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Call Me Him
Fight. Sleep. Repeat. That's life for 14-year-old SoCal skate-punk Wylie Masterson. Like most teens, Wylie struggles with authority, puberty, and family. But when you’re a transgender male whose body, family, and society insist that you are female, the struggle to break out and live the life you were meant to live becomes a matter of life and death. Born Willow, Wylie wants nothing more than to escape his oppressive SoCal hometown and live the life he was meant to live—as a man, but his overly-religious mother has other plans for her “sweet, lovely daughter.”
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
5 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
River Braun
1 book6 followersRiver Braun is the author of call me him, a young adult novel about identity, belonging, and becoming. A finalist for both the North Street Book Prize and Voyage, River writes with the kind of empathy and insight that only lived experience can bring—having gone through puberty twice and worked with high-risk LGBTQ+ youth. His stories are tender, rebellious, and rooted in the belief that we all deserve to feel seen.
He believes storytelling can dissolve the imagined lines between “us” and “them,” and he writes the books he needed growing up—books that reach across difference and offer a sense of home. These days, he’s a wanderer, finding inspiration in quiet mornings, unfamiliar cities, and the in-between places. He’s currently writing his third novel.
Follow his journey and read more of his writing at onawander.substack.com.
He believes storytelling can dissolve the imagined lines between “us” and “them,” and he writes the books he needed growing up—books that reach across difference and offer a sense of home. These days, he’s a wanderer, finding inspiration in quiet mornings, unfamiliar cities, and the in-between places. He’s currently writing his third novel.
Follow his journey and read more of his writing at onawander.substack.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 11, 2023
Oh fuck this broke my heart.
Ahh, I feel bad for Wylie. He went through a lot. I enjoyed the plotline, some parts made me cry. I hate his mother 😭😭😭😭😭 I love how everything turned out in the end. I love the touches on mental health and transitioning. It always give me hope, books like this.
Proud of you, Wylie my dude 😭🥹
be aware that this is no romance. just a young adult ftm transgender story.
Ahh, I feel bad for Wylie. He went through a lot. I enjoyed the plotline, some parts made me cry. I hate his mother 😭😭😭😭😭 I love how everything turned out in the end. I love the touches on mental health and transitioning. It always give me hope, books like this.
Proud of you, Wylie my dude 😭🥹
be aware that this is no romance. just a young adult ftm transgender story.
June 30, 2022
Struggling to find words for this review. This is the first book I've read with a trans protagonist ... but won't be the last. None will be able to surpass the satisfaction I received from this story. Wow ... just wow! 🤯 In all sincerity ... this should be required reading for every high school student and parent of a teen no matter what that teen's gender/sexual identity. For that matter, it should be required reading for any person who considers themselves to be "woke" or desires to be. I personally learned so much and, because of that, I honestly believe that I'm a better person from having read Wylie's story ... at least i aspire to be. Please read this people. It makes me so sad to think how many won't ever read this amazing story.
November 6, 2022
Outstanding book! This book deserves all the stars! I had never read a book with a trans main character before, but I am glad that I read this one! You’ll feel all the feels reading this book! Highly recommended!
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December 24, 2020I wanted to like this book. A lot. Because the premise is good, a fourteen-year-old trans guy who is searching for his identity and wants to be a boy badly. But his mom still sees him as a girl. And the trigger warnings at the beginning were phenomenal, so few books do it like this. Huge compliment! So I was ready to give a wonderful review! But I can’t give a high rating because of the premise and early trigger warnings.
The story took me by surprise, in this case not a positive one. Wylie is fourteen and one of the first words on the first page was peripheral. Huh, I thought? This is a fourteen-year-old talking. And he talks about peripheral vision? It made me cringe and immediately doubt the story. And it didn’t make it better for me when Wylie lit up a joint going to school, twice (!), even after an encounter with the police (who were homophobic and cruel by the way). And then he shared a joint with his friends, still the same one he lit up twice? Or another one? Huh? I thought again. It’s still early morning! And then when the first bell rang Wylie gave his friend Cam an oblong, white pill ... Huh????. And we’re not done because then Wylie considered for a moment sneaking away to smoke another joint. Yes, another one, at what? 8.30 A.M.? It’s not that I don’t want to read about fourteen-year-olds smoking pot and using pills (although it feels really uncomfortable). It’s just that I didn’t feel the context and all those huh’s made me drop out of the story again and again. And I only read a few pages until then.
I almost never DNF a story but I decided to quit this one. I don’t think this story and I will be friends ever. So I won’t rate Call me him and I hope other readers will like this more than I did.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story took me by surprise, in this case not a positive one. Wylie is fourteen and one of the first words on the first page was peripheral. Huh, I thought? This is a fourteen-year-old talking. And he talks about peripheral vision? It made me cringe and immediately doubt the story. And it didn’t make it better for me when Wylie lit up a joint going to school, twice (!), even after an encounter with the police (who were homophobic and cruel by the way). And then he shared a joint with his friends, still the same one he lit up twice? Or another one? Huh? I thought again. It’s still early morning! And then when the first bell rang Wylie gave his friend Cam an oblong, white pill ... Huh????. And we’re not done because then Wylie considered for a moment sneaking away to smoke another joint. Yes, another one, at what? 8.30 A.M.? It’s not that I don’t want to read about fourteen-year-olds smoking pot and using pills (although it feels really uncomfortable). It’s just that I didn’t feel the context and all those huh’s made me drop out of the story again and again. And I only read a few pages until then.
I almost never DNF a story but I decided to quit this one. I don’t think this story and I will be friends ever. So I won’t rate Call me him and I hope other readers will like this more than I did.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2021
More books need to be out there like this! You dive right in and the characters come alive. The writing feels so authentic - true to how it feels to come of age as an intelligent, soulful, soul searching, individual, where situations, complications & traumatic events, just happen! As we grow up, we then have the job of figuring out where we stand, who we are and how to make heads or tails out of any of it. In first-person, the writing flows like you’re reading someone’s true thoughts. Between eloquent lines there is also that angsty coming of age voice, too. Rare to find a story written with such honesty. The plot’s compelling, the characters aren’t what you expect them to be; they are who they are, with all their human idiosyncrasies.
“I was weightless. My feet traced the arc of my board across the blank canvas of the hot afternoon sky. The pump and rush of blood through my veins was the only thing I heard.”
I could relate to the main character in that my own coming of age was intense; I recognized Wylie. Loved the friendship between Wylie and Alex. Alex is fully dynamic. Willow, Wylie, is super relatable. Reminds me of Caulfield in Catcher. The honesty embedded in the heart-wrenching scenes also helps get you through traumatic events; it doesn’t feel overwritten as so many coming of age novels do for the plot’s sake; instead, it's written simply-as-it-happened, like in reality, because it belongs in the story. It’s part of the process of coming into his own. Won’t say more as I don’t want to spoil! But, it keeps you in the moment while being a page-turner, too. High recommend.
“I was weightless. My feet traced the arc of my board across the blank canvas of the hot afternoon sky. The pump and rush of blood through my veins was the only thing I heard.”
I could relate to the main character in that my own coming of age was intense; I recognized Wylie. Loved the friendship between Wylie and Alex. Alex is fully dynamic. Willow, Wylie, is super relatable. Reminds me of Caulfield in Catcher. The honesty embedded in the heart-wrenching scenes also helps get you through traumatic events; it doesn’t feel overwritten as so many coming of age novels do for the plot’s sake; instead, it's written simply-as-it-happened, like in reality, because it belongs in the story. It’s part of the process of coming into his own. Won’t say more as I don’t want to spoil! But, it keeps you in the moment while being a page-turner, too. High recommend.
January 15, 2021
I don't often write reviews...well, ever really, but there are some books and some messages that need to be heard.
I don't know that I have ever come across a mainstream book that speaks to the complexities of coming-of-age with the raw honest perspective of this transgendered protagonist.
It is an ever-present reality that we need more vivid and vulnerable written accounts from unique and underrepresented individuals to ensure our young people can see themselves in the books they read and the world they live in...but this book offers more than just a platform.
It's a wonderful story that expresses the usual challenges of growing up, layered with the complexities of life as a transgendered youth. It is a story of friendship, of innocence-lost, of strength, of perseverance, and of the many faces of love. The author brings the characters into your heart and forces you to feel each experience with them.
It was both a heartwrenching and uplifting journey...a beautifully emotional ride.
Looking forward to more books by this talented new author.
I don't know that I have ever come across a mainstream book that speaks to the complexities of coming-of-age with the raw honest perspective of this transgendered protagonist.
It is an ever-present reality that we need more vivid and vulnerable written accounts from unique and underrepresented individuals to ensure our young people can see themselves in the books they read and the world they live in...but this book offers more than just a platform.
It's a wonderful story that expresses the usual challenges of growing up, layered with the complexities of life as a transgendered youth. It is a story of friendship, of innocence-lost, of strength, of perseverance, and of the many faces of love. The author brings the characters into your heart and forces you to feel each experience with them.
It was both a heartwrenching and uplifting journey...a beautifully emotional ride.
Looking forward to more books by this talented new author.
March 3, 2021
Vivid, powerfully written, evocative, Call Me Him had me engaged in Wylie's life from the first page. What a tremendous, heartfelt story, bigger and more haunting that you would guess from its fairly short length at just under 260 pages. I started reading and kept reading, finishing in a few hours, because, while you are in this story, you want what Wylie wants-- to be the sex you intrinsically are, not the sex you were assigned at birth by the betrayal that your physical attributes represent. Your obstacles seem ever moving, the challenges confounding, in a way that rings true to all our experiences as humans, especially when young and oppressively manipulated by our circumstances. The world always feels to adolescents like it's yelling at them, with rare moments of insight and peace, and you accompany Wylie through all these experiences.
There's room for champions in this novel, and friends in a complex world. These are believable, flawed friends, even as Wylie himself is imperfect. The grit and passion and failures of Wylie make him particularly real, and it's fascinating that the author manages to depict some of Wylie's biggest mistakes in a way that makes it clear Wylie doesn't see anything wrong with these choices, even while you as a reader may. I rooted for Wylie even when he stepped into disaster, or couldn't control his responses to yet another blow, because of the level of engagement the novel sustained. The agony of his passionate emotions, the conflict within and the conflict without were gut-level persuasive, even wrenching.
I'm not a skateboarder, so I can only say that I found Wylie's passion for the sport persuasive and energizing. Here is the one great freedom and skill that carries him, and the friends he makes through the exercise of his talents feel true and strongly individual. Still, there is no magical solution to Wylie's conflict through his sport, though in one section of the book I imagined there might be. No, instead, solutions arise through choices, even bad choices, and human kindness.
I note that some reviews are negative about the idea that sexuality is a preoccupation for characters in this age group. Anyone who finds that so, likely has not yet raised a child to adulthood. The powerful perception and necessity of taking responsibility for sexual activity, respectfully represented as it is in this novel, are positive. Are the characters minors? Yes. Are they all of exactly the same age? No. But they are in the same stages of accepting and choosing the identities and roles of sex, where consent is the major key.
I appreciate the relationship between Wylie and his new friend, Alex, who evolves to be his best friend and his betrayer, in a humanly convincing way. The redemption of the relationship is a struggle, not a simple persuasion, and again, it feels authentic.
River Braun states that his intent was to write a story that he wishes had been available to him when growing up. Yes, though I am not myself directly part of the trans community, I wish I could have read this book when I was growing up, because it would have broadened my understanding of myself and of the people who share the world with me. The restraint and power with which the work is balanced and honed, moves me to admiration as a reader, and envy as a writer. It may tell you a great deal that I'm turning around and purchasing eight copies for friends, with whom I believe it will resonate profoundly.
I loved the book. It managed to be both tender and powerful without pause. It never lost its heart. I'd recommend it to anyone of any age who wishes to understand their fellow human beings more profoundly, with more sympathy.
There's room for champions in this novel, and friends in a complex world. These are believable, flawed friends, even as Wylie himself is imperfect. The grit and passion and failures of Wylie make him particularly real, and it's fascinating that the author manages to depict some of Wylie's biggest mistakes in a way that makes it clear Wylie doesn't see anything wrong with these choices, even while you as a reader may. I rooted for Wylie even when he stepped into disaster, or couldn't control his responses to yet another blow, because of the level of engagement the novel sustained. The agony of his passionate emotions, the conflict within and the conflict without were gut-level persuasive, even wrenching.
I'm not a skateboarder, so I can only say that I found Wylie's passion for the sport persuasive and energizing. Here is the one great freedom and skill that carries him, and the friends he makes through the exercise of his talents feel true and strongly individual. Still, there is no magical solution to Wylie's conflict through his sport, though in one section of the book I imagined there might be. No, instead, solutions arise through choices, even bad choices, and human kindness.
I note that some reviews are negative about the idea that sexuality is a preoccupation for characters in this age group. Anyone who finds that so, likely has not yet raised a child to adulthood. The powerful perception and necessity of taking responsibility for sexual activity, respectfully represented as it is in this novel, are positive. Are the characters minors? Yes. Are they all of exactly the same age? No. But they are in the same stages of accepting and choosing the identities and roles of sex, where consent is the major key.
I appreciate the relationship between Wylie and his new friend, Alex, who evolves to be his best friend and his betrayer, in a humanly convincing way. The redemption of the relationship is a struggle, not a simple persuasion, and again, it feels authentic.
River Braun states that his intent was to write a story that he wishes had been available to him when growing up. Yes, though I am not myself directly part of the trans community, I wish I could have read this book when I was growing up, because it would have broadened my understanding of myself and of the people who share the world with me. The restraint and power with which the work is balanced and honed, moves me to admiration as a reader, and envy as a writer. It may tell you a great deal that I'm turning around and purchasing eight copies for friends, with whom I believe it will resonate profoundly.
I loved the book. It managed to be both tender and powerful without pause. It never lost its heart. I'd recommend it to anyone of any age who wishes to understand their fellow human beings more profoundly, with more sympathy.
December 29, 2020
Maybe this story just wasn't for me, but I barely finished this one. It was tiring to read it, with the protagonist being very "woe is me" about life. I couldn't really relate to much of anything these kids did -- is this what high school is like now? I didn't think I was that far removed from life as a teenager, but now I'm starting to wonder. I feel like this was written by someone who played a Tony Hawk video game at one point, and then declared themselves an expert on what skaters like to do with their time. My one praise for the book is that there's a lot of queer representation, with lots of opportunities to educate readers on identities. I appreciated that at least.
January 18, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for a free arc copy in exchange for an honest review!
My least favorite thing about most LGBT, especially trans books is that they always end up having some big trauma scene in them even if the book is marketed as a cute and lighthearted story, which takes everyone by surprise in the worst of ways and leaves so many people with triggered trauma in their wake; But this book started right off the back with all the trigger warnings and that is amazing, so this book is already above all the others. Plus the author left hotlines and a reminder to the reader that we are all loved. Beautiful. The book even starts off with a pretty triggering scene and yet I feel it was handled very well.
The book, despite having more traumatic experiences, transphobic comments and a variety of queer characters than any other I've ever read and yet the author handled them insanely well, first by telling us they were coming and then by having the characters not be defined by those experiences and instead used them to bring awareness to how hard it truly is to be openly queer or even just look like you are.
I immediately knew I loved Wyiie. He was so funny and frankly a badass which really drew me to him. We don't get to see many trans guys with his personality in fiction. Wylie is youthfully stupid - - but most teenagers are stupid especially those with no guidance or love in their homes. he is a big mouthed risk taker and I have been waiting for this sort of trans character to be written, something is author did an amazing job at. Wylie is a very real character that I enjoyed being in the head of and his humor was a delight, even in times of distress.
Alex is a great example of how kids turn out if you simply don't instill prejudices in them and instead educate them. And I really love that Wylie has guy friends, even though they're assholes. That's something a lot of trans guys aren't written with in any trans story I've read.
I don't like the way that trans MCs always have to have a counterpart point of view. They're always stupid, not very entertaining and frankly end up being transphobic if not starting off that way and even if they aren't I just don't care what they think; But I gave Alex a chance and I am really glad I did. His point of view and him as a character was amazing - just goes to show the sort of person Alex is and I think he's amazing. Something else in Alex's point of view that I loved was Theirs' is such an open household that he's allowed to wonder and experiment with no problem even if it's only a thought. I wish every child had this experience.
The friendship between Wylie and Alex brings me so much joy. They're so comfortable around each other and supportive and also just two 14 year old guys which is something we never see fictional trans guys apart of. The author's writing is astonishing really. And I'm really glad Alex didn't turn out to be Wylie's love interest. Straight trans guys are rare in fiction and trans guys having close friendships with others guys are even harder to come by so I am glad the author developed that instead.
Reyna was one of my favorite characters. She was absolutely amazing, just the best person ever and I see a lot of myself in her. In my adult years if I ever came across a situation like this I would behave in a very similar manner and make sure the youth got the care and treatment they needed.
My least favorite thing about most LGBT, especially trans books is that they always end up having some big trauma scene in them even if the book is marketed as a cute and lighthearted story, which takes everyone by surprise in the worst of ways and leaves so many people with triggered trauma in their wake; But this book started right off the back with all the trigger warnings and that is amazing, so this book is already above all the others. Plus the author left hotlines and a reminder to the reader that we are all loved. Beautiful. The book even starts off with a pretty triggering scene and yet I feel it was handled very well.
The book, despite having more traumatic experiences, transphobic comments and a variety of queer characters than any other I've ever read and yet the author handled them insanely well, first by telling us they were coming and then by having the characters not be defined by those experiences and instead used them to bring awareness to how hard it truly is to be openly queer or even just look like you are.
I immediately knew I loved Wyiie. He was so funny and frankly a badass which really drew me to him. We don't get to see many trans guys with his personality in fiction. Wylie is youthfully stupid - - but most teenagers are stupid especially those with no guidance or love in their homes. he is a big mouthed risk taker and I have been waiting for this sort of trans character to be written, something is author did an amazing job at. Wylie is a very real character that I enjoyed being in the head of and his humor was a delight, even in times of distress.
Alex is a great example of how kids turn out if you simply don't instill prejudices in them and instead educate them. And I really love that Wylie has guy friends, even though they're assholes. That's something a lot of trans guys aren't written with in any trans story I've read.
I don't like the way that trans MCs always have to have a counterpart point of view. They're always stupid, not very entertaining and frankly end up being transphobic if not starting off that way and even if they aren't I just don't care what they think; But I gave Alex a chance and I am really glad I did. His point of view and him as a character was amazing - just goes to show the sort of person Alex is and I think he's amazing. Something else in Alex's point of view that I loved was Theirs' is such an open household that he's allowed to wonder and experiment with no problem even if it's only a thought. I wish every child had this experience.
The friendship between Wylie and Alex brings me so much joy. They're so comfortable around each other and supportive and also just two 14 year old guys which is something we never see fictional trans guys apart of. The author's writing is astonishing really. And I'm really glad Alex didn't turn out to be Wylie's love interest. Straight trans guys are rare in fiction and trans guys having close friendships with others guys are even harder to come by so I am glad the author developed that instead.
Reyna was one of my favorite characters. She was absolutely amazing, just the best person ever and I see a lot of myself in her. In my adult years if I ever came across a situation like this I would behave in a very similar manner and make sure the youth got the care and treatment they needed.
May 15, 2021
This novel is an important read, not only for young adults who are LBGTQ, it is even more critical for their families who need to understand and support them. The POV character eventually transcends the hurt, disappointment and anger of a rejected fourteen year old and moves on to maturity, self acceptance and tolerance for others.
December 30, 2020
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC approval of this book!
I adored CALL ME HIM, I really did. I was only prevented from giving it a full 5-star rating due to the icky normalised sexual relationship between an almost-15 y/o and an 18 y/o. I kept expecting someone to raise it as a red flag, to find out, and it become the issue it is. Wylie, the MC, his friend only noticed more when the person Wylie dated carved his name into their wrist to keep him with them forever. Weird. Kind of gross and super icky.
Despite that, and it's an effort to try to ignore that so I can focus on the positives of the book, CALL ME HIM was a book I read in almost a single sitting. It's emotional, compelling, strong, unforgettable, and what every trans kid at that age needs to read--big minus the god-awful relationship thrown in at the very end. Wylie was a strong MC, who faced more than his fair share of hardships. All he wants to do is forget about everything the world wants to remind him of: as a trans boy, he's not good enough--not for himself, his friends, his family. He's already into fairly regular drug use when the story starts, but spins into a more dangerous use of it as the story progresses.
When he meets Alex, Wylie is welcomed into a world of acceptance, hope, love, and the promise of exploring future transitioning. Alex's mum is a therapist, who supports him, rather than puts him down. She helps him--the family welcome Wylie like their own. Maybe it's just my gay trans brain but I thought the author would roll with a bisexual awakening through Alex and Wylie--that's where I thought the romance subplot would lie, which, in my opinion, would have read stronger. However, that's not the path the author took. Of course, there is betrayal, which adds to the final battles of the story--and they were executed perfectly.
This is the book I needed to read when I was 14 and being trans wasn't a thing I knew properly, and told my friends for the first time, too young to think it was a thing to walk away from me over, and I wasn't yet old enough to know being trans was okay and it wasn't going to change and that was okay too. That being trans would change my life--sometimes for the better or the worse. Either way, it was being truer to myself.
CALL ME HIM was beautiful, emotionally-wrecking, hard to read at times, and a big sign for other trans kids that says, "Hey!!! I know things are garbage right now but just hold on, okay? There are good people to help you and want to see you thrive!!!" I'm very happy to have read this book.
I adored CALL ME HIM, I really did. I was only prevented from giving it a full 5-star rating due to the icky normalised sexual relationship between an almost-15 y/o and an 18 y/o. I kept expecting someone to raise it as a red flag, to find out, and it become the issue it is. Wylie, the MC, his friend only noticed more when the person Wylie dated carved his name into their wrist to keep him with them forever. Weird. Kind of gross and super icky.
Despite that, and it's an effort to try to ignore that so I can focus on the positives of the book, CALL ME HIM was a book I read in almost a single sitting. It's emotional, compelling, strong, unforgettable, and what every trans kid at that age needs to read--big minus the god-awful relationship thrown in at the very end. Wylie was a strong MC, who faced more than his fair share of hardships. All he wants to do is forget about everything the world wants to remind him of: as a trans boy, he's not good enough--not for himself, his friends, his family. He's already into fairly regular drug use when the story starts, but spins into a more dangerous use of it as the story progresses.
When he meets Alex, Wylie is welcomed into a world of acceptance, hope, love, and the promise of exploring future transitioning. Alex's mum is a therapist, who supports him, rather than puts him down. She helps him--the family welcome Wylie like their own. Maybe it's just my gay trans brain but I thought the author would roll with a bisexual awakening through Alex and Wylie--that's where I thought the romance subplot would lie, which, in my opinion, would have read stronger. However, that's not the path the author took. Of course, there is betrayal, which adds to the final battles of the story--and they were executed perfectly.
This is the book I needed to read when I was 14 and being trans wasn't a thing I knew properly, and told my friends for the first time, too young to think it was a thing to walk away from me over, and I wasn't yet old enough to know being trans was okay and it wasn't going to change and that was okay too. That being trans would change my life--sometimes for the better or the worse. Either way, it was being truer to myself.
CALL ME HIM was beautiful, emotionally-wrecking, hard to read at times, and a big sign for other trans kids that says, "Hey!!! I know things are garbage right now but just hold on, okay? There are good people to help you and want to see you thrive!!!" I'm very happy to have read this book.
January 16, 2021
3.5 stars.
Ebook provided by Netgalley for an honest review
"My name is Wylie Masterson. Call me him"
A very nice story about friendship and trust with a transgender boy as main character and the friends who helped him get to be seen, come to himself, find love and become the man he is.
I liked very much how each character's POV protrayed their insecurities and confusions, their rage and angst and their feelings.
I appreciate so much that the author had displayed some content/trigger warnings at the begining of this book, such as, drug abuse, physical and emotional abuse, self harm, dysphoria and misgendering, so more sensitive readers could be displeased.
Still this is a very nice story and many, maybe all, transgender people dealing with family issues and low self steem can identify.
Ebook provided by Netgalley for an honest review
"My name is Wylie Masterson. Call me him"
A very nice story about friendship and trust with a transgender boy as main character and the friends who helped him get to be seen, come to himself, find love and become the man he is.
I liked very much how each character's POV protrayed their insecurities and confusions, their rage and angst and their feelings.
I appreciate so much that the author had displayed some content/trigger warnings at the begining of this book, such as, drug abuse, physical and emotional abuse, self harm, dysphoria and misgendering, so more sensitive readers could be displeased.
Still this is a very nice story and many, maybe all, transgender people dealing with family issues and low self steem can identify.
January 3, 2021
Call me him by River Braun.
Wylie was born a girl but she feels like a boy and wants to be a boy? Can he?
This was an emotional read. I did find it hard to read at times so I put it down when I felt like that. I didn't have any favourite characters. The story was ok. I loved the end part with Wylie's graduation and his speech. You will need tissues when reading this book. 4*.
Wylie was born a girl but she feels like a boy and wants to be a boy? Can he?
This was an emotional read. I did find it hard to read at times so I put it down when I felt like that. I didn't have any favourite characters. The story was ok. I loved the end part with Wylie's graduation and his speech. You will need tissues when reading this book. 4*.
December 30, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
An engrossing novel that tackles some really tough topics such as transphobia, body dysphoria, misgendering, sexual assault, and substance abuse. Braun did a great job of writing an entertaining, emotionally raw story that is also educational and informative. Many trans teens will be able to relate to Wiley, feel seen in their experience, and potentially learn something. I really did love this book, I didn’t rate it five stars for a few minor plot-related reasons but as a YA novel about trans representation, experience, and visibility I’d rate it among the best.
An engrossing novel that tackles some really tough topics such as transphobia, body dysphoria, misgendering, sexual assault, and substance abuse. Braun did a great job of writing an entertaining, emotionally raw story that is also educational and informative. Many trans teens will be able to relate to Wiley, feel seen in their experience, and potentially learn something. I really did love this book, I didn’t rate it five stars for a few minor plot-related reasons but as a YA novel about trans representation, experience, and visibility I’d rate it among the best.
January 29, 2021
As someone who is not a member of the LGBTQ+ community, this was an eye opening and insightful read for me. I have secondhand knowledge about the transgender community, so this was a great learning experience for me, and I would recommend it to anyone interested.
Wylie Masterson deals with awful friends, name calling, truly egregious police interactions (and good law enforcement interactions), and people using his dead name (before he really figured out what a deadname was). Watching his story unfold as a hetero female, it hurt me knowing that 1) this happened fictionally, for I am a bleeding heart for fictional characters, and 2) this happens every day for out and closeted people. I hated seeing first hand how people treated Wylie and how close minded people can be.
I loved Wylie's sense of humor and his ways to being true to himself until the last page. I loved his skating outlet, and although I don't understand much of skateboarding or poker, I didn't feel lost in the story during those parts. I loved that there was an expert on Wylie's situation throughout the whole book and it wasn't someone feeding Wylie false information. I loved that Wylie eventually found a support system for himself.
The only issues I had with the book were numerous grammatical errors (mainly spelling and dialogue punctuations), and SPOILERS
the fact that his one love interest that seemed to be right was with a person who was 18 and legal, while Wylie himself was barely 15.
This book didn't knock my socks off, but I truly did enjoy it. The only reason for the four star rating was the aforementioned issues. I'd still recommend it to anyone looking for insight on the transgender community or teenage LGBTQ+ members in general.
Wylie Masterson deals with awful friends, name calling, truly egregious police interactions (and good law enforcement interactions), and people using his dead name (before he really figured out what a deadname was). Watching his story unfold as a hetero female, it hurt me knowing that 1) this happened fictionally, for I am a bleeding heart for fictional characters, and 2) this happens every day for out and closeted people. I hated seeing first hand how people treated Wylie and how close minded people can be.
I loved Wylie's sense of humor and his ways to being true to himself until the last page. I loved his skating outlet, and although I don't understand much of skateboarding or poker, I didn't feel lost in the story during those parts. I loved that there was an expert on Wylie's situation throughout the whole book and it wasn't someone feeding Wylie false information. I loved that Wylie eventually found a support system for himself.
The only issues I had with the book were numerous grammatical errors (mainly spelling and dialogue punctuations), and SPOILERS
the fact that his one love interest that seemed to be right was with a person who was 18 and legal, while Wylie himself was barely 15.
This book didn't knock my socks off, but I truly did enjoy it. The only reason for the four star rating was the aforementioned issues. I'd still recommend it to anyone looking for insight on the transgender community or teenage LGBTQ+ members in general.
April 18, 2021
Honest opinion given in exchange for an eARC from NetGalley. This was a solid, unique take on FTM trans perspective. Wylie is really into skateboarding, and has a tough time living his life the way he wants. His mom wants him to remain Willow, and even his friends ditch him. Wylie finds new friends, has some troubles, but in the end comes out on top in this coming of age, finding your true self novel.
May 30, 2021
thank you netgalley for providing me with this arc.
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to start off, im absolutely thankful for the trigger warnings. im so proud of our community for understanding the importance of them in topics like these.
this book tackled quite a few hard topics like homophobia and transphobia in the early 2000s, as well as the sexual assault of queer men, women, and individuals.
the talks about being transgender and gender nonconforming while being surrounded with hate and religion hit me deep that i cried.
however, i would like to talk about how i blanched about a certain thing that has happened for a long time in the book. while i could've overlooked it and moved on, since the book hit deep and whatever else, sadly, i cannot not mention something as bad as this.
when wylie and echo started dating.
you might ask, who are those? wylie is our main character. echo is a side-ish character.
echo is an 18 year old individual. wylie is a 14/15 year old boy.
and they kissed.
that's pedophilic on echo's side. like... they are a full grown adult, kissing, being with a child. and it was... overlooked as if normal? if wylie was 16/17, i would not have mentioned this. a 2 year difference was normal. over that, it was not, and definitely morally wrong.
i was so glad when they broke up. but also echo's,,, scar of wylie's name? uHh. im glad at least alex acknowledged the absolute absurdity of it.
and to be completely honest, after the echo-wylie thing, i just wanted to rush through the story. it made me highly uncomfortable.
this book immediately got knocked down from whatever rating i was gonna give it to an unrated read.
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to start off, im absolutely thankful for the trigger warnings. im so proud of our community for understanding the importance of them in topics like these.
this book tackled quite a few hard topics like homophobia and transphobia in the early 2000s, as well as the sexual assault of queer men, women, and individuals.
the talks about being transgender and gender nonconforming while being surrounded with hate and religion hit me deep that i cried.
however, i would like to talk about how i blanched about a certain thing that has happened for a long time in the book. while i could've overlooked it and moved on, since the book hit deep and whatever else, sadly, i cannot not mention something as bad as this.
when wylie and echo started dating.
you might ask, who are those? wylie is our main character. echo is a side-ish character.
echo is an 18 year old individual. wylie is a 14/15 year old boy.
and they kissed.
that's pedophilic on echo's side. like... they are a full grown adult, kissing, being with a child. and it was... overlooked as if normal? if wylie was 16/17, i would not have mentioned this. a 2 year difference was normal. over that, it was not, and definitely morally wrong.
i was so glad when they broke up. but also echo's,,, scar of wylie's name? uHh. im glad at least alex acknowledged the absolute absurdity of it.
and to be completely honest, after the echo-wylie thing, i just wanted to rush through the story. it made me highly uncomfortable.
this book immediately got knocked down from whatever rating i was gonna give it to an unrated read.
January 24, 2021
eARC from NetGalley
Before anything, I do want to give a shoutout to this author for including a content warnings list at the beginning of this book. This covered particularly heavy topics, but I think we as a whole should normalize content warnings at the beginning of media.
That said, this wasn't the book for me. It was very dark and featured young teenagers (14-15) doing drugs, having sex, self harming, etc. Which yes is a thing that happens and I don't think it's necessarily something that should be avoided when writing fiction, but I'm rather uncomfortable with it. If it was personal discomfort, I would probably still be forgiving and rate it a bit higher, but I think a lot of it was just left there without being unpacked properly and can be kind of harmful, like some of the self-harm and the relationship between a 14 and 18 year old.
Few of the characters are that likeable and a lot of the adult figure are just written very awkwardly? Beyond just being uncomfortable with the subject matter, I had a hard time going through this because I wanted Wylie to turn out okay, but I was also not his biggest fan and as the book went on, I could tell that a lot of issues were going to be kind of swept aside instead of actually acknowledged.
I think this could be a pretty cool premise and it's both wild and very neat to think that we can have a period piece set in 2001, but overall, it felt unpolished at best and harmful at worst.
Before anything, I do want to give a shoutout to this author for including a content warnings list at the beginning of this book. This covered particularly heavy topics, but I think we as a whole should normalize content warnings at the beginning of media.
That said, this wasn't the book for me. It was very dark and featured young teenagers (14-15) doing drugs, having sex, self harming, etc. Which yes is a thing that happens and I don't think it's necessarily something that should be avoided when writing fiction, but I'm rather uncomfortable with it. If it was personal discomfort, I would probably still be forgiving and rate it a bit higher, but I think a lot of it was just left there without being unpacked properly and can be kind of harmful, like some of the self-harm and the relationship between a 14 and 18 year old.
Few of the characters are that likeable and a lot of the adult figure are just written very awkwardly? Beyond just being uncomfortable with the subject matter, I had a hard time going through this because I wanted Wylie to turn out okay, but I was also not his biggest fan and as the book went on, I could tell that a lot of issues were going to be kind of swept aside instead of actually acknowledged.
I think this could be a pretty cool premise and it's both wild and very neat to think that we can have a period piece set in 2001, but overall, it felt unpolished at best and harmful at worst.
April 17, 2021
Call me him. – River Braun’s debut novel – is above all things, a coming-of-age story full of laughs, tears, and heart. While the tale of Wylie Masterson differentiates itself by following a transgendered teen’s survival in a small-town, a reader needs only compassion to appreciate the nuanced look at the terrifying world of puberty in a body that doesn’t conform to the soul. Cis-gendered or trans, straight or LGTBQA+, anyone who has ever been an outsider will stand up and cheer for Braun’s hero, whether Wylie’s dodging the harassment of local cops, scraping up enough cash to get out of town, delving into the world of sex and drugs, or contemplating what too many teens, especially those in the trans community, face on a dark daily basis – leaving the unwelcome world behind through suicide. This book has a message, but author Braun doesn’t hit the reader over the head. Instead, the subtle prose, humor, and raw emotion carry you alongside Wylie Masterson so that you can’t wait until the whole world calls Wylie him.
December 31, 2024
I wanted to like this book so badly.
There were so many spelling and grammatical errors throughout the entire book. I mean…”taco meat” was spelt as “taco meet”…
Each time I came across a spelling or grammatical error, it took me out of the story.
The plot was okay. I, personally, don’t care much for skateboarding, but if someone enjoys that, then it may be a great book. I thought the plot focused too much on skateboarding, and not enough on the trans experience. (Although, I understand that the point was to show the trans experience through and with skateboarding).
The beginning and middle seemed extremely drawn out, while the end seemed rushed.
I thought that the ending involving middle school graduation was very juvenile and took away from the entire book.
The plot never revisits the custody battle with his mom, and plays into the idea that she was losing custody or not accepting him, whereas the reality was that it was due to lack of basic necessities. It never discusses if she is able to provide more, but suggests she maintains custody, because she eventually accepts him. (Could be unreliable narration, though).
The concept that a random family will be extremely supportive AND the mom just happens to be a therapist specializing in LGBT+ issues seems like a stretch, and I couldn’t really accept the plot as that (personally) so I struggled throughout the book. The way the friend’s mom spoke felt like a child writing how he would picture a supportive parent speaking, instead of more realistic parenting / guardianship.
The plot contains a lot of teen angst, which many probably enjoy, but for myself, I am not the biggest fan of stories like that.
Overall, I thought the idea of the book was great, but the actual story itself fell flat.
There were so many spelling and grammatical errors throughout the entire book. I mean…”taco meat” was spelt as “taco meet”…
Each time I came across a spelling or grammatical error, it took me out of the story.
The plot was okay. I, personally, don’t care much for skateboarding, but if someone enjoys that, then it may be a great book. I thought the plot focused too much on skateboarding, and not enough on the trans experience. (Although, I understand that the point was to show the trans experience through and with skateboarding).
The beginning and middle seemed extremely drawn out, while the end seemed rushed.
I thought that the ending involving middle school graduation was very juvenile and took away from the entire book.
The plot never revisits the custody battle with his mom, and plays into the idea that she was losing custody or not accepting him, whereas the reality was that it was due to lack of basic necessities. It never discusses if she is able to provide more, but suggests she maintains custody, because she eventually accepts him. (Could be unreliable narration, though).
The concept that a random family will be extremely supportive AND the mom just happens to be a therapist specializing in LGBT+ issues seems like a stretch, and I couldn’t really accept the plot as that (personally) so I struggled throughout the book. The way the friend’s mom spoke felt like a child writing how he would picture a supportive parent speaking, instead of more realistic parenting / guardianship.
The plot contains a lot of teen angst, which many probably enjoy, but for myself, I am not the biggest fan of stories like that.
Overall, I thought the idea of the book was great, but the actual story itself fell flat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2021
This book is a poignant, gripping, heart-wrenching look at what it’s like for a young adolescent trans boy in a traditional family forward part of the US. Understanding our world can sometimes be simpler in fictional form, and this book gives an important window into the struggle that comes from feeling different, alone, and foreign in one’s own body. There aren’t many books like this out there, but slowly these stories are being written. I hope to see many more transgender protagonists and honest, deep portrayals of trans characters, but I’m grateful for the power of this book and the illumination and voice it gives to the transgender community.
I will concede that this book has some flaws (what can I say—I see grammatical errors and typos easily), but they don’t impede the story or take away from the importance of this work. I also have minor concerns about one outing situation that happens in the book. But, no work is without its own perspectives and unique views and I don’t think these issues remove the overall impact of this book. I absolutely recommend it.
Note: an additional joy of this book is that all proceeds are donated to LGBTQ+ non-profit organizations.
I will concede that this book has some flaws (what can I say—I see grammatical errors and typos easily), but they don’t impede the story or take away from the importance of this work. I also have minor concerns about one outing situation that happens in the book. But, no work is without its own perspectives and unique views and I don’t think these issues remove the overall impact of this book. I absolutely recommend it.
Note: an additional joy of this book is that all proceeds are donated to LGBTQ+ non-profit organizations.
January 30, 2021
I have received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this story. I’m not very much in to coming over age stories but I wanted to broaden my experience and read something it of my comfort zone. I support transgender activism and urge writers to create literature promoting this.
Unfortunately this book was just lacking majorly. While and Alex I felt were likeable and Alex’s parents were so lovely but the story was an absolute drag. Nothing happened. I DNF’d at 50% as the story had still not progressed. I found the mention and use of cannabis and other drugs incredibly over used to the point in was very unbelievable. And the gambling?!?! It just felt so pointless and provided minimal character and plot development.
A positive was the trigger warning and resources mentioned at the beginning of this book as I felt the author understood the severity of the topic in discussion.
I really wanted to like this story. I’m not very much in to coming over age stories but I wanted to broaden my experience and read something it of my comfort zone. I support transgender activism and urge writers to create literature promoting this.
Unfortunately this book was just lacking majorly. While and Alex I felt were likeable and Alex’s parents were so lovely but the story was an absolute drag. Nothing happened. I DNF’d at 50% as the story had still not progressed. I found the mention and use of cannabis and other drugs incredibly over used to the point in was very unbelievable. And the gambling?!?! It just felt so pointless and provided minimal character and plot development.
A positive was the trigger warning and resources mentioned at the beginning of this book as I felt the author understood the severity of the topic in discussion.
January 20, 2021
**Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review**
"Call me him" by River Braun is a heartwarming coming of age story of a young Trans boy finding his identity in the early 2000s.
I loved this story, it kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Was Wylie going to get through everything? Would he end up alright? And Alex, Wylie's best friend was a great character who showed the complexity of friendship at that age and helped Wylie so much.
My only problem was the main love interest, who was really toxic and 18 (the main character was 14) and the only person who seems to have a problem with them is Alex, but Wylie doesn't listen.
Overall, I am giving this 4/5 stars.
"Call me him" by River Braun is a heartwarming coming of age story of a young Trans boy finding his identity in the early 2000s.
I loved this story, it kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Was Wylie going to get through everything? Would he end up alright? And Alex, Wylie's best friend was a great character who showed the complexity of friendship at that age and helped Wylie so much.
My only problem was the main love interest, who was really toxic and 18 (the main character was 14) and the only person who seems to have a problem with them is Alex, but Wylie doesn't listen.
Overall, I am giving this 4/5 stars.
January 21, 2021
I pick stories about other people’s life experiences because I enjoy having a glimpse into what it’s like to be them.
Call Me Him was a real, harsh , heart breaking look into the life of a Trans boy living in the early 2000s.
The book gives you a lot of content warnings and resources for dealing with those warnings ahead of the story which is wonderful and necessary in this case.
Even with the warnings my heart wasn’t ready for what I endured. However, I have no room to
judge someone else’s life story and I am in awe that someone could share this with the world.
As someone who had been sexually assaulted, I’m not ready to tell my story to others, but this has given me hope that maybe one day I can tell my story.
Call Me Him was a real, harsh , heart breaking look into the life of a Trans boy living in the early 2000s.
The book gives you a lot of content warnings and resources for dealing with those warnings ahead of the story which is wonderful and necessary in this case.
Even with the warnings my heart wasn’t ready for what I endured. However, I have no room to
judge someone else’s life story and I am in awe that someone could share this with the world.
As someone who had been sexually assaulted, I’m not ready to tell my story to others, but this has given me hope that maybe one day I can tell my story.
January 6, 2021
Notice - DNF at 20%
***I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
I tried to give this book a fair shot. I picked it back up a few times and just couldn't get into it. The way the book is formatted makes the dialogue hard to read. It's not spaced correctly so it reads like a run on sentence.
The book is written in two alternating POV. A few times the POV basically goes over the exact same scenario that just happened word for word.
I think the idea for the book is well intentioned but poorly executed.
***I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
I tried to give this book a fair shot. I picked it back up a few times and just couldn't get into it. The way the book is formatted makes the dialogue hard to read. It's not spaced correctly so it reads like a run on sentence.
The book is written in two alternating POV. A few times the POV basically goes over the exact same scenario that just happened word for word.
I think the idea for the book is well intentioned but poorly executed.
January 31, 2021
Call Me Him is an intensely written novel that provides great insight into the struggles, both personal and societal, faced by young trans men every day. The story is very moving, and told from the alternating perspectives of the two main characters, Wylie and Alex. While the story does go on a couple of tangents that are not resolved, these don't detract from the book's overall impact. The story ends on a hopeful note, and I would highly recommend it to the parents of young trans men, as well as trans youth in general.
January 16, 2022
As someone who has a trans experience myself, this was a book that I would have loved to read as a kid. The heartache and the triumphs that come with all of life let alone being a transgender individual are wonderfully reflected, in the narrative of the main character and his friend are wonderfully woven together in a beautiful display of how finding your true self can only be done in a community of supportive people.
March 22, 2023
Emotional
This book opened my eyes even more so to the struggles individuals have to go through just to be their true selves. We follow Wylie who just wants to be accepted for who he is. He struggles to accept himself, find acceptance and love... but will find his voice. Highly recommended read! I wanted to stand up for this character, fight for them. My heart broke for them, and cheered them on.
This book opened my eyes even more so to the struggles individuals have to go through just to be their true selves. We follow Wylie who just wants to be accepted for who he is. He struggles to accept himself, find acceptance and love... but will find his voice. Highly recommended read! I wanted to stand up for this character, fight for them. My heart broke for them, and cheered them on.
Read
August 20, 2021I want so badly to love Call Me Him. But, I don't love the writing style. And I don't like any of the characters at the beginning. Add in that my mobi file was not formatted well for my kindle, I stopped reading.
April 22, 2022
Minus some misspelling here and there I think this was a great transgender coming of age story. I liked how it was written and the time line of things. I don’t feel like one part was ever too fast or too slow. Great read.
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