't have all the answers, she was growing up and changing just like her children. I hope that schools are reading this book because I think it's a rare one and important to try to understand something or someone that is treated like taboo, but shouldn't be. I hope someday soon that a book like this can be something that isn't seen as controversial, it's so ridiculous to me how people can treat members of the LGBTQ+ community. How they can hate and dehumanize so easily, it's disgusting. However, it's easy to read this book and think about how you would react. You say to yourself, obviously you'd be accepting and supportive, but it's not just you and the person transitioning, there are other people with opinions and they can be cruel. What Chris is doing is brave, what her family is doing is brave. Chris is being who she truly is and that's amazing, not a lot of people can say that.
I just read through some of the reviews and realized that I need to read more books that look at people who are transgender and what they go through. This is a YA, so it's not meant to conquer the world and every problem in it. Maybe this is just kind of a gateway book, it seems it's a bit more surface level. There's a focus on the children and how they feel, but we barely get to hear from Chris, we never really see her being completely true to herself because she is scared of hurting her family.
Quotes:
* Shakespeare quote: "To thine own self be true" (124)
I really liked this book. I thought the twins seemed like realistic teens. They were confused, scared, a little embarrassed; and they didn't always say the right thing, but rarely spoke with venom. Also, their father Chris didn't have all the answers, she was growing up and changing just like her children. I hope that schools are reading this book because I think it's a rare one and important to try to understand something or someone that is treated like taboo, but shouldn't be. I hope someday soon that a book like this can be something that isn't seen as controversial, it's so ridiculous to me how people can treat members of the LGBTQ+ community. How they can hate and dehumanize so easily, it's disgusting. However, it's easy to read this book and think about how you would react. You say to yourself, obviously you'd be accepting and supportive, but it's not just you and the person transitioning, there are other people with opinions and they can be cruel. What Chris is doing is brave, what her family is doing is brave. Chris is being who she truly is and that's amazing, not a lot of people can say that.
I just read through some of the reviews and realized that I need to read more books that look at people who are transgender and what they go through. This is a YA, so it's not meant to conquer the world and every problem in it. Maybe this is just kind of a gateway book, it seems it's a bit more surface level. There's a focus on the children and how they feel, but we barely get to hear from Chris, we never really see her being completely true to herself because she is scared of hurting her family.
Quotes:
* Shakespeare quote: "To thine own self be true" (124)
February 11, 2022
Disclaimer: I came out as transfemme with three tweens/teens at home.
This book hit differently with me than I thought it would, as it’s narrated by brother & sister twins. Told from their perspective, and coupled with 2012 sensibilities, the language is kinda rough and not always woke. But that made it real. The struggles they have while their dad transitions to a trans woman, are something I considered, but only lived second-hand; I really appreciated the perspective.
That said, there was just too much else going on with this book, too many issues to tackle in a 240 pg YA novel: gender, race, class, divorce. So, tying it up with a neat little bow is just impossible. I can’t fault the book for being written in 2012, but it gets enough mentions on Trans YA Lists that it probably warrants a refresh. I can’t say that I’ve read many YAs with a forward, but Happy Families definitely needs one. The language appendixes are good, but have a sorta pink washing apologizing feel to ‘em.
This book hit differently with me than I thought it would, as it’s narrated by brother & sister twins. Told from their perspective, and coupled with 2012 sensibilities, the language is kinda rough and not always woke. But that made it real. The struggles they have while their dad transitions to a trans woman, are something I considered, but only lived second-hand; I really appreciated the perspective.
That said, there was just too much else going on with this book, too many issues to tackle in a 240 pg YA novel: gender, race, class, divorce. So, tying it up with a neat little bow is just impossible. I can’t fault the book for being written in 2012, but it gets enough mentions on Trans YA Lists that it probably warrants a refresh. I can’t say that I’ve read many YAs with a forward, but Happy Families definitely needs one. The language appendixes are good, but have a sorta pink washing apologizing feel to ‘em.
December 9, 2020
Hated it.
Twins Justin and Ysbelle are trying to come to terms with the parent they knew as their father coming out as transgender. Spoiler: they never do. Instead, they spend the whole book bitching and whining about how hard and confusing it is for them. They never once use the correct name for their parent, Christine, and misgender her to her face. Nothing gets resolved, it's just a bunch of nasty angst that they carry over to other trans people when Christine tries to take them to a Trans Parent meetup in which they continue to narrate using derogatory language and even ask inappropriate things of the other attendees.
Twins Justin and Ysbelle are trying to come to terms with the parent they knew as their father coming out as transgender. Spoiler: they never do. Instead, they spend the whole book bitching and whining about how hard and confusing it is for them. They never once use the correct name for their parent, Christine, and misgender her to her face. Nothing gets resolved, it's just a bunch of nasty angst that they carry over to other trans people when Christine tries to take them to a Trans Parent meetup in which they continue to narrate using derogatory language and even ask inappropriate things of the other attendees.
June 22, 2017
Solid three.
I am curious about the Lgbtq community and would like to learn more about the history and struggle within it, so I try reading queer books.
I like the idea of the perspective, and i liked the reality of it I guess.
I just thought the kids where so whiny and annoying. Like stfu and get over yourselves.
I cannot say it was accurate representation, but I hope it gives voices to some and acknowledges the reality of some people.
I am curious about the Lgbtq community and would like to learn more about the history and struggle within it, so I try reading queer books.
I like the idea of the perspective, and i liked the reality of it I guess.
I just thought the kids where so whiny and annoying. Like stfu and get over yourselves.
I cannot say it was accurate representation, but I hope it gives voices to some and acknowledges the reality of some people.
February 9, 2021
I read this book back in high school and I loved it. I know most people gave low ratings for this book but I gave it 5 stars. This book opened my eyes to the struggles and hardships of the LGBT community. Looking at it now, I now realize that this book is a poor portrayal of the members of the LGBT community. However, I would still keep the 5 stars since this is the first book I read with a unique story.
June 4, 2022
Hey, I finished this in Pride Month! The teen siblings struggle to understand their father after he comes out as transgender is vividly portrayed -- sometimes all the knowledge in the world doesn't help the emotional confusion. It was interesting to me how grounded they were in their church and community, and how afraid of losing that connection. I also noticed how little race mattered.
November 19, 2017
Awesome transition story by whole family and many others!
August 29, 2018
The writing is strong, but overall, the execution is very bland and weak. This book just isn't what it could be.
January 11, 2019
(Read it years ago)
July 16, 2021
so good and so informative
July 28, 2018
Important subject matter, but I would’ve wanted something more in-depth, more intense conflict or something that made me think a little more. It was a book about a transgender parent told from the perspective of their kids and it’s exactly what you would expect.
Read
December 12, 2019man to women (father of characters)
April 5, 2012
*ARC from NetGalley*
Happy Families is undoubtedly an 'issue' book. I say this because, at 240 pages in length, there isn't much time for the author to delve into anything besides the issue at hand, and it feels designed to help young adults through a similar experience, rather than to offer a thrilling read. However, the former goal is an admirable one and Happy Families did make me understand the issue of transgender people much better than I did before.
Happy Families is narrated by twins Ysabel and Justin, switching back and forth between them. A common criticism about double narratives is that they aren't distinct enough from each other and although that's usually not a problem for me, I admit, in Happy Families , I forgot whether it was Justin or Ysabel narrating more than once. I don't mind that the twins are alike and react to their father in similar ways - I think that's normal and realistic. I just don't think 2 PoVs are necessary for this story and a better choice would have been to leave it as one.
At the beginning of the story, Justin and Ysabel have the kind of sitcom-perfect, aspirational dream life not seen since The Cosby Show. They're both popular, church-going over-achievers, with an extended family who dote on them. The novel then jumps to a year later and things have changed for them drastically: They're now struggling with the news that their father, Chris, wants to be Christine.
Happy Families is about the twins spending a week with their dad, as he tries to get them to accept who he is. They go to therapy sessions, meet with other transgender people on day trips, talk about their feelings. The insight into life with a transgender parent is interesting and I appreciated the window into that. But while Happy Families is an informative read, it isn't a particularly touching one. It's difficult to get emotionally invested; the lack of subplots means we don't get to know the characters beyond their reaction to the central issue. Justin and Ysabel are given a hobby each (she makes jewellery, he's a master debater), but they still didn't feel like fully fleshed out characters to me; they felt defined by their father's reveal. Making their lives before this so picture-perfect didn't help. If Happy Families had portrayed the twins with other everyday problems with school/friends/girlfriends it would have made them more relatable. Instead, it felt like coming to terms with their father's gender identity was the only problem the twins had and I'm sure that's not the case for most teens with a transgender parent.
Still, I do think Happy Families is worth reading, especially because the list of YA books featuring transgender people is very short. The list of YA books featuring transgender people, who happen to be African-American, is even shorter. It's a quick read and many of the conversations between the characters gave me food for thought. The book treats the issue of transgender people with dignity and sensitivity.
While I didn't feel much of a connection with the twins, I dug their parents' relationship and found the way they loved each other unconditionally, very romantic and sweet. It's also likely that the connection I didn't feel with the main characters, would be very present for a reader in the twins' position and I can see Happy Families being a great source of support to a teen in a similar situation.
Happy Families is undoubtedly an 'issue' book. I say this because, at 240 pages in length, there isn't much time for the author to delve into anything besides the issue at hand, and it feels designed to help young adults through a similar experience, rather than to offer a thrilling read. However, the former goal is an admirable one and Happy Families did make me understand the issue of transgender people much better than I did before.
Happy Families is narrated by twins Ysabel and Justin, switching back and forth between them. A common criticism about double narratives is that they aren't distinct enough from each other and although that's usually not a problem for me, I admit, in Happy Families , I forgot whether it was Justin or Ysabel narrating more than once. I don't mind that the twins are alike and react to their father in similar ways - I think that's normal and realistic. I just don't think 2 PoVs are necessary for this story and a better choice would have been to leave it as one.
At the beginning of the story, Justin and Ysabel have the kind of sitcom-perfect, aspirational dream life not seen since The Cosby Show. They're both popular, church-going over-achievers, with an extended family who dote on them. The novel then jumps to a year later and things have changed for them drastically: They're now struggling with the news that their father, Chris, wants to be Christine.
Happy Families is about the twins spending a week with their dad, as he tries to get them to accept who he is. They go to therapy sessions, meet with other transgender people on day trips, talk about their feelings. The insight into life with a transgender parent is interesting and I appreciated the window into that. But while Happy Families is an informative read, it isn't a particularly touching one. It's difficult to get emotionally invested; the lack of subplots means we don't get to know the characters beyond their reaction to the central issue. Justin and Ysabel are given a hobby each (she makes jewellery, he's a master debater), but they still didn't feel like fully fleshed out characters to me; they felt defined by their father's reveal. Making their lives before this so picture-perfect didn't help. If Happy Families had portrayed the twins with other everyday problems with school/friends/girlfriends it would have made them more relatable. Instead, it felt like coming to terms with their father's gender identity was the only problem the twins had and I'm sure that's not the case for most teens with a transgender parent.
Still, I do think Happy Families is worth reading, especially because the list of YA books featuring transgender people is very short. The list of YA books featuring transgender people, who happen to be African-American, is even shorter. It's a quick read and many of the conversations between the characters gave me food for thought. The book treats the issue of transgender people with dignity and sensitivity.
While I didn't feel much of a connection with the twins, I dug their parents' relationship and found the way they loved each other unconditionally, very romantic and sweet. It's also likely that the connection I didn't feel with the main characters, would be very present for a reader in the twins' position and I can see Happy Families being a great source of support to a teen in a similar situation.
May 11, 2012
Teenage twins Ysabel and Justin are struggling with the revelation that their father has recently come out as a Male to Female transgender person. Their family has been strongly affected by it, their father has moved away and their personal lives are in shambles as they don’t really understand what it all means. Now it’s spring break and the two are expected to spend the week with their father so they can talk, using this short time together to try and figure things out. The three go to therapy together, and this father arranges a rafting trip with other transgendered parents and their kids. The narrative alternate between the two and we see the week from each of their perspectives.
Happy Families is a short, focused, highly important book. In terms of plot, it follows the Nicholas family in this moment of transitioning. The book hints at each twin’s personal, separate lives and how this moment impacts on how they behave. Justin for example, has broken up with his girlfriend, because he doesn’t believe she will be ok with his father’s transition. It is obvious that neither twin is happy about the situation mostly because they don’t know how this will impact their lives. There is a lot of questioning which they address over the course of this week and this questioning is the real focus of the novel: what does being a transgendered person mean? Their father wishes to be called Christine: does this mean he is a woman? Does this mean he is gay? Will he be getting surgery? Will their parents get divorced? Will he be dressed up as a woman all the time? How can they go to church like that? How can they go to school when everybody knows about this?
Although the story can be a little didactic sometimes and somewhat restricted to the issue it addresses, this didacticism is more enlightening than informative – I hope this makes sense. I mean that the story is never dry or purely instructive because it perfectly encapsulates this wondrous moment and its mixture of shock, betrayal, hope, shame, guilt, love. I particularly loved the fact that theirs is also a religious family and this is part of their questioning – especially with regards to divorce as their parents don’t believe they should get divorced.
This is quite a serious yet hopeful book and heart-wrenching without being tragic. Despite the fact that at times I felt the twins’ voices were indistinguishable, I truly enjoyed reading it and feel this is an important, accomplished book for teens. Happy Families is not a book that offers easy answers but is one that acknowledges the hard questions and treat them with the careful consideration, compassion and honesty they deserve.
Happy Families is a short, focused, highly important book. In terms of plot, it follows the Nicholas family in this moment of transitioning. The book hints at each twin’s personal, separate lives and how this moment impacts on how they behave. Justin for example, has broken up with his girlfriend, because he doesn’t believe she will be ok with his father’s transition. It is obvious that neither twin is happy about the situation mostly because they don’t know how this will impact their lives. There is a lot of questioning which they address over the course of this week and this questioning is the real focus of the novel: what does being a transgendered person mean? Their father wishes to be called Christine: does this mean he is a woman? Does this mean he is gay? Will he be getting surgery? Will their parents get divorced? Will he be dressed up as a woman all the time? How can they go to church like that? How can they go to school when everybody knows about this?
Although the story can be a little didactic sometimes and somewhat restricted to the issue it addresses, this didacticism is more enlightening than informative – I hope this makes sense. I mean that the story is never dry or purely instructive because it perfectly encapsulates this wondrous moment and its mixture of shock, betrayal, hope, shame, guilt, love. I particularly loved the fact that theirs is also a religious family and this is part of their questioning – especially with regards to divorce as their parents don’t believe they should get divorced.
This is quite a serious yet hopeful book and heart-wrenching without being tragic. Despite the fact that at times I felt the twins’ voices were indistinguishable, I truly enjoyed reading it and feel this is an important, accomplished book for teens. Happy Families is not a book that offers easy answers but is one that acknowledges the hard questions and treat them with the careful consideration, compassion and honesty they deserve.
January 19, 2013
Appeal Characteristics: transgendered people, family relationships, sibling relationships, high school, society issues, TRANS-youth, adjustments, coping
There were some things I really loved about this book...and some other writing issues that I didn't. The subject aspect and execution was done well and realistically as these twin siblings struggle through their Dad's transition to be from Chris to Christine. I especially liked the father and son struggle that was highlighted and the other issues such as church, school, friends, and just how out of control children feel. From the adult perspective, I wish we could have had more insight to how the parents will make the marriage work or just more of how the dad felt in coming out and dealing with these issues. He told the therapist and children that he didn't have to reveal much because they were "children" and these were his choices...but still...I would have liked some more insight.
The gripe I had with the book was the children's voices. I'm sure because they were 'twins' the writing style was similar...but I felt it was way to similar. The twins seemed as if their voices were inseparable and could have just been from one sibling...I mean, I'm not sure I felt too connected with Ysabel. I was more into Justin and his struggle to navigate with relationships and his father's identity and his own male or father/son relationship than anything Ysabel had to say. I dunno, she just wasn't well written...I'm not sure but it seemed that not enough depth was put into fleshing out between what was described about her personality and her actual voice.
OH! ANOTHER WEIRD THING. Maybe i'm not a twin, so I wouldn't think this was weird...but there was instances that they were like sleeping together. I know it was a comfort mechanism...but I still was like, I think that's a twin thing. I'm not sure if my parents could drop any bombshell on us that I would be like...Oh, Joe (my brother), can i sleep on the same bed as you? As high school students...In Elementary...cool. High School. Sorta weird? BUT
I did really love how she had this special note in the back updating the correct terms that transgendered people would like you to use. I had no idea that transvestite and hermaphrodite were considered derogatory terms...as they were the terms I was taught through school/life. I'm really glad their are these books putting these messages out there...because how would I know?! I also didn't know (due to all the anime/manga) 'gender bender' classification...that that was a derogatory term either! So I learned a lot!
Red Flags: Language
There were some things I really loved about this book...and some other writing issues that I didn't. The subject aspect and execution was done well and realistically as these twin siblings struggle through their Dad's transition to be from Chris to Christine. I especially liked the father and son struggle that was highlighted and the other issues such as church, school, friends, and just how out of control children feel. From the adult perspective, I wish we could have had more insight to how the parents will make the marriage work or just more of how the dad felt in coming out and dealing with these issues. He told the therapist and children that he didn't have to reveal much because they were "children" and these were his choices...but still...I would have liked some more insight.
The gripe I had with the book was the children's voices. I'm sure because they were 'twins' the writing style was similar...but I felt it was way to similar. The twins seemed as if their voices were inseparable and could have just been from one sibling...I mean, I'm not sure I felt too connected with Ysabel. I was more into Justin and his struggle to navigate with relationships and his father's identity and his own male or father/son relationship than anything Ysabel had to say. I dunno, she just wasn't well written...I'm not sure but it seemed that not enough depth was put into fleshing out between what was described about her personality and her actual voice.
OH! ANOTHER WEIRD THING. Maybe i'm not a twin, so I wouldn't think this was weird...but there was instances that they were like sleeping together. I know it was a comfort mechanism...but I still was like, I think that's a twin thing. I'm not sure if my parents could drop any bombshell on us that I would be like...Oh, Joe (my brother), can i sleep on the same bed as you? As high school students...In Elementary...cool. High School. Sorta weird? BUT
I did really love how she had this special note in the back updating the correct terms that transgendered people would like you to use. I had no idea that transvestite and hermaphrodite were considered derogatory terms...as they were the terms I was taught through school/life. I'm really glad their are these books putting these messages out there...because how would I know?! I also didn't know (due to all the anime/manga) 'gender bender' classification...that that was a derogatory term either! So I learned a lot!
Red Flags: Language
April 19, 2012
OK, I see that the jacket copy and blurbs don't reveal what the family secret is, even though it comes out fairly early in the book and is alluded to in the dedication (or maybe the epigram--don't remember which) and on the cover. But if you don't want to know what the main conflict of this novel is, stop reading here!
Twins Justin and Ysabel are high school seniors with a family-shattering secret. What I love about this book is that all four members of the family (and the grandparents, too) love each other strongly. They are heartbroken and confused and angry. But they come through. There still are questions by the end of the book, which normally would bother me a little more. But I think in an issue this complex, it would be too much of a fairy tale to wrap everything up in a neatly tied package.
Another thing I love is the insight into hobbies. Tanita Davis (who's a friend of mine) is so wonderful at this. In A LA CARTE, she made me want to be a cook. Now, I'm thinking I might need to invest in a torch-welder (or whatever it's called). Even debate philosophies sprinkled here and there totally work and are interesting in this. I love learning the inside scoop on different activities and hobbies without ever feeling like someone is trying to teach me about it. It's just an organic and fascinating part of the world Davis creates here.
This book will end up on lots of lists of books recommended for teens who are dealing with , but I sure hope it isn't limited to those specific readers. This is a great book, straight-up, for any reader looking for a strong, engrossing story. I think it will *do* a lot of good and matter to a lot of teens, but the fact is just that it *is* good.
(I bought my copy of this book--not provided by publisher.)
Twins Justin and Ysabel are high school seniors with a family-shattering secret. What I love about this book is that all four members of the family (and the grandparents, too) love each other strongly. They are heartbroken and confused and angry. But they come through. There still are questions by the end of the book, which normally would bother me a little more. But I think in an issue this complex, it would be too much of a fairy tale to wrap everything up in a neatly tied package.
Another thing I love is the insight into hobbies. Tanita Davis (who's a friend of mine) is so wonderful at this. In A LA CARTE, she made me want to be a cook. Now, I'm thinking I might need to invest in a torch-welder (or whatever it's called). Even debate philosophies sprinkled here and there totally work and are interesting in this. I love learning the inside scoop on different activities and hobbies without ever feeling like someone is trying to teach me about it. It's just an organic and fascinating part of the world Davis creates here.
This book will end up on lots of lists of books recommended for teens who are dealing with , but I sure hope it isn't limited to those specific readers. This is a great book, straight-up, for any reader looking for a strong, engrossing story. I think it will *do* a lot of good and matter to a lot of teens, but the fact is just that it *is* good.
(I bought my copy of this book--not provided by publisher.)
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