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Sasha Masha
3 hours 30 minutes
Alex feels like he is in the wrong body. His skin feels strange against his bones. And then comes Tracy, who thinks he's adorably awkward, who wants to kiss him, who makes him feel like a Real Boy. But it is not quite enough. Something is missing.
As Alex grapples with his identity, he finds himself trying on dresses and swiping on lipstick in the quiet of his bedroom. He meets Andre, a gay boy who is beautiful and unafraid to be who he is. Slowly, Alex begins to realize: maybe his name isn't Alex at all. Maybe it's Sasha Masha.
Transgender author Agnes Borinksy deftly explores gender identity and queer romance in this heart-wrenchingly honest debut novel.
Alex feels like he is in the wrong body. His skin feels strange against his bones. And then comes Tracy, who thinks he's adorably awkward, who wants to kiss him, who makes him feel like a Real Boy. But it is not quite enough. Something is missing.
As Alex grapples with his identity, he finds himself trying on dresses and swiping on lipstick in the quiet of his bedroom. He meets Andre, a gay boy who is beautiful and unafraid to be who he is. Slowly, Alex begins to realize: maybe his name isn't Alex at all. Maybe it's Sasha Masha.
Transgender author Agnes Borinksy deftly explores gender identity and queer romance in this heart-wrenchingly honest debut novel.
4 pages, Audiobook
First published November 10, 2020
22 people are currently reading
5068 people want to read
About the author
Agnes Borinsky
7 books43 followersAgnes Borinsky is a writer from Baltimore, now living in Los Angeles. She mostly writes essays and plays, and has collaborated on all sorts of projects in basements, backyards, gardens, circus tents, classrooms, bars, and theaters. Sasha Masha is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
January 15, 2021
Sasha masha is a coming of age novel focusing on gender identity.
Sasha Masha was short quick read and definitely worth the time. I enjoyed reading about Alex’s struggles leading to his true identity. Alex was such an easy character to like from the beginning. I felt bad for him throughout the book. I felt like this book was a glimpse into some of the problems the transgender community faces which is a subject not brought up enough.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Agnes Borinsky and enjoyed her narration. I love when the author narrates their books because the reader really gets to hear the author’s emotions.
Thank you Libro.fm, Tantor Audio, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux by Sasha Masha.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Sasha Masha was short quick read and definitely worth the time. I enjoyed reading about Alex’s struggles leading to his true identity. Alex was such an easy character to like from the beginning. I felt bad for him throughout the book. I felt like this book was a glimpse into some of the problems the transgender community faces which is a subject not brought up enough.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Agnes Borinsky and enjoyed her narration. I love when the author narrates their books because the reader really gets to hear the author’s emotions.
Thank you Libro.fm, Tantor Audio, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux by Sasha Masha.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
July 17, 2021
Sasha Masha is a snapshot of a young person coming to terms with their identity. A story about how, without representation, education, and support, it can be difficult to find out who we truly are. A story about community and transformation. Vulnerable and honest and wholesome and lovely.
“I think we’ve each got a mystery inside of us... and as people our job is to respect that mystery... we’re all part of a whole big picture, and if we’re not doing our best to unfold the strange somethings inside of us, we’re not doing right by everybody else. If we’re not unfolding our hearts we’re holding them back, we’re flinching, and that’s how we hurt people. That’s how we make ourselves and the whole world smaller.”
This isn’t a perfect book, it’s a bit short and some of the characters are underdeveloped. There’s also the use of homophobic slurs by those within the community choosing to reclaim them which will likely be upsetting to some readers. Still, I think this book is worth the read. It’s a poignant slice-of-life own voices YA story about a teenager discovering they’re trans. And it’s the type of story we need to see more of.
TW: transphobia, reclamation of homophobic slurs
VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/38cwhWXXnds
You can find me on...
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Thank you to fierce reads and Libro.fm for providing an ALC of Sasha Masha.
“I think we’ve each got a mystery inside of us... and as people our job is to respect that mystery... we’re all part of a whole big picture, and if we’re not doing our best to unfold the strange somethings inside of us, we’re not doing right by everybody else. If we’re not unfolding our hearts we’re holding them back, we’re flinching, and that’s how we hurt people. That’s how we make ourselves and the whole world smaller.”
This isn’t a perfect book, it’s a bit short and some of the characters are underdeveloped. There’s also the use of homophobic slurs by those within the community choosing to reclaim them which will likely be upsetting to some readers. Still, I think this book is worth the read. It’s a poignant slice-of-life own voices YA story about a teenager discovering they’re trans. And it’s the type of story we need to see more of.
TW: transphobia, reclamation of homophobic slurs
VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/38cwhWXXnds
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter
Thank you to fierce reads and Libro.fm for providing an ALC of Sasha Masha.
November 24, 2020
This book spoke to me on a very personal level. Sasha's feelings and self discovery felt so much like my own.
I think this is a book for trans people. Reviews from cis people about this book said they didn't connect. But as a trans person, this book was like hearing so many of my own thoughts and feelings and experiences. And the audio! I am not usually one to listen to audio books, but I really loved listening to this one. This will definitely become one of the books I give to trans teens, and I will absolutely buy a copy come release!
I think this is a book for trans people. Reviews from cis people about this book said they didn't connect. But as a trans person, this book was like hearing so many of my own thoughts and feelings and experiences. And the audio! I am not usually one to listen to audio books, but I really loved listening to this one. This will definitely become one of the books I give to trans teens, and I will absolutely buy a copy come release!
October 13, 2024
"I grew up in the wrong house."
These words open Sasha Masha, marking the start of a hero's journey that ends with a return to its beginning - but with a profoundly transformed person at its center. This short book hides within its pages an odyssey that takes place entirely inside the protagonist. In Sasha Masha, a dress is the holy grail; a bottle of nail polish is the elixir of life.
This novel speaks about questioning one's gender identity and discovering how a community of people who have gone through a similar experience can not only make the journey easier, but also more complete. It struck me as a story that was very personal to the author - and the genuine quality of the character at the center of Sasha Masha gave it the power to be quite moving.
Because of the almost-biographical feel of the storytelling, it doesn't quite have the pacing of an adventure, but rather that of a memoir. I was really touched by the evolution that the narrative goes through in these pages. Its strength isn't in the events that it describes, but in the way the protagonist processes them.
The mood at the start is "just another day in high school". Our protagonist misses a best friend who's moved to another city, comforts a classmate after a breakup, goes to assembly and hangs out by the pool. The narrative hints that something isn't quite right in this status quo. The main character feels slightly out of place, wishing for an existence free of a physical body.
While some discomfort with one's self is part of every teenager's days, the depth of this feeling creeps up on our main character - and the reader. The realization of the full implications of this discomfort flows from the story's tipping point, when classmates drop hints that a girl named Tracy has a crush on the protagonist, and the two start dating.
Difficulties ensue from this new relationship, and the main character is tugged by an unseen force to an LGBTQ support group. During introductions, our protagonist uses the name that, until that moment, had been hidden inside: Sasha Masha.
The story takes us along Sasha Masha's first connection to the LGBTQ community, and the blossoming of a relationship with a group of people who understand what Sasha Masha is going through - perhaps in some ways, more than Sasha Masha does. This dynamic strongly reminded me of what it was like to be a part of that community in New York, after attending schools where I felt like I was all on my own, dealing with the reactions of people who had no place commenting on my romantic attraction to girls.
My favorite part of the novel is a conversation with Andre, who acts as the hero's mentor in this story and asks what pronouns feel good to Sasha Masha. The feelings that come with being asked this for the first time aren't easy to capture, and Steven Carpenter, the book's narrator, did it well. Andre brings up the question with some words that had an impact on me, as they came at the end of a loud night, Sasha Masha's first night out within the community.
I'll admit that during the first half, I thought this novel was headed for a 3-star rating. It was clearly talking about the beginning of a transformation, but felt fairly ordinary nevertheless. By the end, I was revisiting quotes from earlier in the story. This is a rare case of quiet character fiction that I found truly captivating.
Agnes Borinsky doesn't just capture what it's like to assemble one's full self from fragments of quiet turmoil, scattered through the years like trail markings that only become a map once one is looking for them. Borinsky also captures the quiet anxiety of suspecting that the people who've always been by your side might drift away when they realize that they don't fully know you.
This short coming-of-age novel only covers a handful of days. And yet, the person at its center, Sasha Masha, traverses a great distance on the journey of finding one's true self. In the end, we are left not knowing exactly what's coming next in Sasha Masha's path of questioning, and it's clear that this not the end of the journey. But the story feels complete nevertheless.
I'm going to give this to my friend Masha for their birthday.
These words open Sasha Masha, marking the start of a hero's journey that ends with a return to its beginning - but with a profoundly transformed person at its center. This short book hides within its pages an odyssey that takes place entirely inside the protagonist. In Sasha Masha, a dress is the holy grail; a bottle of nail polish is the elixir of life.
This novel speaks about questioning one's gender identity and discovering how a community of people who have gone through a similar experience can not only make the journey easier, but also more complete. It struck me as a story that was very personal to the author - and the genuine quality of the character at the center of Sasha Masha gave it the power to be quite moving.
Because of the almost-biographical feel of the storytelling, it doesn't quite have the pacing of an adventure, but rather that of a memoir. I was really touched by the evolution that the narrative goes through in these pages. Its strength isn't in the events that it describes, but in the way the protagonist processes them.
The mood at the start is "just another day in high school". Our protagonist misses a best friend who's moved to another city, comforts a classmate after a breakup, goes to assembly and hangs out by the pool. The narrative hints that something isn't quite right in this status quo. The main character feels slightly out of place, wishing for an existence free of a physical body.
Maybe I don't feel particularly real yet. Like this world is just something I have to move through until I can get to a place where I can be a real person.
While some discomfort with one's self is part of every teenager's days, the depth of this feeling creeps up on our main character - and the reader. The realization of the full implications of this discomfort flows from the story's tipping point, when classmates drop hints that a girl named Tracy has a crush on the protagonist, and the two start dating.
Difficulties ensue from this new relationship, and the main character is tugged by an unseen force to an LGBTQ support group. During introductions, our protagonist uses the name that, until that moment, had been hidden inside: Sasha Masha.
The story takes us along Sasha Masha's first connection to the LGBTQ community, and the blossoming of a relationship with a group of people who understand what Sasha Masha is going through - perhaps in some ways, more than Sasha Masha does. This dynamic strongly reminded me of what it was like to be a part of that community in New York, after attending schools where I felt like I was all on my own, dealing with the reactions of people who had no place commenting on my romantic attraction to girls.
My favorite part of the novel is a conversation with Andre, who acts as the hero's mentor in this story and asks what pronouns feel good to Sasha Masha. The feelings that come with being asked this for the first time aren't easy to capture, and Steven Carpenter, the book's narrator, did it well. Andre brings up the question with some words that had an impact on me, as they came at the end of a loud night, Sasha Masha's first night out within the community.
I'll admit that during the first half, I thought this novel was headed for a 3-star rating. It was clearly talking about the beginning of a transformation, but felt fairly ordinary nevertheless. By the end, I was revisiting quotes from earlier in the story. This is a rare case of quiet character fiction that I found truly captivating.
Agnes Borinsky doesn't just capture what it's like to assemble one's full self from fragments of quiet turmoil, scattered through the years like trail markings that only become a map once one is looking for them. Borinsky also captures the quiet anxiety of suspecting that the people who've always been by your side might drift away when they realize that they don't fully know you.
It was getting close to the time my parents would get back. I pictured them coming in and seeing me in a dress. I felt an early wave of what I knew would be their discomfort. The anxiety and fear in their eyes, their fretful questions and their worried reassurances. What did it mean, what did it mean?
This short coming-of-age novel only covers a handful of days. And yet, the person at its center, Sasha Masha, traverses a great distance on the journey of finding one's true self. In the end, we are left not knowing exactly what's coming next in Sasha Masha's path of questioning, and it's clear that this not the end of the journey. But the story feels complete nevertheless.
After all, this was home.
I'm going to give this to my friend Masha for their birthday.
January 15, 2022
Sasha Masha is a coming of age story exploring gender identity, sexuality, and romance. Alex doesn’t feel like a real boy until one day he realizes maybe he’s not and maybe that is okay.
“Maybe I don’t feel particularly real yet I said. “Like this world is just something I have to move through until I can get to a place where I can be a real person.”
The book was relatively short but I almost with it was a little longer. I’m glad books like this are being published so that trans and queen teens get to read stories they can relate to. The book is written and narrated by the author Agnes Borinsky - I thought she did a lovely job!
Thank you to Netgalley and to RB Media for the audiobook - which will be available next month (12/8/2020).
“Maybe I don’t feel particularly real yet I said. “Like this world is just something I have to move through until I can get to a place where I can be a real person.”
The book was relatively short but I almost with it was a little longer. I’m glad books like this are being published so that trans and queen teens get to read stories they can relate to. The book is written and narrated by the author Agnes Borinsky - I thought she did a lovely job!
Thank you to Netgalley and to RB Media for the audiobook - which will be available next month (12/8/2020).
June 21, 2021
actual rating 3.5 stars
November 6, 2020
“It really did seem like some monstrous force was suddenly rampaging through my life. I didn’t understand it, but I knew the name: Sasha Masha.”
Sasha Masha is a really moving ownvoices novel about exploring gender identity and understanding who you are.
Before I go into this, I just wanna say that I will be using he/him pronouns in this review, as that is what is used throughout the entire novel and because pronouns do not necessarily equal gender, I want to respect that.
I will not be using Sasha Masha's deadname though, even though it is frequently used, as he mentions several times throughout the novel that Sasha Masha is the name he wants to be referred to as.
There isn't much to say in regards to the plot of this novel but it is astounding how much was packed into this short novel. Really, in a lot of aspects it just reads like your good old coming-of-age novel, except it has the added element of Sasha Masha being trans and we follow Sasha Masha as he is figuring this out during all the other teenage experience shenanigans.
“But something was wrong. There was a high wall inside of me, and it made me angry, it made me stuck; there was a self on the other side—was this, now, the thing I’d failed to see? That in my heart of hearts I wasn’t a boy after all?”
I loved Sasha Masha's journey and I thought that it was very powerful and moving. There is a lot of questioning and confusion going on in Sasha Masha's inner monologue but it is so beautiful to follow him on the path to understanding his own gender identity and accepting who he is.
I especially loved the way the author approached Sasha Masha realizing he is trans, where he kinda has this persona of Sasha Masha and knows that that is who he wants to be and then slowly grows into it, but also learns that that person has been him all along, he just had to make sure to really embrace that part.
“I could only think of that picture, and I started to wonder whether I really just missed myself. You miss yourself? How could you miss yourself? You’re right here.”
There are definitely people in Sasha Masha's life that struggle with him accepting his own identity but for the most part, he has a really wonderful support system in both old and new friends.
Especially seeing the queer support system that build up around him throughout this novel was an incredibly heart-warming aspect. These people not only accept him exactly as he is but they also support his journey, both with trying to help him figure his identity out but also just being patient with him and never pushing anything.
This novel also had several side-characters of colour and I very much enjoyed that there was a brief discussion about how a lot of queer riots were led by people of colour. This also introduced some discussions between a younger and older generation of queer people, which is something we so rarely get to see.
“We were like two pieces of rope that had been frequently knotted; even when we were separate, our bodies held the shape of the knot we made together.”
Mabel, Sasha Masha's best friend who ended up moving away, especially stands out as a side-character. Even though they can only communicate via text and calls now, Mabel is still there for all of Sasha Masha's journey and being accepting of him at all times.
I loved seeing moments from their friendship in the past and seeing Mabel always being an unapologetically queer presence in Sasha Masha's life too. Their friendship is just incredibly well written and Mabel as a character within the book alone adds so much comfort.
“All of a sudden I felt far away from my parents. This road might take me places they would never go.”
I also found the relationship between Sasha Masha and his parents a very interesting aspect and I definitely wish we had gotten to see more of it because it was quite a complex relationship. They definitely care and worry a lot about Sasha Masha, especially as they're starting to realize that something is going on and his behaviour changes, but they're never actually there for their child to figure out the root of what is going on.
Throughout the story you are definitely wondering if Sasha Masha's parents will accept him being trans. Long before he has come to the realization that he is trans, he is already wondering what his parents will think of the self-discovery journey that he is on.
And I definitely liked this portrayal of Sasha Masha's relationship with his parents and thought it added an important aspect to the story.
“The world was Real. This couch was Real, Murphy was Real, the light and the bookshelves and the creatures and the sounds of the city moving around me—they were all Real. Like it or not, the world is Real, and whoever we are, we are part of the world.”
I definitely think that overall a lot of the aspects in this novel were kept quite brief but that is very much due to this being a very short novel too. I would've loved to see a lot of the things talked about within this story to be discussed even more.
But ultimately, this showed us a glimpse of Sasha Masha's life and his journey to not only understanding their own identity but also to get more comfortable within queer spaces and understanding and connecting with other queer people. And I feel grateful to have gotten such a glimpse and I know that his story will stay with me for a while.
Finishing this novel just gave me a really hopeful and positive feeling. And I know that there is lots more good things to come for Sasha Masha and people with similar journeys. After reading this story there is just such a wonderful, reassuring feeling, knowing they will find their path and people who unconditionally love and accept them.
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I received an ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!
January 15, 2022
This was an interesting, short novel about a teenager trying to figure out who they really are. The protagonist feels they aren’t real but suspects part of the real them is the name Sasha Masha. That is the name I will use through my review because it was the preferred, I will use he/him since Sasha Masha expressed those were the pronouns he was comfortable with (although I suspect that would change if the reader were able to continue to peek into his life). Sasha Masha is going through a lot this school year - his best friend moved away and he gets his first girlfriend. He also meets another boy at a queer teen activity and all of these things impact his journey to self-discovery. I really liked this story and thought the writing was good. I did think it was a little short and there could have been more story. I loved the hall of ancestors and that it continued in the back.
July 6, 2021
“And the paradox of it is the harder you try to be real, the deeper you know that you're not.”
*I will not be using Sasha Masha’s dead name in this review nor will I be using he/him pronouns to describe the mc
I really liked this! I thought I wouldn’t after reading some of the reviews on GR, but I REALLY liked this!
Sasha Masha is about Sasha Masha, a teenager discovering her queer identity. She knows she feels uncomfortable as a boy, but she doesn’t know if she’s trans yet and confronting her parents and friends is the last thing she wants to do. The reader follows Sasha Masha as she comes to terms with who she is.
The writing style reminds me a lot of Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda with witty inner monologues and dialogue and genuine moments with friends and family. This book was pretty short, and I honestly wish we had more time with the characters. But I, all in all, enjoyed this and recommend everyone read this (tw: transphobia and homophobic slurs - reclamation)!
The Characters
- Sasha Masha is our protagonist, and this book focuses on her process of realizing who she is.
I do wish we had some more character development though. We don’t know much about Sasha Masha apart from her LGBTQ+ experience. Still, I thought she was a solid character, and hearing her inner monologue made me feel really connected to her!
- In terms of other side characters: Andre was such an amazing friend to Sasha Masha while she was figuring out who she was! He opened up a whole new world to Sasha Masha.
Mabel was also an amazing friend. I loved their bond and how happy they were for each other in the end.
And don't even get me started on Tracy 🙄. Tracy was such an asshole oh my god. I wanted to punch her when she yelled at Sasha Masha. She was constantly assuming things about Sasha Masha and never stepped back to think AM I THE PROBLEM HERE!?
Anyways, Borinsky really took me on an emotional rollercoaster with all of these characters.
The Writing
Like I said, the writing is great! It reminded me a lot of the inner monologues we hear from Simon in Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. Some people are not a fan of that writing style, but I enjoy it. While Sasha Masha explores deep subjects like discovering Sasha Masha’s queer identity, the writing is not deep or “dark”. There are moments where the reader is in the same pit of despair as the mc, but there are also incredibly uplifting and heartwarming moments.
The Audiobook
My book was actually narrated by the author, Agnes Borinsky!
I loved her narration. I wish that more authors read their books for audiobook formats because, maybe this is just my brain imagining this but, it feels so much more real and emotional when it’s being read by the writer. And it did - Borinsky conveys Sasha Masha’s story with such strong conviction.
In conclusion, this is a really important book, and I encourage everyone to read it. Sasha Masha is Borinsky’s first novel too, which is even more amazing. This was a solid 4/5 for me!
*I will not be using Sasha Masha’s dead name in this review nor will I be using he/him pronouns to describe the mc
I really liked this! I thought I wouldn’t after reading some of the reviews on GR, but I REALLY liked this!
Sasha Masha is about Sasha Masha, a teenager discovering her queer identity. She knows she feels uncomfortable as a boy, but she doesn’t know if she’s trans yet and confronting her parents and friends is the last thing she wants to do. The reader follows Sasha Masha as she comes to terms with who she is.
The writing style reminds me a lot of Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda with witty inner monologues and dialogue and genuine moments with friends and family. This book was pretty short, and I honestly wish we had more time with the characters. But I, all in all, enjoyed this and recommend everyone read this (tw: transphobia and homophobic slurs - reclamation)!
The Characters
- Sasha Masha is our protagonist, and this book focuses on her process of realizing who she is.
It really did seem like some monstrous force was suddenly rampaging through my life. I didn’t understand it, but I knew the name: Sasha Masha.I felt really bad for Sasha Masha. While I’m cisgender and feel confident in who I am, I was so frustrated reading Sasha Masha’s experiences. Borinsky evoked such emotional depth in the writing that I truly felt like I was in Sasha Masha’s shoes, that I was experiencing her sadness, confusion, anger, etc. She was already doubting everything about herself in her head; she didn’t need other people also doubting her. But reading about how Sasha Masha found a support system was so heartwarming ahh.
I do wish we had some more character development though. We don’t know much about Sasha Masha apart from her LGBTQ+ experience. Still, I thought she was a solid character, and hearing her inner monologue made me feel really connected to her!
- In terms of other side characters: Andre was such an amazing friend to Sasha Masha while she was figuring out who she was! He opened up a whole new world to Sasha Masha.
For some people visibility is about saving a life, and for other people it's about making things more comfortable.
Mabel was also an amazing friend. I loved their bond and how happy they were for each other in the end.
And don't even get me started on Tracy 🙄. Tracy was such an asshole oh my god. I wanted to punch her when she yelled at Sasha Masha. She was constantly assuming things about Sasha Masha and never stepped back to think AM I THE PROBLEM HERE!?
Anyways, Borinsky really took me on an emotional rollercoaster with all of these characters.
The Writing
Like I said, the writing is great! It reminded me a lot of the inner monologues we hear from Simon in Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. Some people are not a fan of that writing style, but I enjoy it. While Sasha Masha explores deep subjects like discovering Sasha Masha’s queer identity, the writing is not deep or “dark”. There are moments where the reader is in the same pit of despair as the mc, but there are also incredibly uplifting and heartwarming moments.
You're just doing this now, Sasha Masha. Now is your time, and you're doing it, so what else do you have to worry about?I do wish that we had more time with our mc. Maybe this is because it’s a short book, but I wish the author had spent more time developing the plotline and the characters. For me, it felt like the story was over before it had really begun.
The Audiobook
My book was actually narrated by the author, Agnes Borinsky!
I loved her narration. I wish that more authors read their books for audiobook formats because, maybe this is just my brain imagining this but, it feels so much more real and emotional when it’s being read by the writer. And it did - Borinsky conveys Sasha Masha’s story with such strong conviction.
In conclusion, this is a really important book, and I encourage everyone to read it. Sasha Masha is Borinsky’s first novel too, which is even more amazing. This was a solid 4/5 for me!
December 11, 2023
muy reconfortante se lee súper rápido y deja una enseñanza muy linda
March 20, 2021
Listened to it on audiobook !!
The concept was really good no doubt along with the important topic that needs everyone's attention in today's society, the execution of the novel could have been better.
The concept was really good no doubt along with the important topic that needs everyone's attention in today's society, the execution of the novel could have been better.
December 26, 2023
Sasha Masha fue una muy buena lectura y un libro que me llegó mucho. Aunque mi mayor queja es que quedó un poco corto y me dieron ganas de que continue la historia.
Creo que es el primer libro que leo que se centra en una protagonista trans y está muy bien llevada su momento de ir descubriendo su verdadera identidad. Se nota con creces que la autora es también trans.
Lo recomiendo mucho y creo que debería leerse a cualquier edad, especialmente pre adolescentes y adolescentes. El libro habla de describirse a uno mismo de a pasitos, de no dar por sentando nada de nadie y de que tenemos ser quienes realmente somos sintiéndonos cómodos en nuestra piel.
Me gustó mucho como estaba escrito y como contaban las transición, no tiene escenas fuertes lo cual es tu plus para recomendar a chicos más chicos.
Muy buena lectura, recomiendo mucho
Yo leyendo Sasha Masha: 🥺😋💕🥰🥹
Creo que es el primer libro que leo que se centra en una protagonista trans y está muy bien llevada su momento de ir descubriendo su verdadera identidad. Se nota con creces que la autora es también trans.
Lo recomiendo mucho y creo que debería leerse a cualquier edad, especialmente pre adolescentes y adolescentes. El libro habla de describirse a uno mismo de a pasitos, de no dar por sentando nada de nadie y de que tenemos ser quienes realmente somos sintiéndonos cómodos en nuestra piel.
Me gustó mucho como estaba escrito y como contaban las transición, no tiene escenas fuertes lo cual es tu plus para recomendar a chicos más chicos.
Muy buena lectura, recomiendo mucho
Yo leyendo Sasha Masha: 🥺😋💕🥰🥹
June 25, 2020
3.5 stars. I don't read that many books about coming out/transitioning anymore. They're important, but they tend to be the only thing queer writers are allowed to write about. But SASHA MASHA won me over, especially because I realized after a while that this isn't a book about a character dealing with transition. This is a story of what happens before that. It took me a little while to get a rhythm in this book, so I recommend sticking with it for a few chapters.
While many trans people knew their gender identity from an early age, it isn't true of all of them. And the stories we hear are so often about the group that knew that it starts to create the idea that there is only one kind of trans story.
It's difficult to use my typical rules to talk about this book because so much of it is about the early stages of understanding trans identity. The main character uses he/him pronouns throughout the book and it's unclear if they will change later. I don't love using deadnames and I generally don't love it when books use them but there are certain stories it's hard to tell without them while following typical conventions. But I'll refer to him as Sasha Masha because the name is the crucial part of his identity that he constantly is able to affirm.
Sasha Masha's story isn't clear. It's murky. It doesn't start with Sasha Masha being sure that he is in the wrong body or longing to be a woman. He has an opportunity for reinvention after his best friend Mabel moves away and he needs to find a new social group. Mabel is an out lesbian and it's clear that her queerness has always made Sasha Masha feel safe even if he doesn't exactly understand that yet. His sexuality is something he isn't entirely sure of yet, which is just another piece of his identity that feels unclear to him. He starts dating Tracy and is happy in the relationship until his questions about his own identity start to leave him feeling distant from everyone.
Sasha Masha's lack of clarity is what makes this book so important. He is a teenager and his whole self is something he doesn't understand yet. His feeling that something is not quite right is something he's always attributed to a typical lack of self-esteem. There is nothing about him that makes the reader think they know what's coming. Instead, he gets stuck on the idea of this new name. He isn't able to verbalize to anyone what exactly it is about it that gets him. And there is no moment where he has an epiphany and now knows who he is. I loved that about it.
Everything about his frustration at himself and the others in his life feels real. He doesn't think his parents will throw him out of the house, but his timid attempts to try and talk about his identity are met with amusement and condescension from his parents and just about everyone else. Except for a new friend. Sasha Masha's feelings of being lost send him to one place he feels comfortable: a queer youth center he used to go to with Mabel. And it's unsurprising that there he is able to find some space to explore who he is.
There is SO MUCH for cis people, especially those who work with kids and teens, to learn from this book and this type of story. The way Sasha Masha is able to relax and learn more about himself with people who are willing to accept him however he presents himself is striking. It's not that other people in his life are unsupportive or unloving. But they demand that he be a certain person. They do not make room for him to try on something else or to withdraw while he struggles to work through it. His choice of name as "Sasha Masha" doesn't help his situation, but whenever he introduces himself this way to a queer person, they do not question it. They often recognize it as a sign to be more gentle rather than a sign to be defensive. Because of that, I forgive the book for being a little precious with its use of a queer mentor figure. So much of the book is not instructive and Sasha Masha is so in need of some help or at least some welcome space that it is something of a relief.
If you, like me, have been pulling back somewhat on Trans 101 and other books about coming out, I would make an exception for this book. It is much less focused on the logistics of coming out and much more focused on how questioning your identity can feel. Especially since we have so few books for the Questioning community, this is a great one to add to Queer Teen Lit.
While many trans people knew their gender identity from an early age, it isn't true of all of them. And the stories we hear are so often about the group that knew that it starts to create the idea that there is only one kind of trans story.
It's difficult to use my typical rules to talk about this book because so much of it is about the early stages of understanding trans identity. The main character uses he/him pronouns throughout the book and it's unclear if they will change later. I don't love using deadnames and I generally don't love it when books use them but there are certain stories it's hard to tell without them while following typical conventions. But I'll refer to him as Sasha Masha because the name is the crucial part of his identity that he constantly is able to affirm.
Sasha Masha's story isn't clear. It's murky. It doesn't start with Sasha Masha being sure that he is in the wrong body or longing to be a woman. He has an opportunity for reinvention after his best friend Mabel moves away and he needs to find a new social group. Mabel is an out lesbian and it's clear that her queerness has always made Sasha Masha feel safe even if he doesn't exactly understand that yet. His sexuality is something he isn't entirely sure of yet, which is just another piece of his identity that feels unclear to him. He starts dating Tracy and is happy in the relationship until his questions about his own identity start to leave him feeling distant from everyone.
Sasha Masha's lack of clarity is what makes this book so important. He is a teenager and his whole self is something he doesn't understand yet. His feeling that something is not quite right is something he's always attributed to a typical lack of self-esteem. There is nothing about him that makes the reader think they know what's coming. Instead, he gets stuck on the idea of this new name. He isn't able to verbalize to anyone what exactly it is about it that gets him. And there is no moment where he has an epiphany and now knows who he is. I loved that about it.
Everything about his frustration at himself and the others in his life feels real. He doesn't think his parents will throw him out of the house, but his timid attempts to try and talk about his identity are met with amusement and condescension from his parents and just about everyone else. Except for a new friend. Sasha Masha's feelings of being lost send him to one place he feels comfortable: a queer youth center he used to go to with Mabel. And it's unsurprising that there he is able to find some space to explore who he is.
There is SO MUCH for cis people, especially those who work with kids and teens, to learn from this book and this type of story. The way Sasha Masha is able to relax and learn more about himself with people who are willing to accept him however he presents himself is striking. It's not that other people in his life are unsupportive or unloving. But they demand that he be a certain person. They do not make room for him to try on something else or to withdraw while he struggles to work through it. His choice of name as "Sasha Masha" doesn't help his situation, but whenever he introduces himself this way to a queer person, they do not question it. They often recognize it as a sign to be more gentle rather than a sign to be defensive. Because of that, I forgive the book for being a little precious with its use of a queer mentor figure. So much of the book is not instructive and Sasha Masha is so in need of some help or at least some welcome space that it is something of a relief.
If you, like me, have been pulling back somewhat on Trans 101 and other books about coming out, I would make an exception for this book. It is much less focused on the logistics of coming out and much more focused on how questioning your identity can feel. Especially since we have so few books for the Questioning community, this is a great one to add to Queer Teen Lit.
December 31, 2020
Sasha Masha was a very quick, short read about Sasha Masha, who is figuring out his gender identity. This is not a 'coming out' story, tho.
Rather, it's a look into the mind of someone figuring out what they are, when they don't quite know for sure, themselves. Sasha is confused and overwhelmed by everything around him and all he knows for sure is that he's feeling lost.
The book ends way earlier than a queer trans YA book would usually end, but it leaves you with this lingering sense that this is just the beginning. That Sasha's story is his own, and this is all we'll get to see of it and you'll be satisfied with that.
Rather, it's a look into the mind of someone figuring out what they are, when they don't quite know for sure, themselves. Sasha is confused and overwhelmed by everything around him and all he knows for sure is that he's feeling lost.
The book ends way earlier than a queer trans YA book would usually end, but it leaves you with this lingering sense that this is just the beginning. That Sasha's story is his own, and this is all we'll get to see of it and you'll be satisfied with that.
November 11, 2020
DNFed. Because words used to express gay/sexuality and race irritated me. I don't care for the characters. And the writing is really haphazard. Nope.
January 5, 2021
I picked up this audiobook (provided by Libro.fm) on the recommendation of @zanyanomaly (on Instagram) .
Sasha Masha is the coming of age story of Alex. It’s a short quick read but it kept me thinking about the story and Sasha, especially for a long long time. It begins like a usual Ya contemporary novel with a protagonist who is confused about his identity and his sexuality . It sees him trying to navigate all his contradicting feelings for Tracy, his class mate and Andre, a boy he meets by chance. The author does an excellent job of translating all the confusion roiling through Alex and makes the reader empathise with him right from the start. But what made the book truly stand out was the last few chapters .
Alex is like a pupa, cocooned in the expectations society places on him, trying to fit into the mold prepared for him. Throughout the book, we see his slow metamorphosis and just as we see him bursting from his chrysalis, beginning the journey towards self discovery, the book ends. It leaves you feeling full of hope, at the start of a promising dawn and I am finding myself unable to form words for how impactful that ending was.
I initially rated the book 4 stars but that ending had me going back to listen again and again and over time, my love for the book just grew. Even almost a week after listening to it, I am still thinking of it and that definitely deserves a full five stars. Thank you Sai for recommending the book and Libro.fm for providing a copy of the audiobook . I highly recommend this one!!
Sasha Masha is the coming of age story of Alex. It’s a short quick read but it kept me thinking about the story and Sasha, especially for a long long time. It begins like a usual Ya contemporary novel with a protagonist who is confused about his identity and his sexuality . It sees him trying to navigate all his contradicting feelings for Tracy, his class mate and Andre, a boy he meets by chance. The author does an excellent job of translating all the confusion roiling through Alex and makes the reader empathise with him right from the start. But what made the book truly stand out was the last few chapters .
Alex is like a pupa, cocooned in the expectations society places on him, trying to fit into the mold prepared for him. Throughout the book, we see his slow metamorphosis and just as we see him bursting from his chrysalis, beginning the journey towards self discovery, the book ends. It leaves you feeling full of hope, at the start of a promising dawn and I am finding myself unable to form words for how impactful that ending was.
I initially rated the book 4 stars but that ending had me going back to listen again and again and over time, my love for the book just grew. Even almost a week after listening to it, I am still thinking of it and that definitely deserves a full five stars. Thank you Sai for recommending the book and Libro.fm for providing a copy of the audiobook . I highly recommend this one!!
April 29, 2021
Sasha Masha es, primero, la historia de un chico que no se siente, tal y como él dice, Real. Aunque tiene una familia que le quiere, aunque en el instituto no le va mal y aunque sigue teniendo a esa mejor amiga que acaba de mudarse a otra ciudad, Alex sabe que algo no termina de encajar en él. Pero Sasha Masha es también, y en segundo lugar, la historia en la que esa persona que vivía en tu interior por fin empieza a despertar y a salir a la luz.
Kakao siempre ha sido una editorial que nos ha dejado historias muy reivindicativas y llenas de poder. Sasha Masha llega como, quizás, el libro que puede pasar más desapercibido dentro de su catálogo, pero no por ello quiere decir que sea una lectura sin chispa ni vida. Al fin y al cabo, Sasha Masha es un relato de transición.
Agnes Borinsky, su autora, es una mujer trans. Y Sasha Masha es su voz.
A través de una novela donde acompañaremos a Alex mientras hace frente a esos miedos y a esos cambios que están por venir, la autora nos deja un testimonio bastante cercano y crudo sobre lo que significa despertar por fin de un largo sueño. Bajo una lectura rápida, que incluso se puede hacer en una tarde al estar ante un libro cortito, la búsqueda de la propia identidad volverá a ser crucial en un momento en el que todo suena confuso y extraño.
Una visión bastante enriquecedora, ya que la autora es capaz de sumergirnos en esos sentimientos que las personas trans tienen en algún momento de sus vidas, esa incertidumbre de no saber bien quiénes son, por qué no se encuentran a gusto en el mundo que les ha tocado vivir, o el miedo a no ser aceptados tal y como son por aquellos a quienes aman, tengo que reconocer que he echado en falta un punto más para que la historia fuera totalmente impactante y arrolladora.
Quizás el ser una lectura tan corta no ha beneficiado tanto a la trama, una en la que los personajes, especialmente Alex, se me han quedado algo flojos. Me hubiera gustado ver más desarrollo de cada uno de ellos, tener bien afianzada la amistad que se tiene con esa gente que, por ejemplo, también van a marcar el cambio de Alex. Como que todo camina bajo una visión muy necesaria pero no tiene la potencia suficiente como para realmente cambiarte a ti también. Habría agradecido un libro más extenso, con más páginas, que mostrara ese viaje más lentamente, pero también entiendo que el propósito de la autora está ahí y que, quizás, ella no necesitaba más para expresar esa parte de sí misma.
Sasha Masha, en sí, no ha sido una mala lectura. Creo que tiene cosas muy interesantes a las que todo el mundo debería de acercarse, pero me hubiera encantado tener una historia mucho más impactante de lo que realmente es. Aún así, me ha dado la oportunidad de conocer de manera mucho más personal lo que sienten las personas trans en ese momento crucial de sus vidas, así que me conformo con eso.
June 16, 2021
He de decir que es una pena que sea tan breve, porque la verdad es que se lee solo y resulta de lo más tierno e intenso: Alex se encuentra completamente perdido, sin saber quién es, sin ser capaz de verse como quiere, sin sentirse a gusto en el mundo, y a pesar de que cuenta con la gran ayuda de su mejor amiga como apoyo, no es suficiente para de abrirse al mundo. Sin embargo, gracias a la ayuda de André, quien le guiara en este nuevo camino, logrará quitarse un enorme peso de los hombros, y comenzar a avanzar de una vez por todas.
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
October 30, 2022
A debut novel by transgender author Agnes Borinsky. Sasha Masha tells the beautiful story of Alex, who wonders if he is in the wrong body.
As Alex grapples with his identity, he finds himself trying on dresses and lipstick in the safety of his bedroom. He meets Andre, a gay boy who is beautiful and unafraid to be who he is. Slowly, Alex begins to realise: Maybe his name isn't Alex at all. Maybe it's Sasha Masha.
As Alex grapples with his identity, he finds himself trying on dresses and lipstick in the safety of his bedroom. He meets Andre, a gay boy who is beautiful and unafraid to be who he is. Slowly, Alex begins to realise: Maybe his name isn't Alex at all. Maybe it's Sasha Masha.
Read
November 27, 2022Sasha Masha is a slice-of-life story about Sasha Masha who is trying to find words, context, an idea of who Sasha Masha is. It's not a coming-out story, but more of a figuring-yourself-out story. Fans of the coming-of-age atmosphere and slice-of-life vibes of Darius the Great Is Not Okay will definitely enjoy. (I know I did.)
Content Warnings:
Sasha Masha has to navigate a best friend just moving away, complicated parental relationships, a new girlfriend, and this feeling that creeps up sometimes. A feeling of discontent, of something not quite fitting. Sasha Masha finds it difficult to characterize, because how can you describe something you yourself barely even know what it is? How can you ask questions or ask for support, when you don't have the words to conceptualize it?
I absolutely loved how relatable this story was. The voice was fantastic and there were so many quotable lines that teen readers will really relate to. I really loved when we Sasha Masha contemplates what makes you a "real" person, or if there truly is a line between "real" people and not "real" people. I was also a big fan of the complicated family relationship Sasha Masha has, where everything is picture perfect, but Sasha Masha still feels like something's not quite right, that Sasha Masha thinks about running away sometimes.
It's contemplative and you can't help but want what's best for Sasha Masha. And we get to see moments of joy--Sasha Masha finding a whole new big queer community, Sasha Masha feeling accepted, Sasha Masha being happy that something fits. But there are moments of hurt and transphobia (and generally a lot of deadnaming, because this is a figuring-stuff-out kind of story), so please make sure you're in the right headspace to read!
I think Borinsky did a really great job of fitting so much in such a short story. I absolutely loved her audio narration of it (her voice is very calming!) and it really brought Sasha Masha to life.
Sasha Masha may be short, but it packs a big punch. I really enjoyed listening and I'd definitely recommend to readers looking for a quick, emotive figuring-yourself-out story!
Also, here's some links to some reviews by trans readers, because you really should be reading reviews by trans readers and not me! (Will update with more when I find them.)
- Here's a review by Grayson, who is also on Instagram @reading_with_pride!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the audiobook copy as part of the influencer program! Listened on 1.6x speed.
Finally, a quick note. I chose to avoid gendered pronouns for Sasha Masha in this review, contrary to most reviews using he/him. I am not trying to be intentionally coy about this, but I don't think it's right for me as a reader to pick pronouns for Sasha Masha, nor do I get the impression that Sasha Masha is entirely comfortable with he/him pronouns either.
Content Warnings:
Sasha Masha has to navigate a best friend just moving away, complicated parental relationships, a new girlfriend, and this feeling that creeps up sometimes. A feeling of discontent, of something not quite fitting. Sasha Masha finds it difficult to characterize, because how can you describe something you yourself barely even know what it is? How can you ask questions or ask for support, when you don't have the words to conceptualize it?
I absolutely loved how relatable this story was. The voice was fantastic and there were so many quotable lines that teen readers will really relate to. I really loved when we Sasha Masha contemplates what makes you a "real" person, or if there truly is a line between "real" people and not "real" people. I was also a big fan of the complicated family relationship Sasha Masha has, where everything is picture perfect, but Sasha Masha still feels like something's not quite right, that Sasha Masha thinks about running away sometimes.
"Maybe my life was just wasn't mine. Maybe it belonged to them [my parents]. It felt like my life would never actually be mine. My parents would keep tracking it and thinking about it and telling me what it was all about it until I got old and they got even older and one of us died."
It's contemplative and you can't help but want what's best for Sasha Masha. And we get to see moments of joy--Sasha Masha finding a whole new big queer community, Sasha Masha feeling accepted, Sasha Masha being happy that something fits. But there are moments of hurt and transphobia (and generally a lot of deadnaming, because this is a figuring-stuff-out kind of story), so please make sure you're in the right headspace to read!
I think Borinsky did a really great job of fitting so much in such a short story. I absolutely loved her audio narration of it (her voice is very calming!) and it really brought Sasha Masha to life.
Sasha Masha may be short, but it packs a big punch. I really enjoyed listening and I'd definitely recommend to readers looking for a quick, emotive figuring-yourself-out story!
Also, here's some links to some reviews by trans readers, because you really should be reading reviews by trans readers and not me! (Will update with more when I find them.)
- Here's a review by Grayson, who is also on Instagram @reading_with_pride!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the audiobook copy as part of the influencer program! Listened on 1.6x speed.
Finally, a quick note. I chose to avoid gendered pronouns for Sasha Masha in this review, contrary to most reviews using he/him. I am not trying to be intentionally coy about this, but I don't think it's right for me as a reader to pick pronouns for Sasha Masha, nor do I get the impression that Sasha Masha is entirely comfortable with he/him pronouns either.
December 8, 2020
I always enjoy an LBGTQ story where the character has a supportive group of friends. It makes me happy that they have someone to lean on, especially if their family isn't understanding. I believe this is based on some real events the author went through, so I'm even happier she had a good circle of people.
This follows Alex, a high school student who joins an LGBTQ group and begins to realize that he's not comfortable in his body. He comes up with the name Sasha Masha and starts to explore who he truly is. One of the kids in his new group, Andre, takes Sasha under his wing. Sasha starts to come to terms with how she feels and eventually accepts that she is transgender.
I liked this overall, Sasha is happy at the end and has good friends. I thought the story seemed a bit too light and didn't go into enough detail. Things seemed to happen quickly and I was hoping for more insight into Sasha Masha's feelings and transition. There is also a gay slur and though it's used by a gay man in a joking way, I didn't like it.
The author narrated her own book which I liked because it made it even more an #ownvoices novel.
I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This follows Alex, a high school student who joins an LGBTQ group and begins to realize that he's not comfortable in his body. He comes up with the name Sasha Masha and starts to explore who he truly is. One of the kids in his new group, Andre, takes Sasha under his wing. Sasha starts to come to terms with how she feels and eventually accepts that she is transgender.
I liked this overall, Sasha is happy at the end and has good friends. I thought the story seemed a bit too light and didn't go into enough detail. Things seemed to happen quickly and I was hoping for more insight into Sasha Masha's feelings and transition. There is also a gay slur and though it's used by a gay man in a joking way, I didn't like it.
The author narrated her own book which I liked because it made it even more an #ownvoices novel.
I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 30, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley & Libro.FM for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Alex doesn't feel right in his body. He's never been able to put what he feels into words. But one time while playing vintage dress up with his best friend Mabel, he puts on a dress and names himself Sasha Masha. Now that Mabel has moved away, Alex is feeling even more lost. When he decides to go to the queer teen group, he decides to go as Sasha Masha, and for the first time in a long time, he feels alive.
This was a short and sweet book about a person realizing they're transgender. As Sasha surrounds herself with more people who have an idea of what she's going through, she sees what it could be like to live as her true self. I loved seeing Sasha find new friends in Andre and his friends. Having a small group of supporting friends is critical to transitioning people.
The ending felt kind of abrupt to me, and I wasn't certain of Sasha's path from there. However, I loved how emotional this book was, it gave me all the feels. The only thing that I didn't like was the fact that an older gay man used a slur for gay people. Can we not?
Alex doesn't feel right in his body. He's never been able to put what he feels into words. But one time while playing vintage dress up with his best friend Mabel, he puts on a dress and names himself Sasha Masha. Now that Mabel has moved away, Alex is feeling even more lost. When he decides to go to the queer teen group, he decides to go as Sasha Masha, and for the first time in a long time, he feels alive.
This was a short and sweet book about a person realizing they're transgender. As Sasha surrounds herself with more people who have an idea of what she's going through, she sees what it could be like to live as her true self. I loved seeing Sasha find new friends in Andre and his friends. Having a small group of supporting friends is critical to transitioning people.
The ending felt kind of abrupt to me, and I wasn't certain of Sasha's path from there. However, I loved how emotional this book was, it gave me all the feels. The only thing that I didn't like was the fact that an older gay man used a slur for gay people. Can we not?
December 2, 2020
I don't think this will be a book for everyone, but I don't think it's trying to be. Sasha Masha is a short book where we follow a main character who is exploring gender and sexuality. The way that Sasha Masha describes their experiences will resonate a lot with trans readers, especially those who grew up feeling that they were just going through the motions of life while feeling that something is "off." The audiobook was incredibly well done, and I would definitely recommend it. I do think that this book could have been a little bit longer. I wanted to learn more about some of the characters that were introduced, and the ending felt a little abrupt for me.
*ARC provided by Netgalley
*ARC provided by Netgalley
May 30, 2021
Conmovedora e intensa.
El camino de Sasha Masha hasta descubrir quién es realmente, su crecimiento y sus sentimientos... wow.
El camino de Sasha Masha hasta descubrir quién es realmente, su crecimiento y sus sentimientos... wow.
June 22, 2021
3.5 stars rated up for Goodreads.
"I'd wish I could send my body away and just be touch, and lips, and the flutter of a heartbeat."
An intimate YA glimpse into the life of a teenager who, not fully fitting into their own skin, begins the journey of self-discovery through gender exploration.
Alex comes from a stable and loving 2-parent home. He does well in school, doesn't drink or do drugs, engage in explicit sex or other high-risk behaviors, and has friends and even a girlfriend. Yet sometimes "flickers of anger started to rise from my stomach and tease at my shoulders" when his dad did things like declare, wink wink nudge nudge, guys are more into girls then clothes.
Because what Alex felt when he had put on a dress, imagined a Russian princess, and christened her beautiful reflection Sasha Masha made "my breath drop down deeper into my belly. I felt my heart slow and the muscles that clenched my ribs together go slack." It made Alex want to let the "creature who wanted to run around inside me, a creature who I mostly kept locked away in a room" go free.
This is an important book. Borinsky removed the "trauma porn" component present in many explorations of queer and gender identity, making this a wholesome read fully focused on the sense of discomfort and angst caused by not fitting into the package a body presents to the world. The pure exploration of internal feeling as a non-reaction to external circumstances is an important reality necessary to expand society's understanding of gender identity and Sasha Masha absolutely achieved this.
Yet for this jaded old broad (me), it was a little too tame, lacking in trauma 🙄, complications, plot, and slim on secondary complex characters. Nevertheless, for insight into a topic many cisgendered people do not understand, and the need for people who are embarking on their own journey to feel seen and heard, it is a very meaningful read.
"I'd wish I could send my body away and just be touch, and lips, and the flutter of a heartbeat."
An intimate YA glimpse into the life of a teenager who, not fully fitting into their own skin, begins the journey of self-discovery through gender exploration.
Alex comes from a stable and loving 2-parent home. He does well in school, doesn't drink or do drugs, engage in explicit sex or other high-risk behaviors, and has friends and even a girlfriend. Yet sometimes "flickers of anger started to rise from my stomach and tease at my shoulders" when his dad did things like declare, wink wink nudge nudge, guys are more into girls then clothes.
Because what Alex felt when he had put on a dress, imagined a Russian princess, and christened her beautiful reflection Sasha Masha made "my breath drop down deeper into my belly. I felt my heart slow and the muscles that clenched my ribs together go slack." It made Alex want to let the "creature who wanted to run around inside me, a creature who I mostly kept locked away in a room" go free.
This is an important book. Borinsky removed the "trauma porn" component present in many explorations of queer and gender identity, making this a wholesome read fully focused on the sense of discomfort and angst caused by not fitting into the package a body presents to the world. The pure exploration of internal feeling as a non-reaction to external circumstances is an important reality necessary to expand society's understanding of gender identity and Sasha Masha absolutely achieved this.
Yet for this jaded old broad (me), it was a little too tame, lacking in trauma 🙄, complications, plot, and slim on secondary complex characters. Nevertheless, for insight into a topic many cisgendered people do not understand, and the need for people who are embarking on their own journey to feel seen and heard, it is a very meaningful read.
October 21, 2020
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest opinion. Thank you so much, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the chance to read and review this book.
Alex has good grades, he's a good student, a good son and friend, he's quiet, people, grown-ups like him and he's the kind and smiling kid everyone like. But he doesn't feel right in his own skin, in his own body. To complicate things, then comes Tracy, who likes him, who is cutely awkward and wants to be with him. Tracy who makes him feel more Real, but still Alex feels something is missing, something isn't right.
While grappling with his identity and sexuality, trying new things, asking himself questions, he meets Andre, a gay boy who is unafraid of himself and his sexuality, who helps him understand who Alex really is.
Transgender author Agnes Borinsky wrote a wonderful and intense novel about gender identity, sexuality and discovery. Told in first person, by Alex's POV, the novel is heart-wrenching and beautiful and messy. The reader follows Alex questioning himself, his sexuality, his preferred pronouns, who is or she is, how to talk with his parents and friends and so on.
Mabel, his best friend, who unfortunately moved at the beginning of the novel, is a wonderful and constant presence in his life, helping and supporting Alex in understanding himself. It's thanks to her and a dress, Alex starts to question himself and who he or she is. It was intense reading about the pressure Alex feels about what people, his parents, his classmates, think he is and what he should do and be.
I loved reading about Lavender Ladder, a safe place when queer people meets, with queer groups, movie nights, parties and slowly Alex is introduced in a new and wonderful world, with people just like him, ready to help him understand and process.
Through friends and love, Alex slowly starts to understand his new identity and sexuality and to use the real name: Sasha Masha, a name Alex felt intensily.
The way Alex thinks about Real people, people who are confident in their bodies and in what they do really hit me hard.
I loved reading this book. It's very peculiar, because the reader follows Alex in his thoughts and questions, so it can be messy while he's trying to figure out himself and his sexuality and, at the same time, it's very realistic. Sasha Masha is about the beginning of a process, a slowly realizing of who Alex is, a sort of slice of life in Alex's life, while Alex struggles with questions, schools, friends, girlfriend and crushes.
Reading this novel it felt like I was snooping in Alex's life, following him around and it was really heartwrenching reading him realizing the real name, identity and sexuality.
It's a book about queer people, love, discovery, questioning and gender identity and it's really beautiful.
"I have this theory that some people are Real People and some people are not. Real people are comfortable being themselves and don't have to think about what they want. They laugh out loud and they eat when they are hungry and they say what they're thinking not matter who is listening. And the paradox of it is that the harder you try to be Real, the deeper you know that you are not." (quote taken from the earc, so it can be subject to changes)
Alex has good grades, he's a good student, a good son and friend, he's quiet, people, grown-ups like him and he's the kind and smiling kid everyone like. But he doesn't feel right in his own skin, in his own body. To complicate things, then comes Tracy, who likes him, who is cutely awkward and wants to be with him. Tracy who makes him feel more Real, but still Alex feels something is missing, something isn't right.
While grappling with his identity and sexuality, trying new things, asking himself questions, he meets Andre, a gay boy who is unafraid of himself and his sexuality, who helps him understand who Alex really is.
Transgender author Agnes Borinsky wrote a wonderful and intense novel about gender identity, sexuality and discovery. Told in first person, by Alex's POV, the novel is heart-wrenching and beautiful and messy. The reader follows Alex questioning himself, his sexuality, his preferred pronouns, who is or she is, how to talk with his parents and friends and so on.
Mabel, his best friend, who unfortunately moved at the beginning of the novel, is a wonderful and constant presence in his life, helping and supporting Alex in understanding himself. It's thanks to her and a dress, Alex starts to question himself and who he or she is. It was intense reading about the pressure Alex feels about what people, his parents, his classmates, think he is and what he should do and be.
I loved reading about Lavender Ladder, a safe place when queer people meets, with queer groups, movie nights, parties and slowly Alex is introduced in a new and wonderful world, with people just like him, ready to help him understand and process.
Through friends and love, Alex slowly starts to understand his new identity and sexuality and to use the real name: Sasha Masha, a name Alex felt intensily.
The way Alex thinks about Real people, people who are confident in their bodies and in what they do really hit me hard.
I loved reading this book. It's very peculiar, because the reader follows Alex in his thoughts and questions, so it can be messy while he's trying to figure out himself and his sexuality and, at the same time, it's very realistic. Sasha Masha is about the beginning of a process, a slowly realizing of who Alex is, a sort of slice of life in Alex's life, while Alex struggles with questions, schools, friends, girlfriend and crushes.
Reading this novel it felt like I was snooping in Alex's life, following him around and it was really heartwrenching reading him realizing the real name, identity and sexuality.
It's a book about queer people, love, discovery, questioning and gender identity and it's really beautiful.
"I have this theory that some people are Real People and some people are not. Real people are comfortable being themselves and don't have to think about what they want. They laugh out loud and they eat when they are hungry and they say what they're thinking not matter who is listening. And the paradox of it is that the harder you try to be Real, the deeper you know that you are not." (quote taken from the earc, so it can be subject to changes)
January 30, 2022
I didn't expect the book to be so short! Even so, it packs a lot and it is really well-written.
Alex is a studious teenager, always smiling and, as he says, being what everyone else expects of him. His best friend, Mabel, moves away before the beginning of the new school year, so he's left alone. He starts dating, but at the same time he also starts thinking about his gender identity, especially when he sees an older picture where Mabel and he were playing "dress up" and he put on a fancy dress while calling himself Sasha Masha. He thinks how good he felt wearing it, and so he attends a meeting for queer teens, where he meets Andre who introduces him to queer culture, and Alex is free to explore what being Sasha Masha means.
I really related to Alex feeling like he was waiting for his "real life" to start. That felt like apunch. Also, after reading that the author is a playwright too, I can definitely see that in the way this book was written too. Not in a bad sense, just the way it was constructed.
Rep: trans main character, lesbian side character, gay side characters, trans side character
Alex is a studious teenager, always smiling and, as he says, being what everyone else expects of him. His best friend, Mabel, moves away before the beginning of the new school year, so he's left alone. He starts dating, but at the same time he also starts thinking about his gender identity, especially when he sees an older picture where Mabel and he were playing "dress up" and he put on a fancy dress while calling himself Sasha Masha. He thinks how good he felt wearing it, and so he attends a meeting for queer teens, where he meets Andre who introduces him to queer culture, and Alex is free to explore what being Sasha Masha means.
I really related to Alex feeling like he was waiting for his "real life" to start. That felt like apunch. Also, after reading that the author is a playwright too, I can definitely see that in the way this book was written too. Not in a bad sense, just the way it was constructed.
Rep: trans main character, lesbian side character, gay side characters, trans side character
January 18, 2022
Devorada en una mañana, es una novella de descubriniento. De partir de saber que algo no cuadra hasta que descubres por dónde quieres empezar a buscar.
No se debería esperar una gran reflexión después de este libro.
Al fin y al cabo es una puerta para empezar a entender por qué la gente puede preguntarse si son personas Reales.
No se debería esperar una gran reflexión después de este libro.
Al fin y al cabo es una puerta para empezar a entender por qué la gente puede preguntarse si son personas Reales.
April 1, 2023
Sasha Masha is a coming out of age novel. It's about coming to terms with your identity, finding yourself. I really liked it and I feel like it can be a very helpful read for someone who is stuggling the same as Alex did. Especially trans teens. While I can not say I know what it's like to go through this, I'm thankful that I got a chance to read more about it and maybe learn few things.
July 2, 2021
It’s hard not to root for Sasha Masha the character, and it’s the author’s most impressive achievement in telling Sasha Masha’s story with such nuance and subtlety. Some aspects of the story seemed underdeveloped—it’s not often I wish a novel were longer, but I was left wanting more.
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