Freeing Finch

by Ginny Rorby

From the author of Hurt Go Happy, winner of ALA's Schneider Family Book Award, comes Freeing Finch, the inspiring story of a transgender girl and a stray dog who overcome adversity to find love, home, and a place to belong.

When her father leaves and her mother passes away soon afterward, Finch can't help feeling abandoned. Now she's stuck living with her stepfather and his new wife. They're mostly nice, but they don't believe the one true thing Finch knows about herself: that she's a girl, even though she was born in a boy's body.

Thankfully, she has Maddy, a neighbor and animal rescuer who accepts her for who she is. Finch helps Maddy care for a menagerie of lost and lonely creatures, including a scared, stray dog who needs a family and home as much as she does. As she earns the dog's trust, Finch realizes she must also learn to trust the people in her life--even if they are the last people she expected to love her and help her to be true to herself.

Genres: Middle Grade, LGBT, Animals, Dogs, Fiction, Young Adult, Family

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2019

About the author

Ginny Rorby was raised in Winter Park, Florida, and lived in Miami during her career as a Pan American flight attendant. Midway through that career, she enrolled in the University of Miami to pursue an undergraduate degree in biology, graduated and changed direction again. She went on to receive an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University. Her goal, after wrapping up her flying career and her graduate studies, was to move someplace where she would never be hot again. She now lives on the chilly coast of northern California. Ginny is the author 6 novels for Middle Grade and Young Adults readers: Freeing Finch, How to Speak Dolphin, Lost in the River of Grass, winner of the 2012 / 2013 Sunshine State Young Readers Award; Hurt Go Happy, winner of the 2008 American Library Association’s Schneider Family Book Award. The Outside of a Horse and Dolphin Sky. Ginny is a past director of the Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference.
Her most recent novel, Like Dust, I Rise, is a Coming of Age novel set in Texas during the Dust Bowl.

Reviews

[Dun's · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character in this YA novel is a transgender girl, Finch, who is dealing with losses, bullying, and finding a sense of belonging. The story is being told from Finch's perspective, and it's contemplative, often sad, and heartwarming. My favorite character in the book is Maddy, Finch's neighbor who is an animal rescuer and whisperer.

Thank you for the copy I received through Goodreads giveaways. I'd recommend this for upper middle grade readers (aged 12 and older).

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC via Netgalley. Oh boy, how to put this. This book is about a trans protagonist but it doesn't feel like the author has really internalized how bad transphobia feels to the person on the receiving end of it. Finch is trans. Her mother is dead, leaving her with only one supportive adult in her life: Maddy, the grandmotherly next-door neighbor. Her stepfather and her stepfather's new wife misgender her constantly, but Maddy tells her that she should appreciate that they love her and are doing their best because... they're a better option than her deadbeat bio-dad, who took off after her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Finch is terrified that puberty will out her to her classmates, who already can tell she's different somehow and bully her, and that she won't be able to get blockers because, again, her guardians don't believe in being trans (and have started "suggesting" religious conversion therapy). THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE HORRORSHOW, even before Finch's stepfather physically assaults her (but only once, and he's sorry, so it doesn't come up again). But Finch manages to win an abused stray dog's trust! This is a metaphor for how her step-parents eventually come around and start to support her in the end! So it's all okay! NOPE NOT OKAY. Refusing to accept your child's gender identity is abuse! It makes your kid suicidal! Why was this little girl left in the care of people who didn't believe she was a girl, why is this described as a final act of love from her mother who wanted to make sure she was taken care of, why is Finch left to suffer the horrific fear that she'll be forced to experience puberty as a boy because nobody tells her that Maddy is her legal guardian! (I'm not even getting into a number of other terrifying things that happen to Finch including Maddy almost dying, her one friend who knows and accepts that she's trans and protects her from bullies abruptly moving away, and her dog almost getting put down by animal control.) I'm just. So tired. An adult's redemption arc doesn't trump the trauma they inflicted on a child before they realized they were wrong. The author is not trans, and they don't seem to have workshopped this idea with people who transitioned in childhood. I know that this is a (horrible) experience that real people have, but it's frustrating to read it in a kids' book that doesn't seem to realize how horrible it is. As a final note, the writing is fine, it's just the content that's giving me pause.

[Jeimy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would be an asset to my collection of LGBTQ+ titles in classroom library, but I was underwhelmed. After researching the author I learned that her interest lies more in animal rights which makes sense. The experience of reading it reinforced my commitment to buy #OwnVoices when it comes to LGBTQ+ books.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was wet garbage. Read it if you like tragedy porn.

[Norma Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a grownup who loves books about and for young people. My new favorite is "Freeing Finch," the story of a young girl who finds herself trapped in a boy's body.
When I was growing up, the world was strictly binary, with no tolerance for anything between. We had tomboy girls and sissy boys, but everyone was expected to fit into their assigned slots, find a suitable partner of the opposite sex, marry, and reproduce. I am enchanted with our new world where gender is a spectrum and a fashion model can wear a ruffled dress while showing chest hair.
Finch, the hero of Rorby's sixth book, is a plucky kid on the cusp of puberty, fighting to claim her identity before hormones lock her into manhood. Unfortunately, she is underage, and under the control of a hyper-masculine stepfather and a conservative stepmother. We watch as she figures her way out, with the help of an understanding neighbor and two brave friends.
There's a dog, too, with as tough a story as Finch's. And that's what I love about Rorby's books: if you help an animal, the good deed rebounds onto the giver. I expect that's the way it works in real life, too.
I laughed and I wept. I longed to take the dog Ben home and to take Finch clothes shopping. There are many children who feel different and maybe don't have a neighbor like Maddy or friends like Sherri and Gabe. But they have this book.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a heterosexual woman raised and imprinted with the values of the 1950’s, I confess it is difficult to overcome my early imprinting about sexuality. Boys are boys. Girls are girls. Period. However, research has shown that there are gray areas in between. These findings, along with books like “Freeing Finch,” help my brainwashed mind accept the reality that gender identification encompasses more than two.

Ginny Rorby tells the story of a transgender teen with compassion, yet doesn’t avoid the struggles this child endures. In the end, Finch rises above these obstacles to start becoming her true self. It is a brave story that is thankfully being shared with the world. It is a must read for young adults and grownups alike.

[Johanna Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

At its heart, this affecting YA novel is about belonging, about finding one's place in the world. Finch Delgado's gutless father has taken off; her mother is dead. Finch lives with her unemployed stepfather, a man she barely knows, and his wife.

Finch is a transgender girl on the cusp of puberty. Ginny Rorby does not belabor this aspect of the story, but treats it as another challenge for Finch, a challenge no more or less momentous than the others. Rorby has drawn a fully realized adolescent, one all readers, particularly young readers, will cheer on to the satisfying conclusion.

Highly recommended. 5 stars for the compelling story alone. Another 5 for adding to the conversation.

[Jessie_Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm hesitant to say that this is a cute story because it has so much truth about being transgender, and not a lot of that is cute. But there are a lot of nice moments in this book. The characters were fun to read. They didn't all understand what Finch was going through but they were all supportive in their own ways and it was great to read about. I think that this will be a great book for younger kids to read to get a better understanding of transgender people. I wish I had a book like this when I was younger.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely, just lovely

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freeing Finch is a beautifully written, middle-grade novel. Rorby deftly weaves together so many difficult-to-handle issues together with a sensitive touch. I noticed tears coming to my eyes multiple times as I was reading, yet at its core this is inherently a hopeful tale with broad appeal to readers of all ages and types.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of an advanced reader giveaway. This is a heartwarming, sad and educational story about a young transgender girl. She is surrounded by loss but learns there is support and love to be found if you can recognize it.

[Namrata]

I don't even have words for how excited I am to read this book!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book from beginning to end..even if it did make me tear up a couple of times !!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. So glad to see issues so close to our and many other families being addressed...in a heart felt and genuine manner

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Freeing Finch through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Freeing Finch comes from the mind that brought us Hurt Go Happy. Ginny Rorby has been known for her stories that seem to touch the hearts of its readers, and Freeing Finch is no exception.
Finch always knew that she was a girl, even from a young age. It didn't matter what her birth certificate or classmates said. She knew who she was. This is a fact that held true, even as her father left, even as her mother passed away. And even as her stepparents resisted what she fundamentally knew.
Finch also knew that she was going to help and protect the people and animals closest to her heart. For friendship should always be rewarded with friendship. Loyalty with loyalty. It's the only way to survive a world such as this.

“Absolutely. Hundreds. Thousands, even. You're what your are in your head and heart, Finch, not what is says on your birth certificate.”

Warnings: Freeing Finch covers a couple of heavier subjects. The biggest of which is bullying, which Finch faces a decent amount of. She has to deal with it from her classmates, and at the time her stepparents and other adults as well. Their transphobia bleeds into the way they treat Finch. Also in this novel, there are some animals that do get hurt. But they'll be okay, I promise.

Freeing Finch was a heartfelt and delightful read. It followed the young Finch on her journey, showing us everything she comes up against. And some of those events were truly horrible and heartbreaking. No child should have to lose their parents in these ways, yet Finch did. And yet she survived and perhaps became even stronger because of it.
This novel was the embodiment of a character driven story. Finch was the focal point of every moment, with her emotions or actions setting a baseline on how the readers should react. It was beautifully written.
This novel is nuanced and oh so emotional. Finch's struggle was down to earth in the way that many people can relate to – regardless of if they are in the exact same situation or not. It's impossible not to feel empathetic to dear Finch.
Ginny Rorby did an absolutely wonderful job with Freeing Finch. I don't think I've had a novel tug at my heartstrings quite as Freeing Finch did. At least, not anytime recently. And for that I know this novel will hold a special place in my heart.

For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Susan Bono · Rating 5 out of 5]

A human may be born with the capacity to cope with grief, bullying, and intolerance, but the skills to do so effectively must be learned. How and when these lessons are delivered is a subject of great debate. Where can we safely begin?

Why not start, as author Ginny Rorby often has, with a girl on the cusp of adolescence who struggles to be understood? Rorby has successfully explored some of the challenges children face when deafness (Hurt Go Happy), autism (How to Speak Dolphin), and PTSD (The Outside of a Horse) are part of the hand they are dealt. And, as all her fans, young and old, have come to expect, every one of her stories gets readers up close and personal with an animal who needs help. One of Rorby’s enduring messages is that we will have a better world when human rights and animal rights are fostered with equal fervor.

This time around, Rorby gives us Finch Delgado, a young girl about to enter adolescence trapped in a male body. Like the stray dog she winds up befriending, she is misunderstood, lonely, and grieving. How the pair manage to find the support and courage they need to face the future makes for an absorbing, uplifting story.

There has been criticism by some who claim Freeing Finch does not include enough confusion and pain, that Rorby does not go far enough in portraying the suffering of transgender children. But for many parents and teachers who want help with the conversations needed to open hearts and minds, why not start with a writer young readers can trust? Rorby did not set out to write the definitive story of what it means to be transgender. She lets Finch be who she is: one child among many whose story matters.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Finch has known since a young age that she was a girl, instead of her biologically assigned gender. Her father constantly pushed her to do typical boy things, but that just wasn't her. Finch's mother accepted and embraced her daughter's identity. When Finch's father left, she became extremely close with her mother. Shortly thereafter, Finch's mother began to battle cancer. Near the end of her life, she met and remarried Finch's stepfather. After her death, Finch stayed to live with her stepfather and his new wife. Even though the two make comments about Finch needing to present as a boy, she doesn't. Finch's only ally and outlet come from her elderly neighbor, Maddy, who rescues and rehabs animals. Finch helps out, but when Maddy is in an accident and is rushed to the hospital, Maddy worries that she will soon be all alone. Finch is determined to live her truth.

The discussion of living your truth and the power adults have over that was an interesting discussion in this book. I enjoyed how Finch's story was paired with an abandoned dog. It was powerful to see how they were able to emotionally heal each other.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an emotional read for many reasons. Finch, named by his neighbor when he rescued an injured finch is a very conflicted child. His mother went through two rounds of breast cancer before it took her life. His father left long before that. His step-dad Stan and his mother had a little over a year together before she lost her battle with cancer. His step-dad married the home nurse who helped take care of his mother shortly after his wife's death. Finch believes his dad left because of him. His dad couldn't accept the fact that his son claims he is a girl in a boy's body.
When Finch's neighbor Maddy takes a fall off of her roof, Finch steps in to help with the wildlife she rescues. Finch learns through finding new and true friends what it means to be family. This carries over when a dog keeps showing up at Maddy's house and lets Finch befriend it. This is a story about accepting people for who they are.

[zack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely sure how I feel about this one. A lot of it, I liked. Some of it, I didn't like much. I was mostly confused about things concerning Finch's transition. Her step-parents thought it was a phase but kept the school up to date on her being a girl, or what? It didn't make much sense. But I loved her friendship with Maddie. And I loved Ben.

This book was quite heavy at times, but I liked that about it. It doesn't shy away from dealing with heavy topics and I do think Rorby manages to do it quite all right. I would've liked it more if it'd been a bit longer though, or at least wrapped a few things up a bit more nicely. Not necessarily solving those things, but heavier hints towards it. Or something. I don't know.

[Dai Guerra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that broke my heart multiple times and then put it back together. The characters were lovable from the start and I didn't want anything happening to Finch or Maddy. I loved the way that Finch grows into herself and learns how to be herself through so many others. I love the message of a family in this one and how sometimes family looks different than what people might be used to. I really enjoyed how the animals were intertwined in Finch's story, especially the dog, and what Ben meant to her. I thought it was great to see a story that has a transgender child but isn't only about their life as a transgender person.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very moving, engaging middle grade novel about a young trans girl named Finch. While it isn't an own voices book, the author portrayed Finch with respect and dignity.

Finch's dad left and then she lost her mother to cancer, so now she is being raised by her stepdad and his new wife and they don't understand her gender identity. Shy and withdrawn, she doesn't have any friends at school and so the only real bright spot in her day is the time she spends with her neighbour Maddy, an older woman who runs a wildlife rescue on her property. It's a lovely story about loyalty, family and animals—it's very much a story about animals.

Thank you to Raincoast Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[sabsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freeing Finch was an incredibly sweet and tender story of a young trans girl struggling to fit into her step-family in the wake of her mother's death. This book touched on a lot of thing- not just the experience of being young and transgender, but also the poverty and inequality that stills exists amongst those on the fringes of American society, even in our present day.

It was ultimately a really hopeful story about the difference growing up with acceptance and love can make, even when you have little else.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started out really enjoying this book - it's a topic that needs to be covered especially for middle school readers, but it failed the farther it went. Suddenly Finch's stepdad sees the light, his stepmother too. As you start the story the stepparents are not very nice to Finch and don't support her "transgenderness" at all. His dead mom did, his best friend and neighbor always supported her. Too much seemed to just fall into place too well and not very realistically.

[Gail Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story of a tween trans girl dealing with grief, bullying, bumbling stepparents, and coming to terms with her identity. My favorite character (other than Finch) is the neighbor Maddy, who is like an extra parent and best friend in one. I love that Maddy rehabilitates wildlife and that she and Finch share a love of animals (like me). I rarely read middle-grade or YA, but I'm glad I read this one and now I will be adding it to my classroom library of books my students can borrow.

[Wayne Bowmanchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a couple of the other reviews of this book, and although I understand the reactions some have had, I believe in the power of this book. The incredibly personal journey of self discovery is challenging, and this book does not shy away from the ugly parts. Taruma triggers are rampant in the story, but that makes it more relatable. Not a long story, but full of discussion points for meaningful conversation.

[Lolita Olmo · Rating 2 out of 5]

My eight year old was super excited to find a story about a Trans child and a dog. I wish I’d done my usual due diligence. This isn’t written for MG. I cannot understand why certain books that have scenes with fairly graphic abuse are acceptable? And without any content warning. It makes me really upset. My child couldn’t finish it and cried for an hour after the scene with the stepfather. Tired of what seems more and more like YA marketed as MG.

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising amount of nuance, especially for a MG book! Characters with both good and bad qualities. It really felt like these were real people trying to do the right thing (the father figure in particular), and maybe making mistakes, but that's life. And some truly excellent trans representation.

This is a really bad cover though 🙈

[Tashfin Awal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways and have chosen to give my honest opinion about it.
Not typically my genre, but I actually found the story adorable! The journey for people of all genders is extremely difficult, but I still found myself relating and hoping for this girl, and overall, while it wasn't the most eventful plot, it still touched my heart.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just so sweet and heartwarming. This is one of those books that I wish had been around when I was a kid, because if I had read it as an elementary or middle schooler, it would have helped me be more understanding and accepting earlier on. I think this book is especially valuable for kids, but it’s also a great read for adults.