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A World Worth Saving
A groundbreaking, action-packed, and ultimately uplifting adventure that intertwines elements of Jewish mythology with an unflinching examination of the impacts of transphobia, from Newbery Honor-winner Kyle Lukoff
Covid lockdown is over, but A’s world feels smaller than ever. Coming out as trans didn’t exactly go well, and most days, he barely leaves his bedroom, let alone the house. But the low point of A’s life isn’t online school, missing his bar mitzvah, or the fact that his parents monitor his phone like hawks—it’s the weekly Save Our Sons and Daughters meetings his parents all but drag him to.
At SOSAD, A and his friends Sal and Yarrow sit by while their parents deadname them and wring their hands over a nonexistent “transgender craze.” After all, sitting in suffocating silence has to be better than getting sent away for “advanced treatment,” never to be heard from again.
When Yarrow vanishes after a particularly confrontational meeting, A discovers that SOSAD doesn’t just feel soul-sucking . . . it’s run by an actual demon who feeds off the pain and misery of kids like him. And it’s not just SOSAD—the entire world is beset by demons dining on what seems like an endless buffet of pain and bigotry.
But how is one trans kid who hasn’t even chosen a name supposed to save his friend, let alone the world? And is a world that seems hellbent on rejecting him even worth saving at all?
Covid lockdown is over, but A’s world feels smaller than ever. Coming out as trans didn’t exactly go well, and most days, he barely leaves his bedroom, let alone the house. But the low point of A’s life isn’t online school, missing his bar mitzvah, or the fact that his parents monitor his phone like hawks—it’s the weekly Save Our Sons and Daughters meetings his parents all but drag him to.
At SOSAD, A and his friends Sal and Yarrow sit by while their parents deadname them and wring their hands over a nonexistent “transgender craze.” After all, sitting in suffocating silence has to be better than getting sent away for “advanced treatment,” never to be heard from again.
When Yarrow vanishes after a particularly confrontational meeting, A discovers that SOSAD doesn’t just feel soul-sucking . . . it’s run by an actual demon who feeds off the pain and misery of kids like him. And it’s not just SOSAD—the entire world is beset by demons dining on what seems like an endless buffet of pain and bigotry.
But how is one trans kid who hasn’t even chosen a name supposed to save his friend, let alone the world? And is a world that seems hellbent on rejecting him even worth saving at all?
344 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
54 people are currently reading
6756 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Lukoff
27 books290 followersKyle Lukoff writes books for kids and other people.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Kyle worked at five bookstores, in four libraries, for three schools, as two genders, through one intersection: people, and books.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Kyle worked at five bookstores, in four libraries, for three schools, as two genders, through one intersection: people, and books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
January 21, 2025
“Perhaps I am here because you are a trans fourteen-year-old who has already claimed the right to name himself. You are in the midst of your own creation, which gives you strength beyond imagining. And like the twilight, like the shore, like every littoral edge, one in the process of becoming is imbued with holiness.”
4.5★
a beautiful story about overcoming bigotry and the power of community.
i honestly had never thought about young trans kids' experiences before (there aren't really young kids in my family or social circles) and it was eye opening and devastating to learn about how prevalent suicide is for trans kids as young as 12.
i loved the spin on the golem and the use of judaic mythology to overcome this bigotry as demons (sheyd). it also tackles trans issues like the specific experience and oppression of transmisogyny and lateral violence like accidental misgendering.
in light of recent events, it's so important to read and support trans authors, as well as bipoc and other marginalized groups, so please put this on your tbr!
“No one can do everything,” it said. “Those who fight in the streets need a meal and a place to rest their bodies after. Those who are bleeding need someone to bandage them. We need drummers to march with, and songwriters to give us battle hymns, and thinkers who can rebuild what we tear down. If the world was full of clay golems, we would only have more clay.”
an honest arc review ♡
4.5★
a beautiful story about overcoming bigotry and the power of community.
i honestly had never thought about young trans kids' experiences before (there aren't really young kids in my family or social circles) and it was eye opening and devastating to learn about how prevalent suicide is for trans kids as young as 12.
i loved the spin on the golem and the use of judaic mythology to overcome this bigotry as demons (sheyd). it also tackles trans issues like the specific experience and oppression of transmisogyny and lateral violence like accidental misgendering.
in light of recent events, it's so important to read and support trans authors, as well as bipoc and other marginalized groups, so please put this on your tbr!
“No one can do everything,” it said. “Those who fight in the streets need a meal and a place to rest their bodies after. Those who are bleeding need someone to bandage them. We need drummers to march with, and songwriters to give us battle hymns, and thinkers who can rebuild what we tear down. If the world was full of clay golems, we would only have more clay.”
an honest arc review ♡
March 13, 2025
Very trans and very Jewish, which is an excellent combination. It makes me really happy to envision middle grade kids being able to read this book.
June 16, 2025
When I read the publisher’s description of A World Worth Saving, I knew I had to give this book a try, although I don’t read a lot of middle grade fiction.
(I apologize if I get any terminology/pronouns wrong; it is not my intention to upset anyone!)
A is a 14-year-old who came out as trans during the COVID pandemic/lockdown. His parents refuse to accept this; they still call A by his deadname, and want him to dress more like a traditional girl would. I can understand their need to take time to adjust to A, but I was horrified that they dragged him to weekly meetings of a group that is the very opposite of trying to adjust and understand A. Their acronym is spot-on: SOSAD, which stands for Save Our Sons And Daughters. Yikes!
I absolutely loved all the Jewish content in this story! After one of his friends who is also forced to attend SOSAD meetings disappears after an outburst, A feels he has to take action. A golem made of trash (instead of the more traditional clay) appears to him and imbues A with the ability to see “sheydim” or demons. After leaving home/being kicked out, A finds temporary shelter with some other homeless trans and non-binary teens and also finds comfort from a sympathetic rabbi - the rabbi of the synagogue his family used to belong to (his parents quit over this topic, if I remember correctly). Rabbi Singer and her husband are a font of knowledge about Jewish mythology (especially her husband) and try to protect A and his other friend from SOSAD, Sal. I was intrigued to see that most of the action takes place between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Jewish High Holy Days. According to the rabbis, the demons are at their weakest during this holy 10-day period, when the Jewish communal spirit is the strongest.
A is not always a likable character, but thankfully he does show some growth over the course of the book.
Since I don’t read a lot of middle grade books, I’m not the best judge of whether this material is appropriate for the listed age group, so I’ll just say that I think this would be better for the upper range of the recommendation (ages 10-14, grades 5-9).
Thank you to Dial Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. In addition to reading, I also listened to the audiobook, courtesy of PRH Audio and Will Malloy did a great job with the narration. All opinions are my own.
(I apologize if I get any terminology/pronouns wrong; it is not my intention to upset anyone!)
A is a 14-year-old who came out as trans during the COVID pandemic/lockdown. His parents refuse to accept this; they still call A by his deadname, and want him to dress more like a traditional girl would. I can understand their need to take time to adjust to A, but I was horrified that they dragged him to weekly meetings of a group that is the very opposite of trying to adjust and understand A. Their acronym is spot-on: SOSAD, which stands for Save Our Sons And Daughters. Yikes!
I absolutely loved all the Jewish content in this story! After one of his friends who is also forced to attend SOSAD meetings disappears after an outburst, A feels he has to take action. A golem made of trash (instead of the more traditional clay) appears to him and imbues A with the ability to see “sheydim” or demons. After leaving home/being kicked out, A finds temporary shelter with some other homeless trans and non-binary teens and also finds comfort from a sympathetic rabbi - the rabbi of the synagogue his family used to belong to (his parents quit over this topic, if I remember correctly). Rabbi Singer and her husband are a font of knowledge about Jewish mythology (especially her husband) and try to protect A and his other friend from SOSAD, Sal. I was intrigued to see that most of the action takes place between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Jewish High Holy Days. According to the rabbis, the demons are at their weakest during this holy 10-day period, when the Jewish communal spirit is the strongest.
A is not always a likable character, but thankfully he does show some growth over the course of the book.
Since I don’t read a lot of middle grade books, I’m not the best judge of whether this material is appropriate for the listed age group, so I’ll just say that I think this would be better for the upper range of the recommendation (ages 10-14, grades 5-9).
Thank you to Dial Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. In addition to reading, I also listened to the audiobook, courtesy of PRH Audio and Will Malloy did a great job with the narration. All opinions are my own.
December 25, 2024
“You are the only human being in the long history of mankind to be born to your parents, to this place, in this body, in this moment, with this mind. Which makes you the same as every human being who has ever lived - unique and irreplaceable.”
February 7, 2025
One of my MOST anticipated middle grade reads of 2025 and it did NOT disappoint!!
Kyle Lukoff has written a genre-defying, beautiful story that blends Jewish mythology, fantasy and dystopia that features A, a young trans boy whose parents force them to attend anti-trans meetings.
With the help of some fellow trans friends who find themselves isolated and separated from their families and a trash Golem, A, finds the courage to fight against the evils of their world, in particular a demon disguised as a doctor that is trying to suck the souls from trans children.
Scarily relevant, the author touches on transphobia, the after effects of the pandemic, climate change anxieties, Jewish identity and so much more!! Amazing on audio narrated by Will Malloy and HIGHLY recommended for fans of authors like Ronnie Riley!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! This book couldn’t be more important and relevant in the world we fjnd ourselves in these days!!!
⚠️CW: transphobia, dead-naming, toxic parental relationships, forced institutionalization
Kyle Lukoff has written a genre-defying, beautiful story that blends Jewish mythology, fantasy and dystopia that features A, a young trans boy whose parents force them to attend anti-trans meetings.
With the help of some fellow trans friends who find themselves isolated and separated from their families and a trash Golem, A, finds the courage to fight against the evils of their world, in particular a demon disguised as a doctor that is trying to suck the souls from trans children.
Scarily relevant, the author touches on transphobia, the after effects of the pandemic, climate change anxieties, Jewish identity and so much more!! Amazing on audio narrated by Will Malloy and HIGHLY recommended for fans of authors like Ronnie Riley!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! This book couldn’t be more important and relevant in the world we fjnd ourselves in these days!!!
⚠️CW: transphobia, dead-naming, toxic parental relationships, forced institutionalization
February 17, 2025
Full disclosure: I didn’t finish this book. I usually read nonfiction, but I picked this book up because I’ve enjoyed Kyle’s other children’s books. However, this book was not like his others. This book felt like it was written to challenge norms—possibly even written with the purpose of landing on a banned list. A WORLD WORTH SAVING was political ... and after 20 pages, I could tell this book wasn’t for me.
August 24, 2024
I wouldn’t say this if it weren’t true (I promise!), but this book is phenomenal.
April 10, 2025
2.5 rounded up. Draining like a Shade. A librarian/friend recommended this to me and I had high hopes for it, but I was more than let down by the execution. Though, I’m not in the target demographic, so take my review with a grain of salt.
I think I’m just gonna have to throw in the towel and admit that Kyle Lukoff’s writing isn’t for me. The beginning hooked me in, and I was excited for what the main friend group dynamic would entail, but the further I got in, the more it just read to me like there wasn’t much of a true bond or solidarity. For a book with messaging based around debunking the typical “chosen one” fantasy story that reduces the hero’s friends to sidekicks and plot elements, the side characters did not have much substance, in my opinion. (Though, I did find some of them interesting— the rabbi and her family, for instance.)
A is… complicated. I sympathize with him, and understand his mindset, but I still disliked his arrogance. I’m all for unlikeable protagonists, but his growth happened briefly and abruptly. I also found some of the dialogue to be awkward, but I think some of that can be attributed to the characters being snotty younger Gen Z queers trying to be as radical as they can.
However, I liked the Shades and their allegory. Conceptually, they’re awesome, and their existence also didn’t overshadow real-world (and human-created) bigotry, which was something I feared would happen. They’re also threatening and creepy, and some of the scenes involving A fighting them off (in more than one way) are why I didn’t rate this book below 2 stars. But I didn’t like the golem character that assisted A, its purpose was essentially just to give vaguely helpful hints, and disappear for several pages.
Adding onto the fantasy elements, in general, I liked the story’s inclusion of Jewishness. I’m not used to reading about queer— especially trans— characters wholly embracing religion, instead of thinking they should separate from it because of their queerness. And it wasn’t just present in the plot’s mythos, but affirming A. That, and the way the rabbi and her husband’s differing interpretations of the Torah shaped A’s reactions to different moments, were very intriguing!
Even if I wouldn’t recommend this, I’m very interested in knowing what actual readers within the middle grade demographic think of it. (I just don’t know which kids I know would check this out, though, because of how heavy it is, and it being very triggering towards the trans people it’s aimed towards.)
I think I’m just gonna have to throw in the towel and admit that Kyle Lukoff’s writing isn’t for me. The beginning hooked me in, and I was excited for what the main friend group dynamic would entail, but the further I got in, the more it just read to me like there wasn’t much of a true bond or solidarity. For a book with messaging based around debunking the typical “chosen one” fantasy story that reduces the hero’s friends to sidekicks and plot elements, the side characters did not have much substance, in my opinion. (Though, I did find some of them interesting— the rabbi and her family, for instance.)
A is… complicated. I sympathize with him, and understand his mindset, but I still disliked his arrogance. I’m all for unlikeable protagonists, but his growth happened briefly and abruptly. I also found some of the dialogue to be awkward, but I think some of that can be attributed to the characters being snotty younger Gen Z queers trying to be as radical as they can.
However, I liked the Shades and their allegory. Conceptually, they’re awesome, and their existence also didn’t overshadow real-world (and human-created) bigotry, which was something I feared would happen. They’re also threatening and creepy, and some of the scenes involving A fighting them off (in more than one way) are why I didn’t rate this book below 2 stars. But I didn’t like the golem character that assisted A, its purpose was essentially just to give vaguely helpful hints, and disappear for several pages.
Adding onto the fantasy elements, in general, I liked the story’s inclusion of Jewishness. I’m not used to reading about queer— especially trans— characters wholly embracing religion, instead of thinking they should separate from it because of their queerness. And it wasn’t just present in the plot’s mythos, but affirming A. That, and the way the rabbi and her husband’s differing interpretations of the Torah shaped A’s reactions to different moments, were very intriguing!
Even if I wouldn’t recommend this, I’m very interested in knowing what actual readers within the middle grade demographic think of it. (I just don’t know which kids I know would check this out, though, because of how heavy it is, and it being very triggering towards the trans people it’s aimed towards.)
September 15, 2025
Stunning. Magical. Important.
June 28, 2025
What a terrible book.
First off, the author tells lies like there's no tomorrow. He continues to try to convince us that if your girl has cramps, or is uncomfortable with her newly forming chest, and spouts that she wishes she were a boy (i.e. didn't have to go through the difficulties of a girl's puberty), then she must actually be a boy. He also tries to convince us that there are no Tomboys; they must all be trans boys.
Secondly, the author portrays those who disagree with him as demons. Literally. Anyone who disagrees with him in this book is either surrounded by demons or is a chicken-footed demon themself.
Then the author himself is extremely bigoted, and shows it nonstop. He tells nonstop demeaning lies about Christians, things like how they their belief in devils is just a way to ignore mental illness and the like. He even makes fun of Chick-fil-A for not being open on Sundays. How pathetic.
The book also implies that police are bad, that parents shouldn't make any decisions in their kids' lives (even though schools and the government should, as long as it agrees with the author's policies), and that it's bad parenting to try to limit what their 11-year-old kids have access to on their phones. Ugh.
And the protagonist, A, what just plain awful. He was a jerk, and so was everyone else.
On the other hand, as opposed to his award-winning novel Too Bright to See, this book actually had a plot. A poor one, but a plot nonetheless. So I was even considering possibly giving this a 2-star rating. Until...
At the end of the book, the author condones violence. Big time. And he justifies it by saying it's not really violence if you aren't literally killing people. But throwing a brick through a congressman's computer? Beating up a bunch of orderlies, just doing their job, because you don't like who they work for? And saying that it's okay because you didn't kill anyone? And ripping apart the building to boot? The author is literally telling young kids to go perform violent behavior, including destruction of property and inflicting injury to others, just because they fundamentally disagree with radical leftists. Totally despicable.
First off, the author tells lies like there's no tomorrow. He continues to try to convince us that if your girl has cramps, or is uncomfortable with her newly forming chest, and spouts that she wishes she were a boy (i.e. didn't have to go through the difficulties of a girl's puberty), then she must actually be a boy. He also tries to convince us that there are no Tomboys; they must all be trans boys.
Secondly, the author portrays those who disagree with him as demons. Literally. Anyone who disagrees with him in this book is either surrounded by demons or is a chicken-footed demon themself.
Then the author himself is extremely bigoted, and shows it nonstop. He tells nonstop demeaning lies about Christians, things like how they their belief in devils is just a way to ignore mental illness and the like. He even makes fun of Chick-fil-A for not being open on Sundays. How pathetic.
The book also implies that police are bad, that parents shouldn't make any decisions in their kids' lives (even though schools and the government should, as long as it agrees with the author's policies), and that it's bad parenting to try to limit what their 11-year-old kids have access to on their phones. Ugh.
And the protagonist, A, what just plain awful. He was a jerk, and so was everyone else.
On the other hand, as opposed to his award-winning novel Too Bright to See, this book actually had a plot. A poor one, but a plot nonetheless. So I was even considering possibly giving this a 2-star rating. Until...
At the end of the book, the author condones violence. Big time. And he justifies it by saying it's not really violence if you aren't literally killing people. But throwing a brick through a congressman's computer? Beating up a bunch of orderlies, just doing their job, because you don't like who they work for? And saying that it's okay because you didn't kill anyone? And ripping apart the building to boot? The author is literally telling young kids to go perform violent behavior, including destruction of property and inflicting injury to others, just because they fundamentally disagree with radical leftists. Totally despicable.
April 5, 2025
In all honesty, this is probably closer to a 4.5 star read, but I'm happy to put 5 stars for several reasons. First, the MC is a Jewish trans man. The gender identity alone is a plus, but the religion adds so much here. Because... second, the use of Jewish folklore and theology was fantastic and enlightening. It was refreshing to see a different world being represented. Third, there was good interpersonal discussions about identity - in many aspects, from religion to gender to sexuality. There was a little talk of intersectionality, but there could have been so much more. The best part was how it was clear and there was a truth often lingering but unspoken that the LGBTQIA+ community is not a monolith as it is often viewed. There is a vast diversity of experience and identity that can largely be whitewashed (and more often than not White-washed or White-Cis-Male-washed if we are to be honest here). Even each letter of the Alphabet Mafia is far from monolithic. As in this book, a trans man and a trans woman have vastly different experiences. This intersectionality approach was great, but could have been expanded on so much more. Nevertheless, this was a great, fun read. The ending was a bit top abrupt and wrapped up in a bow, and I felt almost cheated out of some more expansion on the aftermath and even the closing action with the parents. It just seemed too quick. And yet, it was still a fine read - entertaining and enlightening.
March 25, 2025
Rep: white Jewish trans boy, white trans girl SC, white agendered SC (no pronouns)
Oof, how a book managed to be too heavy and too naive at the same time is crazy. But overall I’ll say this: A was a tool, he was mean and rude and misgendered his friends and didn’t listen to others voices. He has a “growth arc” that lasts a few pages but no honestly I felt like the characters were unusually cruel (all of them) and selfish. Selfish to the bone.
I walked away feeling icky. There was preach of community but no practice at all. Everyone was so selfish and cruel and it made me sad honestly. Lots of queer people being homophobic and hateful.
Oof, how a book managed to be too heavy and too naive at the same time is crazy. But overall I’ll say this: A was a tool, he was mean and rude and misgendered his friends and didn’t listen to others voices. He has a “growth arc” that lasts a few pages but no honestly I felt like the characters were unusually cruel (all of them) and selfish. Selfish to the bone.
I walked away feeling icky. There was preach of community but no practice at all. Everyone was so selfish and cruel and it made me sad honestly. Lots of queer people being homophobic and hateful.
February 20, 2025
loveeeeed this book and I'm so glad it's in the world (now more than ever?!) It's such a great fusion of Jewish mythlogy/lore with contemporary concerns, and I really appreciated the intersectionality and the representation of how even within the trans/NB community folks can microaggress one another and how important it is to listen to and respect each other.
A really special book.
A really special book.
February 25, 2025
Really a 3.5 but I'm going to round up. There were many things I liked about this and some stuff I thought could have been better. I was impressed that a middle grade book talked so openly and truthfully about what trans youth go through like being homeless and committing suicide. I also really liked that most of the characters were three dimensional in their ideologies. A's parents are actually pretty liberal but draw the line at being trans. I liked that A also had some bad takes because being trans doesn't make you magically knowledgable about all things and also being trans doesn't automatically make you a good person. I wasn't too thrilled with the part that basically blamed a mythological being for the bad thoughts in A's head because I think it's important to show that people sometimes have certain thoughts ingrained in them and they need to unlearn certain things. Overall I think the fantasy elements were just ok but mostly and I say this as a Jewish person, there are other things we can be writing about that's not golems!!! Please I beg of you!!!! There are so many books out now about this specific thing we can pick something else I promise!!!!!!!
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September 3, 2025This book took a lot of big swings. And I appreciate that - middle grade readers deserve complex and nuanced fiction. And I even think some of these big swings paid off in a fabulous manner. But the work as a whole didn't stick the landing for me.
As for positives: Lukoff continues to be very good with providing the feelings of a community. I felt like trans youth, Jewish people, and Seattle were all depicted very authentically. He also did a good job of making the transphobic parents feel real and not just like a caricature, as rough as that real depiction could be.
Also, the premise of "anti-trans hate groups are being used as a feeding ground for demons, who foster the hate in people to provide more victims" is just really clever. It's a fresh take!
As for negatives: I think the writing around Sal is very clumsy. Like, I appreciate the attempt to tackle transmisogyny in a middle grade book! But I do not think this was executed well. And I think it got a bit bogged down in the fantasy elements. Finally, I think it was just a bit too long in the middle, and too abrupt at the resolution.
As for positives: Lukoff continues to be very good with providing the feelings of a community. I felt like trans youth, Jewish people, and Seattle were all depicted very authentically. He also did a good job of making the transphobic parents feel real and not just like a caricature, as rough as that real depiction could be.
Also, the premise of "anti-trans hate groups are being used as a feeding ground for demons, who foster the hate in people to provide more victims" is just really clever. It's a fresh take!
As for negatives: I think the writing around Sal is very clumsy. Like, I appreciate the attempt to tackle transmisogyny in a middle grade book! But I do not think this was executed well. And I think it got a bit bogged down in the fantasy elements. Finally, I think it was just a bit too long in the middle, and too abrupt at the resolution.
November 6, 2024
2.5 rounded up to 3
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
this book was definitely 50/50 for me. there were moments that brought tears to my eyes, and other moments that were so grating i had to put it down and come back later.
i felt like the pacing was kind of off. most of the "hero's journey" our main character, A, goes on felt aimless. it was kind of weird how unhelpful the supporting characters were. overall the story bests felt a little disjointed and there were times that it really dragged. i liked the jewish mythology a lot, but i will say there were times that it felt like an infodump.
there are a lot of moments in this book that will have us older gen z queers cringing. it really holds up a mirror to those of us who were snotty little know-it-all baby gays, when we were 14 and just discovered they/them pronouns were an option. for me, this book really walked the line between "annoying in a fond, reminiscent way" and "annoying in an unreadable way."
that said, i'm willing to bet there are a lot of know-it-all 14-year-olds who will cherish this book and the way it represents them. there's a lot of care here, a lot of respect for that feeling of being young and trans and lonely. this is the first queer YA book i've read that i feel like really "speaks the language" of young queer kids, and that's worth something.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
this book was definitely 50/50 for me. there were moments that brought tears to my eyes, and other moments that were so grating i had to put it down and come back later.
i felt like the pacing was kind of off. most of the "hero's journey" our main character, A, goes on felt aimless. it was kind of weird how unhelpful the supporting characters were. overall the story bests felt a little disjointed and there were times that it really dragged. i liked the jewish mythology a lot, but i will say there were times that it felt like an infodump.
there are a lot of moments in this book that will have us older gen z queers cringing. it really holds up a mirror to those of us who were snotty little know-it-all baby gays, when we were 14 and just discovered they/them pronouns were an option. for me, this book really walked the line between "annoying in a fond, reminiscent way" and "annoying in an unreadable way."
that said, i'm willing to bet there are a lot of know-it-all 14-year-olds who will cherish this book and the way it represents them. there's a lot of care here, a lot of respect for that feeling of being young and trans and lonely. this is the first queer YA book i've read that i feel like really "speaks the language" of young queer kids, and that's worth something.
October 15, 2025
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD NOMINATION LONGLIST. I think this is more of a four star but I’m giving it the five to outweigh the trumpy chumps giving it a one. The fantasy/folklore part of it was really well crafted and no complaints on narrative structure. It centers around trans/ gender nonconforming protagonists and sometimes is a bit heavy handed- however, I think some of that makes sense for a YA book. I can see how trans youth would find this book to be exceptionally comforting and cis youth could gain a lot of insight into the lives of gnc peers. I also really like how it the parents of the lead character were feminists/liberals but still harbored and expressed these bigoted views regarding gender identity. Definitely cool to see a book tackle how “acceptance” is preached more than practiced in liberal spaces. Really strong
August 18, 2025
While I admire the message in this book, and whole heartedly believe in the message, I had trouble getting through this story that mixes realistic fiction with fantasy. I am not a fantasy reader and am very unfamiliar with Jewish mythology, so it was rough going for me, but I carried on as I wanted to see the outcome of the main character A, a trans male. I do not condone the violence that A often used to solve some of his harrowing situations and felt that at times the author was trying to shock the reader, though there was a lot of current life relatability. I’d love to know what the target audience, the middle grade reader, thinks of this story.
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October 11, 2024DNF. Remember that episode of Buffy where that guy was tricking all those homeless kids into a cult and it turns out he was a demon? This is like that but on a bigger scale. I didn't love the writing at all, and I'm out.
June 9, 2025
Ever since A came out as trans, his parents have treated him differently. They force him to take classes online, deny him his bar mitzvah, and monitor his phone usage to an extreme degree. They also refuse to accept A as their son, instead forcing him to attend weekly meetings with an anti-trans group called Save Our Sons And Daughters (or SO SAD). At SO SAD, the parents of gender diverse youth deadname and misgender their kids and talk about how the “transgender craze” is taking their children away from them. The only silver lining is that these meetings are the only times when A gets to see other kids like him, including his best friends, Yarrow and Sal. Then one day, after Yarrow fights back against the horrible treatment, the SO SAD group leader advises Yarrow’s parents to send their child away to a special hospital. Soon, A discovers that this hospital is run by demons that are sucking the souls out of gender diverse kids. Now a golem straight out of Jewish folklore is expecting A to save his friends and the whole trans community, but how can one kid who can’t even decide on a name rescue anyone, including himself?
I really enjoyed getting to explore the world of Jewish folklore and mythology and how that intersects with transness. In the author’s note at the end, Kyle Lukoff shares how he and A have many similarities, including being trans men, coming from Jewish families, and scrounging food from the trash of grocery stores. These shared experiences added a layer of authenticity to the book that made the story hit home. I feel like A had a lot of fantastic character growth, both in terms of self-acceptance and inner strength as well as in recognizing that the struggles others face are not the exact same as his own, or that his problems are the only ones that matter. That said, during the first half of the book, A was being so negative and rude to Sal that I began to dislike him and struggled to keep reading. While that does play into some key plot points later, I personally found it to be a little over the top.
Because A was so in his own head the whole time, I also felt like I didn’t really ever get to know Sal, Yarrow, or any of the characters A meets at the Transhack. I’m a sucker for found family and this was the perfect opportunity to have a great found family story, but that part of the plot just didn’t come through for me the way I was hoping it would. I also really wanted to see A choose his name, and I’m curious why the author chose not to include that in the story. Overall, though, this book deals with a lot of heavy topics and sensitive issues that are handled quite well by the author, and I think that if everyone in the world read this book, society would be in a much better place.
I really enjoyed getting to explore the world of Jewish folklore and mythology and how that intersects with transness. In the author’s note at the end, Kyle Lukoff shares how he and A have many similarities, including being trans men, coming from Jewish families, and scrounging food from the trash of grocery stores. These shared experiences added a layer of authenticity to the book that made the story hit home. I feel like A had a lot of fantastic character growth, both in terms of self-acceptance and inner strength as well as in recognizing that the struggles others face are not the exact same as his own, or that his problems are the only ones that matter. That said, during the first half of the book, A was being so negative and rude to Sal that I began to dislike him and struggled to keep reading. While that does play into some key plot points later, I personally found it to be a little over the top.
Because A was so in his own head the whole time, I also felt like I didn’t really ever get to know Sal, Yarrow, or any of the characters A meets at the Transhack. I’m a sucker for found family and this was the perfect opportunity to have a great found family story, but that part of the plot just didn’t come through for me the way I was hoping it would. I also really wanted to see A choose his name, and I’m curious why the author chose not to include that in the story. Overall, though, this book deals with a lot of heavy topics and sensitive issues that are handled quite well by the author, and I think that if everyone in the world read this book, society would be in a much better place.
December 20, 2025
hear me out on why I have given this a one-star review.
sometimes I feel books can be too heavy-handed and in my opinion that is the case with a world worth saving. One thing I appreciated was that Kyle said in the author notes that he appreciated those who even hated the book but believed it should be read. did indeed read the book.. I fall into that camp.
admittedly, I am not the audience for this book. however, I know plenty of people who are. this book will offer windows, sliding glass doors and mirrors for LGBT+ youth and those who are looking for answers on how to be an ally or for those seeking to find themselves represented.
I read this book solely for the mock Newbery committee that I am on and I'm going to offer a not popular thought, especially since this book is a National Book Award finalist. I do not believe this book has staying power. I think it is for a specific time and place in history; it is for a special audience of people. when I look at criteria for the Newbery award, things like delineation of setting, of characters... nothing fully stands out to me.
what I did appreciate is that this book truly introduces Jewish mythology in ways that I had never explored before. indeed, I found that unique and the saving quality for me in the book.. although I also did skim the final third of it.
it was a hard read for me because a lot of who I am as a person was bashed in this book, namely a religious person. it does make me wonder how those on the real Newbery committee handle books that they struggle with. how can you separate who you are and yet still think critically of literature? I found myself asking that question repeatedly as I read this book.
I definitely believe this book deserves a place on library shelves. indeed, I'm waiting for it to be challenged by those seeking to remove it and I will defend its placement because that is what a true librarian should do. I also know readers who will love this book. I am not one of them and you know what that is okay
sometimes I feel books can be too heavy-handed and in my opinion that is the case with a world worth saving. One thing I appreciated was that Kyle said in the author notes that he appreciated those who even hated the book but believed it should be read. did indeed read the book.. I fall into that camp.
admittedly, I am not the audience for this book. however, I know plenty of people who are. this book will offer windows, sliding glass doors and mirrors for LGBT+ youth and those who are looking for answers on how to be an ally or for those seeking to find themselves represented.
I read this book solely for the mock Newbery committee that I am on and I'm going to offer a not popular thought, especially since this book is a National Book Award finalist. I do not believe this book has staying power. I think it is for a specific time and place in history; it is for a special audience of people. when I look at criteria for the Newbery award, things like delineation of setting, of characters... nothing fully stands out to me.
what I did appreciate is that this book truly introduces Jewish mythology in ways that I had never explored before. indeed, I found that unique and the saving quality for me in the book.. although I also did skim the final third of it.
it was a hard read for me because a lot of who I am as a person was bashed in this book, namely a religious person. it does make me wonder how those on the real Newbery committee handle books that they struggle with. how can you separate who you are and yet still think critically of literature? I found myself asking that question repeatedly as I read this book.
I definitely believe this book deserves a place on library shelves. indeed, I'm waiting for it to be challenged by those seeking to remove it and I will defend its placement because that is what a true librarian should do. I also know readers who will love this book. I am not one of them and you know what that is okay
April 16, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
I have mixed feelings on this one, on one hand I think it handles topics I would never expect from a middle grade novel (what do you mean a MG book is talking about transmisogyny, it’s crazy /pos) and almost definitely should come with some kind of content warning. On the other hand I feel like there’s way too many side characters and they’re quite under developed.
A is a troubled protagonist to say the least. He’s quite unlikeable through the majority of this book, lacking in empathy and making assumptions of people. Picture your 12-14 year old know it all self who has spent far too much time online and that’s A. A is ultimately trying to figure himself out still and he’s a teenager so he’s gonna be a bit of an asshole that’s just the way it is.
I’m just glad Sal was there to finally knock some sense into him even if he still took a little too long to come around.
Overall this is an extremely topical MG book for our current political climate, if you’re a trans person looking for a book with a triumphant ending despite the heart ache then i’d say it’s worth the read.
cw: conversation therapy, transphobia, emotional abuse, suicide mentioned, antisemitism
I have mixed feelings on this one, on one hand I think it handles topics I would never expect from a middle grade novel (what do you mean a MG book is talking about transmisogyny, it’s crazy /pos) and almost definitely should come with some kind of content warning. On the other hand I feel like there’s way too many side characters and they’re quite under developed.
A is a troubled protagonist to say the least. He’s quite unlikeable through the majority of this book, lacking in empathy and making assumptions of people. Picture your 12-14 year old know it all self who has spent far too much time online and that’s A. A is ultimately trying to figure himself out still and he’s a teenager so he’s gonna be a bit of an asshole that’s just the way it is.
I’m just glad Sal was there to finally knock some sense into him even if he still took a little too long to come around.
Overall this is an extremely topical MG book for our current political climate, if you’re a trans person looking for a book with a triumphant ending despite the heart ache then i’d say it’s worth the read.
cw: conversation therapy, transphobia, emotional abuse, suicide mentioned, antisemitism
December 26, 2024
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Goodness, where to start with this one. I wish I had this book when I was younger. I wish the world had books like this when I was younger.
This was a pretty intense and emotional read for middle grade. But I think it was also real and honest and important as well. Young people's struggles need to be heard, too. Young people need to be taught to fight for who they are. Young people deserve to know that they have the right to exist.
Watching A fight for himself and his friends brought tears to my eyes so many times. I lost count of how often I choked up. But the humor in it added relief and a refreshing air, while the magic system creates excitment and intrigue to help balance out the heavy emotions.
Overall, I really loved this story and thought it well written. The ending was a bit rushed for my to be fully satisfied, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait to buy a physical copy.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Goodness, where to start with this one. I wish I had this book when I was younger. I wish the world had books like this when I was younger.
This was a pretty intense and emotional read for middle grade. But I think it was also real and honest and important as well. Young people's struggles need to be heard, too. Young people need to be taught to fight for who they are. Young people deserve to know that they have the right to exist.
Watching A fight for himself and his friends brought tears to my eyes so many times. I lost count of how often I choked up. But the humor in it added relief and a refreshing air, while the magic system creates excitment and intrigue to help balance out the heavy emotions.
Overall, I really loved this story and thought it well written. The ending was a bit rushed for my to be fully satisfied, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait to buy a physical copy.
July 9, 2025
I was expecting something very different from what this story is. And I am so pleased with this story as it is! It is a mix of Jewish mythology with golems and sheds. It is the story of A, his parents, and the SOSAD (Save Our Sons and Daughters) meetings that he has to attend with his parents. It is the story of Yarrow and Sal and so many others who want to help. A is trans, but his parents make him go to these SOSAD meetings to help him realize his error in his decision. Several other trans kids who were attending the meeting stopped going because they were placed in a more aggressive treatment plan. And Sal and A are close to that next step. A is visited by a golem (sort of), who helps him see that his mission is to speak up for trans rights and medical treatments.
There is so much more going on than the plot. A grows and learns how selfish his thoughts toward other trans are as he continues to fight against the sheyds, ultimately with the help of his friends.
What makes this book so amazing (other than the creative plot) is how gently, honestly, and without judgment the author conveys the importance of everyone having a place in this world.
There is so much more going on than the plot. A grows and learns how selfish his thoughts toward other trans are as he continues to fight against the sheyds, ultimately with the help of his friends.
What makes this book so amazing (other than the creative plot) is how gently, honestly, and without judgment the author conveys the importance of everyone having a place in this world.
February 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for a copy of this book!
It was definitely a fun time. This was about an adventure of a Jewish trans fourteen year old learning about his place in the world, his friends, even a otherworldly thing helping him on his way. Escaping transphobic people, including his own parents. I really like how all of the characters grew from this experience as people. I feel like we all need a book like this right now.
The thing that was hard for me, was the Jewish aspect. I just didn’t understand the terminology and words, but that is on me. Also, it didn’t feel like a fourteen year old story.
-lgbtq+
-conversion therapy
-transphobia
-found family
-supernatural
-Jewish mythology
-character growth
It was definitely a fun time. This was about an adventure of a Jewish trans fourteen year old learning about his place in the world, his friends, even a otherworldly thing helping him on his way. Escaping transphobic people, including his own parents. I really like how all of the characters grew from this experience as people. I feel like we all need a book like this right now.
The thing that was hard for me, was the Jewish aspect. I just didn’t understand the terminology and words, but that is on me. Also, it didn’t feel like a fourteen year old story.
-lgbtq+
-conversion therapy
-transphobia
-found family
-supernatural
-Jewish mythology
-character growth
April 21, 2025
Maybe it's just me, b/c everyone else seems to love this one. Transgender boy A is struggling to make his parents understand his new world view. Unfortunately they're still dragging him to weekly SOSAD (Save Our Sons and Daughters) meetings at a local church. The leader of the SOSAD group is a particularly horrible person - completely unsymphathetic to what her charges are going through. To the point of having lost her own transgender daughter to suicide b/c she wouldn't accept her. This part was moving and disturbing, but when the SOSAD leader turns out to be a demon and A the chosen one who can save the world, I got a little thrown off. A moving portrayal of a transgender kid and all they deal with.
August 27, 2025
Someone described this as very trans and very Jewish and that is accurate. While my enjoyment was lessened by the personality and behaviors of the main character I understand that in order to grow you have to start somewhere. I was torn on the fantasy elements because people who thrive on the pain of others (especially children) are absolutely demonic, but it also feels like letting them off the hook by accepting them as anything other than horrifically human.
April 24, 2025
I wanted to like this book because I had heard so many good things about it and I love that it is about Jewish mythology. However, I just really didn’t like the characters and couldn’t find myself rooting for them. The “friendships” didn’t seem like actual friendships and while A learned quite a bit about themselves, I felt that overall there was little character development.
October 29, 2024
3.5 stars
Since coming out to his parents, fourteen-year-old trans boy A Izenson’s life has grown increasingly bleak and confined as his parents force him to attend Save Our Sons and Daughters, a “support group” for victims of the “transgender craze,” cut him off from his friends, and subject him to constant misgendering and deadnaming. His holding pattern, trying to keep his head above the water until he can escape his parent’s household, finally breaks when his friend Yarrow, a fellow forced attendee of SOSAD, disappears, and A’s attempts to get answers instead reveal a world of supernatural threats.
Demons fuel the fight against trans rights to feed on the suffering it brings. All around him, A begins to see the malevolent sheydim swaying the people’s minds towards hatred. And a strange golem made of wind and trash follows him with cryptic messages about his part to play in an ancient struggle.
Thrust into the fight and forced on the run, A and Sal, a trans girl from SOSAD, must figure out how to survive, much less take on threats from both the mundane and supernatural worlds at once.
A was such a frustrating character at times. There’s a secondary focus on intra-community issues, specifically the ways we can get caught up in our own struggles or those of our sub-groups and not be good allies to other (often more vulnerable) members of our community. The story explores this by making A increasingly self-absorbed and unempathetic towards his friend Sal in very overt ways. Obviously, it’s to serve a purpose, but, man, does it get frustrating. As an adult, I think I have more sympathy for A being a fourteen-year-old in a truly miserable, stressful situation, but also find the way his flaws are portrayed to be sort of heavy-handed. I wonder how I would have taken it when I was in the target audience, if I would have found him too irritating (and, ironically, not have had much empathy for him), or if I wouldn’t have noticed/minded the blunt approach as much.
I enjoyed how Jewish mythology was incorporated and how A’s kind-of, sort-of chosen one schtick was written.
There was plentiful discussion of different beliefs within Judaism and how they do and don’t fit with everything A is discovering. It meshed real-world beliefs with the interpretations and choices that fit the story. The golem manifests this in a fun way, starting as a very unconventional iteration of a golem and eventually coming to understand that it only latched on to that identity and might be something entirely new. It was an interesting way to address the fact that the myth did not quite fit what the author needed and it was sweet to see a couple of trans kids help an ancient, inhuman being start to realize it can define itself.
A being chosen but not The Chosen One was a good choice for his character and the book's themes led him to have some arrogance and bull-headed tendencies while at the same time feeding his insecurities and providing a way to wrap it all up nicely. He isn't special except in the ways that everyone is. He's chosen, but so were others before him and so could others replace him. It fits.
Since coming out to his parents, fourteen-year-old trans boy A Izenson’s life has grown increasingly bleak and confined as his parents force him to attend Save Our Sons and Daughters, a “support group” for victims of the “transgender craze,” cut him off from his friends, and subject him to constant misgendering and deadnaming. His holding pattern, trying to keep his head above the water until he can escape his parent’s household, finally breaks when his friend Yarrow, a fellow forced attendee of SOSAD, disappears, and A’s attempts to get answers instead reveal a world of supernatural threats.
Demons fuel the fight against trans rights to feed on the suffering it brings. All around him, A begins to see the malevolent sheydim swaying the people’s minds towards hatred. And a strange golem made of wind and trash follows him with cryptic messages about his part to play in an ancient struggle.
Thrust into the fight and forced on the run, A and Sal, a trans girl from SOSAD, must figure out how to survive, much less take on threats from both the mundane and supernatural worlds at once.
A was such a frustrating character at times. There’s a secondary focus on intra-community issues, specifically the ways we can get caught up in our own struggles or those of our sub-groups and not be good allies to other (often more vulnerable) members of our community. The story explores this by making A increasingly self-absorbed and unempathetic towards his friend Sal in very overt ways. Obviously, it’s to serve a purpose, but, man, does it get frustrating. As an adult, I think I have more sympathy for A being a fourteen-year-old in a truly miserable, stressful situation, but also find the way his flaws are portrayed to be sort of heavy-handed. I wonder how I would have taken it when I was in the target audience, if I would have found him too irritating (and, ironically, not have had much empathy for him), or if I wouldn’t have noticed/minded the blunt approach as much.
I enjoyed how Jewish mythology was incorporated and how A’s kind-of, sort-of chosen one schtick was written.
There was plentiful discussion of different beliefs within Judaism and how they do and don’t fit with everything A is discovering. It meshed real-world beliefs with the interpretations and choices that fit the story. The golem manifests this in a fun way, starting as a very unconventional iteration of a golem and eventually coming to understand that it only latched on to that identity and might be something entirely new. It was an interesting way to address the fact that the myth did not quite fit what the author needed and it was sweet to see a couple of trans kids help an ancient, inhuman being start to realize it can define itself.
A being chosen but not The Chosen One was a good choice for his character and the book's themes led him to have some arrogance and bull-headed tendencies while at the same time feeding his insecurities and providing a way to wrap it all up nicely. He isn't special except in the ways that everyone is. He's chosen, but so were others before him and so could others replace him. It fits.
December 19, 2024
I got an Advance Readers Copy of this book from work and it was the first time I ever got to read an ARC — very cool!
I loved this book a lot. Because it is meant to be a children’s book, I was expecting it to feel a bit elementary to read, but it definitely did not feel that way. I learned a lot from this book: random aspects of Jewish mythology, more about the trans experience and how at-risk trans kids are (in so many different ways), and even some new vocab words. I definitely would recommend everyone read it!
The only reason I won’t give it 5 stars is because I think there are still a handful of books I like more than this one… but not really sure why.
I loved this book a lot. Because it is meant to be a children’s book, I was expecting it to feel a bit elementary to read, but it definitely did not feel that way. I learned a lot from this book: random aspects of Jewish mythology, more about the trans experience and how at-risk trans kids are (in so many different ways), and even some new vocab words. I definitely would recommend everyone read it!
The only reason I won’t give it 5 stars is because I think there are still a handful of books I like more than this one… but not really sure why.
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