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If We Shadows
Born female, all Jordan wants is to slip under the radar and live the last year of high school as a boy. His parents and siblings support him, but he’d rather be recognized for his acting and musical talents than his gender issues.
When Shakespeare’s Puck gives him three magical potions—true sight, true seeming, and true love—Jordan discovers being true to himself isn’t as simple as he thought.
Jordan must navigate the confusion of first love, a controversial role in the fall musical, and his transgender identity, while fairy magic creates a net of complications over everything he does. In order to unweave the spells laid over his friends—his supportive older brother, James, his playwright friend, Pepper, and Maria, another transgender student—Jordan needs to understand exactly how far he’ll go to reach his goals of finding true love, true sight, and true seeming.
When Shakespeare’s Puck gives him three magical potions—true sight, true seeming, and true love—Jordan discovers being true to himself isn’t as simple as he thought.
Jordan must navigate the confusion of first love, a controversial role in the fall musical, and his transgender identity, while fairy magic creates a net of complications over everything he does. In order to unweave the spells laid over his friends—his supportive older brother, James, his playwright friend, Pepper, and Maria, another transgender student—Jordan needs to understand exactly how far he’ll go to reach his goals of finding true love, true sight, and true seeming.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2014
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August 31, 2016Oh, my.
I will have to read it again before I can give it a more considered (coherent!) review. I was reading so fast, as the emotional tension was so high, and so beautifully complex, that I might not have caught everything I ought to have, especially with regards to the Puckish bit of magic.
The magic is subtle (many are unaware of it, and of those who are aware, some don't believe it, some are betrayed by it, but they all learn thereby), as befits a storyline in conversation with Shakespeare's playful gender-bending. Atwood's hand is deft with characterization, insight, and with Shakespearean language, which can easily overpower fiction in which it's evoked.
It is dealt with through adaptation--Pepper, a high school girl, has mashed together two plays, modernized them, and added music. The principal and the drama teacher are both fully behind the production.
Jordan, who has known all his life that he's a boy though he happened to be born with girl bits, usually works hard to pass by staying in the background. He's talked into trying for a role by his brother James, who is congenially (one might even say superficially, as totally befits an eighteen year old boy) supportive. Jordan wants to play Puck, but to his horror, he's assigned Viola, who is going to be bespelled into Cesario. Emily, a very angry girl who wanted a lead role, is hell-bent on torpedoing Jordan, and if she can't unseat Jordan from the role through intimidation, sarcasm, group mockery and finally outright bullying, then she is going to bring the entire play down. There are plenty of parents who will join the cause, certain that the gender play is harmful to their kids.
Meanwhile, Maria, Jordan's good friend (met through their mutual therapist), is going through problems at home, in her case, a family who is determined to coax, shame, or browbeat Maria into being Felipe, a son. Maria, secure in her identity (once she gets out of the house), falls in love and wants to take that love to the next level.
Maria's thread runs parallel to Jordan's, but it is not given as much attention as Jordan's, so at times I felt the author's hand pushing toward an inevitable conclusion, and though I was right in part, Atwood handled it with what I thought stunning insight and sensitivity. Equally stunning were the climactic confrontations, wherein many truths are spoken, revealing just how many layers truth can have, or rather, how mutable truth can be when it comes to emotions and identity.
I will have to read it again before I can give it a more considered (coherent!) review. I was reading so fast, as the emotional tension was so high, and so beautifully complex, that I might not have caught everything I ought to have, especially with regards to the Puckish bit of magic.
The magic is subtle (many are unaware of it, and of those who are aware, some don't believe it, some are betrayed by it, but they all learn thereby), as befits a storyline in conversation with Shakespeare's playful gender-bending. Atwood's hand is deft with characterization, insight, and with Shakespearean language, which can easily overpower fiction in which it's evoked.
It is dealt with through adaptation--Pepper, a high school girl, has mashed together two plays, modernized them, and added music. The principal and the drama teacher are both fully behind the production.
Jordan, who has known all his life that he's a boy though he happened to be born with girl bits, usually works hard to pass by staying in the background. He's talked into trying for a role by his brother James, who is congenially (one might even say superficially, as totally befits an eighteen year old boy) supportive. Jordan wants to play Puck, but to his horror, he's assigned Viola, who is going to be bespelled into Cesario. Emily, a very angry girl who wanted a lead role, is hell-bent on torpedoing Jordan, and if she can't unseat Jordan from the role through intimidation, sarcasm, group mockery and finally outright bullying, then she is going to bring the entire play down. There are plenty of parents who will join the cause, certain that the gender play is harmful to their kids.
Meanwhile, Maria, Jordan's good friend (met through their mutual therapist), is going through problems at home, in her case, a family who is determined to coax, shame, or browbeat Maria into being Felipe, a son. Maria, secure in her identity (once she gets out of the house), falls in love and wants to take that love to the next level.
Maria's thread runs parallel to Jordan's, but it is not given as much attention as Jordan's, so at times I felt the author's hand pushing toward an inevitable conclusion, and though I was right in part, Atwood handled it with what I thought stunning insight and sensitivity. Equally stunning were the climactic confrontations, wherein many truths are spoken, revealing just how many layers truth can have, or rather, how mutable truth can be when it comes to emotions and identity.
February 17, 2015
Jordan is a transgendered young man who, with the support of his family, is determined to live his final year of high school as a boy. He doesn’t want to be recognized or applauded for who he is, and would rather that gender not be an issue. Instead, he wants to be recognized for what he is - an actor and a musician. An actor, it must be said, who will be playing the gender-bending lead in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
As if taking on a controversial role in the musical production weren’t enough, Puck himself appears to Jordan, bestowing upon him three magical potions that bring the magic, the humour, the confusion, and the misunderstandings of the play to life. Fortunately, Atwood doesn’t make any of Jordan’s gender issues dependent on the magic, which would have been a huge cheat and a way of avoiding the real issue.
The characters here are all well-developed, which is what makes the magical aspect work. They are individuals who all but leap off the page, allowing the reader to get to know them enough to really sympathize with all the craziness that creeps into their lives. The one character about whom I’m still not sure how I feel is Maria. While she’s a lovely character, her presence, for me, was just a little too much.
Maria does help to ground the story, contrasting the magical fantasy with harsh reality, but the whole point of Jordan’s story is to get past his gender and focus on his emergence as an actor and an artist. Maria’s presence only serves to bring the question of gender back to the forefront and remind the reader that not all families are so accepting of a life in transition.
That said, Atwood does a very good job of exploring the thoughts and emotions of transgender teens, taking the reader inside their heads and their hearts. The climax is a bit rushed, but overall it’s an enjoyable read with a lot of depth.
Originally reviewed for Frock Magazine
As if taking on a controversial role in the musical production weren’t enough, Puck himself appears to Jordan, bestowing upon him three magical potions that bring the magic, the humour, the confusion, and the misunderstandings of the play to life. Fortunately, Atwood doesn’t make any of Jordan’s gender issues dependent on the magic, which would have been a huge cheat and a way of avoiding the real issue.
The characters here are all well-developed, which is what makes the magical aspect work. They are individuals who all but leap off the page, allowing the reader to get to know them enough to really sympathize with all the craziness that creeps into their lives. The one character about whom I’m still not sure how I feel is Maria. While she’s a lovely character, her presence, for me, was just a little too much.
Maria does help to ground the story, contrasting the magical fantasy with harsh reality, but the whole point of Jordan’s story is to get past his gender and focus on his emergence as an actor and an artist. Maria’s presence only serves to bring the question of gender back to the forefront and remind the reader that not all families are so accepting of a life in transition.
That said, Atwood does a very good job of exploring the thoughts and emotions of transgender teens, taking the reader inside their heads and their hearts. The climax is a bit rushed, but overall it’s an enjoyable read with a lot of depth.
Originally reviewed for Frock Magazine
March 25, 2014
I should probably say first that this is not necessarily an objective review. The author is a friend of mine, and I read the first draft back when it was originally written, so I've known Jordan for a long time now. The story remains largely unchanged from the original draft, and without going back to look at it, I couldn't say what exactly was changed.
I'm not going to go into a synopsis of what the book is about. You can read the blurb for yourself. But what readers should know going in is that this book involves a pretty significant amount of suspension of disbelief. It initially appears to be a story that happens in the world we're familiar with, but then elements of inexplicable (and never explained) magic are introduced. If this is something that will bother you, or completely throw you out of the story, this is probably not the book for you.
That said, one of the things that I never felt that I needed to suspend disbelief on was the fact that Jordan was a boy. Anatomy aside, Jordan was absolutely the boy that he said he was. There is one scene that is excruciating because the reader, and Jordan himself, are forced to deal with the fact that biology betrayed him. As someone who would rather not acknowledge any gender at all, I found this scene all too easy to relate to, and I winced and squirmed in sympathy until it was (blessedly) over.
The story moves quickly, and the characters are interesting and generally well-developed. It manages to avoid being preachy, which is something that, unfortunately, a lot of LGBTQ young adult novels don't. We don't get lectured about what it means to be transgender, although some information (and some Too Much Information) does come through as part of the narrative.
One of the things that I really enjoy about this story is that the fact that Jordan is transgender is part of it, but not all of it. For the most part, it reads like a story that could happen to any teenager who happened to be gifted with magical potions. Yes, being born in a body that doesn't match up with what he thinks it should be has an impact on it (and on everything in Jordan's life on some level) but it's not the only problem that Jordan has going on.
Another good thing about the book is that, for the most part, the characters are three-dimensional. Very few of them are all good or all bad. There is a tendency for those who stand in opposition of Jordan and the play to be a little less developed – they read as stereotypes but not quite caricatures. An attempt is made to humanize the primary antagonist at the end of the book, but for me it rang false. Sometimes people are jerks because they're jerks, and I honestly would have liked it better if it was left that way, rather than making a last ditch effort to make the reader sympathize with an otherwise unlikeable character.
Overall, I enjoyed the story in its published form as much as I did when I originally read the first draft. It's a bit rough in places, and at times feels underdeveloped, but there's something to be said for stories that are (relatively) short and (in the end) sweet.
I'm not going to go into a synopsis of what the book is about. You can read the blurb for yourself. But what readers should know going in is that this book involves a pretty significant amount of suspension of disbelief. It initially appears to be a story that happens in the world we're familiar with, but then elements of inexplicable (and never explained) magic are introduced. If this is something that will bother you, or completely throw you out of the story, this is probably not the book for you.
That said, one of the things that I never felt that I needed to suspend disbelief on was the fact that Jordan was a boy. Anatomy aside, Jordan was absolutely the boy that he said he was. There is one scene that is excruciating because the reader, and Jordan himself, are forced to deal with the fact that biology betrayed him. As someone who would rather not acknowledge any gender at all, I found this scene all too easy to relate to, and I winced and squirmed in sympathy until it was (blessedly) over.
The story moves quickly, and the characters are interesting and generally well-developed. It manages to avoid being preachy, which is something that, unfortunately, a lot of LGBTQ young adult novels don't. We don't get lectured about what it means to be transgender, although some information (and some Too Much Information) does come through as part of the narrative.
One of the things that I really enjoy about this story is that the fact that Jordan is transgender is part of it, but not all of it. For the most part, it reads like a story that could happen to any teenager who happened to be gifted with magical potions. Yes, being born in a body that doesn't match up with what he thinks it should be has an impact on it (and on everything in Jordan's life on some level) but it's not the only problem that Jordan has going on.
Another good thing about the book is that, for the most part, the characters are three-dimensional. Very few of them are all good or all bad. There is a tendency for those who stand in opposition of Jordan and the play to be a little less developed – they read as stereotypes but not quite caricatures. An attempt is made to humanize the primary antagonist at the end of the book, but for me it rang false. Sometimes people are jerks because they're jerks, and I honestly would have liked it better if it was left that way, rather than making a last ditch effort to make the reader sympathize with an otherwise unlikeable character.
Overall, I enjoyed the story in its published form as much as I did when I originally read the first draft. It's a bit rough in places, and at times feels underdeveloped, but there's something to be said for stories that are (relatively) short and (in the end) sweet.
October 24, 2014
If We Shadows is an excellent read for YA. It's so good to see another writer who gives perspective to teenagers on trans issues. Issues relating to the pressures of school, peers, sibling and parental reactions. This story covers early transition support for teenagers from female to male and vise versa.The teen characters are realistic with their humour, attitude, thoughts and concerns. The bravery in all they do to be themselves whilst knowing and understanding the dangers this could bring on them.
Jordan presents himself as any other teenage boy liking baseball, acting and singing. Jordan has a healthy supportive relationship with his parents and his siblings. His older brother, James, accepts Jordan's transition and they hang-out as best buddies behaving brotherly. James does have his concerns and feels uneasy at what others will think or do when they find out that Jordan was born female. Their parents are apprehensive too and do all they can to protect Jordan including prohibiting him from dating.
Jordon not only has his brother as a best friend but also Maria, who is a male to female trans teen. Maria's support network is not as accommodating as Jordan’s, although they see the same therapist, who is the only real help Maria gets. Jordan worries and advises Maria where he can and tries to be there for her as any good buddy would. Maria knows that Jordan is the one person in her life that she can count on. So when she is assaulted by a boyfriend, Jordan goes to her rescue along with his brother, James, in spite of his fears.
Jordan wants nothing more than to be accepted and have a life like anyone else. Against his parents wishes, Jordan can't stop himself falling in love with Pepper. Jordan meets Pepper whilst preparing for an audition of a remix of Shakespeare’s work by Pepper herself. Everything about her monopolises Jordan's heart and so the inevitable begins.
Although there are parts of this book that disappear into some fantasy elements, which appear to follow along with some of the aspects of the play, this could leave some readers with a sense of mismatch. Overall, an enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Teddy
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
Jordan presents himself as any other teenage boy liking baseball, acting and singing. Jordan has a healthy supportive relationship with his parents and his siblings. His older brother, James, accepts Jordan's transition and they hang-out as best buddies behaving brotherly. James does have his concerns and feels uneasy at what others will think or do when they find out that Jordan was born female. Their parents are apprehensive too and do all they can to protect Jordan including prohibiting him from dating.
Jordon not only has his brother as a best friend but also Maria, who is a male to female trans teen. Maria's support network is not as accommodating as Jordan’s, although they see the same therapist, who is the only real help Maria gets. Jordan worries and advises Maria where he can and tries to be there for her as any good buddy would. Maria knows that Jordan is the one person in her life that she can count on. So when she is assaulted by a boyfriend, Jordan goes to her rescue along with his brother, James, in spite of his fears.
Jordan wants nothing more than to be accepted and have a life like anyone else. Against his parents wishes, Jordan can't stop himself falling in love with Pepper. Jordan meets Pepper whilst preparing for an audition of a remix of Shakespeare’s work by Pepper herself. Everything about her monopolises Jordan's heart and so the inevitable begins.
Although there are parts of this book that disappear into some fantasy elements, which appear to follow along with some of the aspects of the play, this could leave some readers with a sense of mismatch. Overall, an enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Teddy
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
March 12, 2014
Atwood does a beautiful job of making you feel Jordan’s emotions, every ounce of his pain and confusion. This is not an easy book to read if you’re at all empathetic (or empathic) to the struggles of LGTBQAI+ persons. As far as I’m aware, Atwood does not have immediate knowledge of what it’s like to be a trans* person. I do not, either. With that said, she does a great job of portraying what Jordan’s going through, and makes it clear that she did research and has a great respect for the struggles a trans* person goes through.
At the same time, while what and who Jordan is is clearly important to the story (it’s a major part of the climax, in fact), it’s not the focus, exactly. Jordan finding his inner strength, the magic, the musical, these are all factors and seem far more important. I don’t mean to downplay the trans* nature of the main character at all, and neither does this book. From where I’m sitting, as a reader, this is done far more as a, “This is who Jordan is, this is Jordan’s story and struggles,” instead of focusing on something that should be normal and acceptable.
The flaw in this tale is really that it’s too short. I felt as though it could have been fleshed out a little more, more given to the dénouement, slightly longer explorations in some of the scenes. Atwood rather cleverly uses multiple view points, to great effect: most of the story is told from Jordan’s first person perspective, but when it’s necessary, a wider, third person view from someone close to him takes place. It takes a little getting use to, but it’s quickly absorbed into the overall storytelling, and doesn’t detract at all.
Puck and faeries, magic, trans* teenagers, and Shakespeare like no one ever really expected makes D.E. Atwood’s debut novel an excellent read.
At the same time, while what and who Jordan is is clearly important to the story (it’s a major part of the climax, in fact), it’s not the focus, exactly. Jordan finding his inner strength, the magic, the musical, these are all factors and seem far more important. I don’t mean to downplay the trans* nature of the main character at all, and neither does this book. From where I’m sitting, as a reader, this is done far more as a, “This is who Jordan is, this is Jordan’s story and struggles,” instead of focusing on something that should be normal and acceptable.
The flaw in this tale is really that it’s too short. I felt as though it could have been fleshed out a little more, more given to the dénouement, slightly longer explorations in some of the scenes. Atwood rather cleverly uses multiple view points, to great effect: most of the story is told from Jordan’s first person perspective, but when it’s necessary, a wider, third person view from someone close to him takes place. It takes a little getting use to, but it’s quickly absorbed into the overall storytelling, and doesn’t detract at all.
Puck and faeries, magic, trans* teenagers, and Shakespeare like no one ever really expected makes D.E. Atwood’s debut novel an excellent read.
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August 16, 2015A very enjoyable debut novel, in which Jordan -- a high school senior boy (who was born with a female body) -- ends up in playing Viola-playing-Cesario in a Shakespeare mashup school play, only to be gifted with potions for true love, true sight, and true seeming by Puck. When the potions get mixed up, things go awry, and meanwhile, some people aren't happy with the school play's gender bending ways and are trying to get the board to shut it down. Jordan has to undo the magic, save the play, and maybe score a date with the cute student director.
My background is in HIV education, and most of what I know about trans issues comes from that, which means that I know a decent amount about the stigma and dangers, but not so much about how being trans impacts people's day to day lives. The book did an excellent job as presenting all of that -- how Jordan tries to make his body feel right, his very real anxieties, the way his family handles it -- without being didactic or depressing. It's clear that Jordan is lucky, with parents (and a school administration) that support and protect him, and his best friend Maria (a trans girl) is not so lucky, and the reality of violence against trans people is still present.
Story-wise, the book was cute. I liked Jordan a lot, and I loved Maria. I do wish the potions had tied caused more chaos and shenanigans, though. They tied in thematically, but the mixed up true love didn't have any real impact on the play/school board situation, which I had expected them to, and it also wasn't the real catalyst for the (excellent) scenes of Jordan and his brother fighting over Jordan's identity. I also wish there had been more of a reaction from Jordan's parents after the school board speech.
But, over all, this was very cute and very enjoyable. It would be a better-than-solid 3.5 stars but gets rounded up to four.
My background is in HIV education, and most of what I know about trans issues comes from that, which means that I know a decent amount about the stigma and dangers, but not so much about how being trans impacts people's day to day lives. The book did an excellent job as presenting all of that -- how Jordan tries to make his body feel right, his very real anxieties, the way his family handles it -- without being didactic or depressing. It's clear that Jordan is lucky, with parents (and a school administration) that support and protect him, and his best friend Maria (a trans girl) is not so lucky, and the reality of violence against trans people is still present.
Story-wise, the book was cute. I liked Jordan a lot, and I loved Maria. I do wish the potions had tied caused more chaos and shenanigans, though. They tied in thematically, but the mixed up true love didn't have any real impact on the play/school board situation, which I had expected them to, and it also wasn't the real catalyst for the (excellent) scenes of Jordan and his brother fighting over Jordan's identity. I also wish there had been more of a reaction from Jordan's parents after the school board speech.
But, over all, this was very cute and very enjoyable. It would be a better-than-solid 3.5 stars but gets rounded up to four.
July 12, 2016
While I think that a lot more books need to be written with trans protagonists, and am grateful to Atwood for adding to the ridiculously tiny number of trans-featuring stories, If We Shadows was a let-down. I had no problems with how Jordan's arc was handled, but the fantasy element wasn't very well integrated into the story at all; this read like a general-fic novel with some hallucinations thrown in, and teenagers accepting the existence of magic and fairies far too easily to be believable. I was also disappointed by how little the play actually featured; it was supposed to be the centre of the story, but instead the book wraps up before it is even performed - without the reader even being sure of the play's plotline.
I was impressed with how Atwood brought in several practical issues trans*men face that other novels have ignored or forgotten to think about, but I would have preferred if the story focussed more on the magic than Jordan's transition. Ultimately If We Shadows feels like a great idea that wasn't fully realised; so much more could have been done with it than actually was.
I was impressed with how Atwood brought in several practical issues trans*men face that other novels have ignored or forgotten to think about, but I would have preferred if the story focussed more on the magic than Jordan's transition. Ultimately If We Shadows feels like a great idea that wasn't fully realised; so much more could have been done with it than actually was.
April 3, 2015
A coming-of-age story told with sincerity and heart. Jordan is a high school senior with a passion for the theater, and his plans for senior year get a major rehaul when he isn't cast as Puck in A Midsummer's Night Dream, but as Viola/Cesario. Jordan is trans, and at first wants to refuse the part, as he has no desire to play a girl playing a guy, but the vibrant and clever Pepper, is directing the play-- and she insists that it is a reinvention of the Shakespeare classic, pushing new boundaries. Eager to impress his crush, Jordan stays in the play, but tensions rise when a jealous student raises concerns about the "morality" of the play.
Not only does the novel touch on sensitive themes, it also weaves in the tone of mischief and magic with a touch of magic realism; Jordan is offered three potions by a visage of Puck himself-- one that offers true sight, true seeming, and true love. The shenanigans start when the potions get mixed up and people start falling in love all over the place, and it's up to Jordan to put things to rights, figure out how to save the play, and at the core of it all, learn who he is and what he stands for.
Not only does the novel touch on sensitive themes, it also weaves in the tone of mischief and magic with a touch of magic realism; Jordan is offered three potions by a visage of Puck himself-- one that offers true sight, true seeming, and true love. The shenanigans start when the potions get mixed up and people start falling in love all over the place, and it's up to Jordan to put things to rights, figure out how to save the play, and at the core of it all, learn who he is and what he stands for.
December 10, 2014
4.5 stars, rounded up.
For my honest and true view of this book, please read …MORE
Goodreads TOS-compliant review (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are):
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
DISCLAIMER: My reviews now all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. See the real review above for my thoughts on this book.
For my honest and true view of this book, please read …MORE
Goodreads TOS-compliant review (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are):
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
DISCLAIMER: My reviews now all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. See the real review above for my thoughts on this book.
August 19, 2014
This was a wonderfully written story about a transgendered youth -- born as a girl, but identifies as a boy -- and the struggles he has as he tries to get through his last year of high school. It was believable, and respectful, and I felt so thoroughly for Jordan. Added in the mix was that it also included Shakespeare's Puck, a bit of magical realism, and great supporting characters. Really enjoyed this piece.
October 22, 2014
This was an exquisitely plotted story with complex, well-drawn characters, high tension, and strong writing. I really liked that the practical issues of transitioning (therapy, hormone treatments, prosthetics, parents, school, love interests, etc.) were addressed realistically instead of being glossed over and romanticized. I loved this book and look forward to reading it again.
June 14, 2017
I was a bit confused with the potions and the protagonist's going to be girlfriend falls for her brother, etc.
April 8, 2015
I really enjoyed the book. I didn’t know what to expect when I began reading, this being my first time reading a book focused on the subject of a transgendered youth. I am so glad I read it though. It is a Young Adult story full of love and heart and courage, as the author takes us on a slightly mystical journey through a challenging senior year of high school for Jordan, the main character. The story is conveyed via multiple perspectives, including Jordan’s written thoughts in his journal for his doctor, as well as experiences through his eyes and through his friends, classmates and his brother, James.
I liked how the format of the story gave a well-rounded and understandable perspective on what was going on in Jordan’s life. Having no experience with transgender issues, I cannot profess to know whether this book nails the subject correctly, but it certainly is conveyed in an empathetic, respectful and caring manner all the way. I really felt for Jordan as well his family and friends. There were highs and lows and we got to experience them all with Jordan as he turned 17 and navigated his senior year of high school.
The introduction of Puck (from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and his three mysterious magical potions lend a slight fantasy air to the book which at first confused me. However, the author makes it work, as this concept doesn’t dominate the storyline, but rather lends food for thought about how one can seem to be someone different than they are, and whether or not you view someone through your own eyes as they really are, or as you wish them to be in your heart (true sight, true seeming or true love, per Shakespeare). It really made me stop and think about how I view people in general, with an added twist when layering in the transgender subject.
Overall, this is a first-rate YA read and I would recommend it if you are looking for a sensitive and compassionate story featuring a transgendered youth. This is an excellent debut novel for the author, and I look forward to reading more from DE Atwood.
https://rainbowgoldreviews.wordpress....
I liked how the format of the story gave a well-rounded and understandable perspective on what was going on in Jordan’s life. Having no experience with transgender issues, I cannot profess to know whether this book nails the subject correctly, but it certainly is conveyed in an empathetic, respectful and caring manner all the way. I really felt for Jordan as well his family and friends. There were highs and lows and we got to experience them all with Jordan as he turned 17 and navigated his senior year of high school.
The introduction of Puck (from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and his three mysterious magical potions lend a slight fantasy air to the book which at first confused me. However, the author makes it work, as this concept doesn’t dominate the storyline, but rather lends food for thought about how one can seem to be someone different than they are, and whether or not you view someone through your own eyes as they really are, or as you wish them to be in your heart (true sight, true seeming or true love, per Shakespeare). It really made me stop and think about how I view people in general, with an added twist when layering in the transgender subject.
Overall, this is a first-rate YA read and I would recommend it if you are looking for a sensitive and compassionate story featuring a transgendered youth. This is an excellent debut novel for the author, and I look forward to reading more from DE Atwood.
https://rainbowgoldreviews.wordpress....
May 18, 2014
I first stated the book a while ago, but after a chapter got distracted with other things. This weekend I decided to pick it up again and just devoured it. The characters are well thought out and developed. Very deep and the reader is able to get into all of their heads. The pacing was great and the conflict built in a well developed fashion. The topic isn’t something I understand, personally, but I feel this book gave me a good look into how gender questioning affects people. At first I felt that the magic aspect was unnecessary and distracted from the story. I wanted to understand these characters as real people and see how the same basic story could be told without that aspect. But it was close enough to magic realism that it all worked out, story-wise, at the end. Overall a great book, top notch. But I’d expect nothing less from this author.
January 29, 2015
3.5 stars.
This one's a weird book. On one side I loved the story about transgendered Jordan, how he struggles with his body image, his daily life, his friends. What I totally didn't get though was the “magical“ part. I could have worked with those potions if they were meant metaphorical, but ... for real? Nope, sorry. Still it's a great book
This one's a weird book. On one side I loved the story about transgendered Jordan, how he struggles with his body image, his daily life, his friends. What I totally didn't get though was the “magical“ part. I could have worked with those potions if they were meant metaphorical, but ... for real? Nope, sorry. Still it's a great book
March 22, 2015
4.5 stars
Excellent YA novel. The author is very creative in mashing Shakespeare's Plays and bringing them to life. The author also tackles some very tough topics in Transphobia and Homophobia.
I encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about the daily struggles of trans* people to read this book.
Excellent YA novel. The author is very creative in mashing Shakespeare's Plays and bringing them to life. The author also tackles some very tough topics in Transphobia and Homophobia.
I encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about the daily struggles of trans* people to read this book.
August 10, 2015
Although I found it to have a slow beginning I really enjoyed this book once the pace picked up. It handled the topic delicately but realistically. It's very difficult to find books on this topic that are appropriate for middle school readers. It is appropriate for ages 13 and up or grades 7 and up.
December 6, 2015
2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
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April 10, 2014I really liked this one. Tackles the serious subject of a transgendered teen. Review to come.
February 18, 2015
Good book - a bit too mature for middles school, so am passing on to high school library
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