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The Other Me
A Harmony Ink Press Young Adult Title
Fifteen-year-old Treasa Prescott thinks she's an alien. She doesn’t fit in with the preppy South African private school crowd and feels claustrophobic in her own skin. Treasa is worried she might spend life as a social pariah when she meets Gabriel du Preez. Gabriel plays the piano better than Beethoven, has a black belt in karate, and would look good wearing a garbage bag. Treasa thinks he’s perfect. It might even be love, as long as Gabriel doesn't find out she's a freak.
As Treasa spends time with Gabriel, she realizes she might not love him as much as she wants to be him, and that the reason she feels uncomfortable in her skin might have less to do with extra-terrestrial origins and more to do with being born in the wrong body.
But Gabriel is not the perfect boy Treasa imagines. He harbors dark secrets and self-destructive tendencies. Still, Treasa might be able to accept Gabriel’s baggage if he can accept who she longs to be.
Fifteen-year-old Treasa Prescott thinks she's an alien. She doesn’t fit in with the preppy South African private school crowd and feels claustrophobic in her own skin. Treasa is worried she might spend life as a social pariah when she meets Gabriel du Preez. Gabriel plays the piano better than Beethoven, has a black belt in karate, and would look good wearing a garbage bag. Treasa thinks he’s perfect. It might even be love, as long as Gabriel doesn't find out she's a freak.
As Treasa spends time with Gabriel, she realizes she might not love him as much as she wants to be him, and that the reason she feels uncomfortable in her skin might have less to do with extra-terrestrial origins and more to do with being born in the wrong body.
But Gabriel is not the perfect boy Treasa imagines. He harbors dark secrets and self-destructive tendencies. Still, Treasa might be able to accept Gabriel’s baggage if he can accept who she longs to be.
216 pages, ebook
First published December 18, 2013
About the author
Xan van Rooyen
33 books107 followersI'm a genderqueer non-binary author with a penchant for the dark and strange. I primarily write SFF but enjoy literary writing as well. (Pronouns she or they)
When not writing, I teach music at an international school, climb, eat anything involving peanut butter, and serve the whims of my shiba inu.
I've also published stories and novels as Suzanne van Rooyen and you can find those on the link under 'influences' in my profile.
When not writing, I teach music at an international school, climb, eat anything involving peanut butter, and serve the whims of my shiba inu.
I've also published stories and novels as Suzanne van Rooyen and you can find those on the link under 'influences' in my profile.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 30, 2013
"Do you know what it's like to live every day feeling trapped, feeling cheated by God and biology? Nobody asked me if I wanted this body." I grab at my boobs, wishing I could tear them right off. "Every day-" My voice cracks, and a new onslaught of tears threatens to wreck my complexion. "Every day, I wish I'd never been born, because then I wouldn't have to live this lie."
You know how sometimes you can start reading a book, and despite it being a fantastic and engrossing read, it can feel like you've read it before because of the subject matter? Well, The Other Me is a fantastic read. It is a book that completely drags you into the story and it is so completely original and unique that you will never once feel like it's been done before. And that's because I've never read a book based around this subject before.
At some stage in our lives we all experiment with the way we look, the clothes we wear and how we wear our hair. Imagine doing all of that because the body that you are in feels so completely foreign to you. Fifteen year old Treasa Prescott feels like an alien. An alien living in the body of a girl. Then she meets Gabriel du Preez and she is instantly drawn to him. She thinks he's perfect. But Gabriel is fighting some pretty heavy demons of his own and he believes that he doesn't deserve someone like Treasa. But he can't seem to get her out of his head. When their secrets are revealed how will they both deal with the very real and deep feelings that they have both developed?
He smiles, and not even the sunshine parting the clouds or the rainbow hanging in the sky comes close to the radiance of his expression.
I love books written in dual point of view. The ultimate way to get to know both main characters on a deeper level. Being able to get a true feeling for what they are experiencing allows a much greater connection and understanding of not just the characters, but also the story. And The Other Me allowed me, as the reader to feel both characters pain. I didn't expect to be so taken in by this story and it's characters. But the things that they were both dealing with pulled at my heart. It ached for them. Going through your teenage years can be hard at the best of times, but Treasa and Gabriel are dealing with so much on top of the norm.
I loved Suzanne Van Rooyen's writing style. It made reading her words so easy. Her characters came across as incredibly real. Add all of that into the uniqueness of the stories subject and The Other Me turned out to be a book that I absolutely loved. So much in fact that I would love to read more of these characters. I would love to see how Treasa deals with all the changes she will be going through. I would love to see the deeper development of the friendship between Gabriel and Tristan. And I would love to be there as Gabriel and his Dad repair their relationship.
My only negative, if you could even call it that, was that I felt the end wrapped up too quickly. But aside from that, if you are looking for a Young Adult contemporary, with a storyline that hasn't been done before, then I couldn't recommend The Other Me highly enough.
4.5/5 Original Stars.
You know how sometimes you can start reading a book, and despite it being a fantastic and engrossing read, it can feel like you've read it before because of the subject matter? Well, The Other Me is a fantastic read. It is a book that completely drags you into the story and it is so completely original and unique that you will never once feel like it's been done before. And that's because I've never read a book based around this subject before.
At some stage in our lives we all experiment with the way we look, the clothes we wear and how we wear our hair. Imagine doing all of that because the body that you are in feels so completely foreign to you. Fifteen year old Treasa Prescott feels like an alien. An alien living in the body of a girl. Then she meets Gabriel du Preez and she is instantly drawn to him. She thinks he's perfect. But Gabriel is fighting some pretty heavy demons of his own and he believes that he doesn't deserve someone like Treasa. But he can't seem to get her out of his head. When their secrets are revealed how will they both deal with the very real and deep feelings that they have both developed?
He smiles, and not even the sunshine parting the clouds or the rainbow hanging in the sky comes close to the radiance of his expression.
I love books written in dual point of view. The ultimate way to get to know both main characters on a deeper level. Being able to get a true feeling for what they are experiencing allows a much greater connection and understanding of not just the characters, but also the story. And The Other Me allowed me, as the reader to feel both characters pain. I didn't expect to be so taken in by this story and it's characters. But the things that they were both dealing with pulled at my heart. It ached for them. Going through your teenage years can be hard at the best of times, but Treasa and Gabriel are dealing with so much on top of the norm.
I loved Suzanne Van Rooyen's writing style. It made reading her words so easy. Her characters came across as incredibly real. Add all of that into the uniqueness of the stories subject and The Other Me turned out to be a book that I absolutely loved. So much in fact that I would love to read more of these characters. I would love to see how Treasa deals with all the changes she will be going through. I would love to see the deeper development of the friendship between Gabriel and Tristan. And I would love to be there as Gabriel and his Dad repair their relationship.
My only negative, if you could even call it that, was that I felt the end wrapped up too quickly. But aside from that, if you are looking for a Young Adult contemporary, with a storyline that hasn't been done before, then I couldn't recommend The Other Me highly enough.
4.5/5 Original Stars.
August 1, 2014
*Copy given for Honest Review*
This is a fairly quick read, as it's young adult and not long. It's relatively fast-paced, as I expected. The YA genre and length should not be deterrents for anyone interested in the subject, however. This was hands-down one of the best works of YA queer fiction I've ever read.
It is the story of a South African trans teenager, though it is also in part a love story. Not merely in the romantic sense (though there's a bit of that too) but in a general sense, including self-acceptance and love between friends or family members. Most people, not only teenagers, would be able to relate to the themes of feeling like an outsider and of being trapped in a life or body that feel wrong.
The first thing that impressed me was that it's about a trans boy. More often than not, trans fiction focuses on people living their authentic lives as girls/women. Of the several YA tans-themed books I've read previously, all were about trans girls. The second thing of note is that it's told mainly from Treasa's perspective and with Treasa's feelings about actually being a boy. Other books have told trans stories mainly from the perspective of lovers or family members. Finally, the last thing that stood out was that Treasa is also not straight. Again, the vast majority of my previous readings have involved trans people who are presumed gay until they transition, but Treasa maintains a preference for boys throughout.
Another aspect to Treasa's identity as a gay boy is that often, trans stories are incredibly binary. In other words, someone "proves" to be a "real" boy because of a love for sports and typically masculine pursuits and interests. Treasa is, even as a boy, still somewhat gender-non-conforming. I appreciate that the author didn't go overboard to assure us just how much of a boy Treasa truly is.
Those things alone make the book an absorbing read. In addition, the two main point-of-view characters, Treasa and Gabriel, are both very different from the teenagers who populate many YA novels. They both have secrets and things about which they feel hurt and shame, however, both are highly sympathetic characters. They are the sort of people who feel like friends after reading their stories. Characters are always my favorite part of any story, and I found myself drawn to both of them.
The only things about which I had any concerns are a few minor implications. First, Treasa muses that it must not be normal for a girl to want to write fan fiction about two boys. It's hard to tell whether this is the author's view as well or whether Treasa just feels like an "alien" already that everything is suspect.
My other concern was that Gabriel insists throughout the book that his few very minor gender-non-conforming behaviors (mainly music and nail polish) don't make him gay. But he does it to the point that I couldn't help wondering who he was trying to convince--himself or the reader. Again, it was hard to tell if this was the author's insertion of her views or genuinely part of his character, an unwillingness to question his own sexuality. This becomes particularly important towards the end of the story.
These concerns are not reasons to dislike the book. On the contrary, they provide excellent talking points. Rather than making assumptions about the author's intent or rejecting the book for perceived flaws, we should have open dialog about what those things mean.
Overall, I rank this as one of my all-time favorite YA books. Despite the fact that I'm well past the target age and rarely read the genre, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend it to anyone who has adolescents, in part because the beginning of empathy is understanding. Provided the book is still in print, I fully plan to make sure my kids read it when they are older.
I give this book 4.5 stars.
~Amy
This is a fairly quick read, as it's young adult and not long. It's relatively fast-paced, as I expected. The YA genre and length should not be deterrents for anyone interested in the subject, however. This was hands-down one of the best works of YA queer fiction I've ever read.
It is the story of a South African trans teenager, though it is also in part a love story. Not merely in the romantic sense (though there's a bit of that too) but in a general sense, including self-acceptance and love between friends or family members. Most people, not only teenagers, would be able to relate to the themes of feeling like an outsider and of being trapped in a life or body that feel wrong.
The first thing that impressed me was that it's about a trans boy. More often than not, trans fiction focuses on people living their authentic lives as girls/women. Of the several YA tans-themed books I've read previously, all were about trans girls. The second thing of note is that it's told mainly from Treasa's perspective and with Treasa's feelings about actually being a boy. Other books have told trans stories mainly from the perspective of lovers or family members. Finally, the last thing that stood out was that Treasa is also not straight. Again, the vast majority of my previous readings have involved trans people who are presumed gay until they transition, but Treasa maintains a preference for boys throughout.
Another aspect to Treasa's identity as a gay boy is that often, trans stories are incredibly binary. In other words, someone "proves" to be a "real" boy because of a love for sports and typically masculine pursuits and interests. Treasa is, even as a boy, still somewhat gender-non-conforming. I appreciate that the author didn't go overboard to assure us just how much of a boy Treasa truly is.
Those things alone make the book an absorbing read. In addition, the two main point-of-view characters, Treasa and Gabriel, are both very different from the teenagers who populate many YA novels. They both have secrets and things about which they feel hurt and shame, however, both are highly sympathetic characters. They are the sort of people who feel like friends after reading their stories. Characters are always my favorite part of any story, and I found myself drawn to both of them.
The only things about which I had any concerns are a few minor implications. First, Treasa muses that it must not be normal for a girl to want to write fan fiction about two boys. It's hard to tell whether this is the author's view as well or whether Treasa just feels like an "alien" already that everything is suspect.
My other concern was that Gabriel insists throughout the book that his few very minor gender-non-conforming behaviors (mainly music and nail polish) don't make him gay. But he does it to the point that I couldn't help wondering who he was trying to convince--himself or the reader. Again, it was hard to tell if this was the author's insertion of her views or genuinely part of his character, an unwillingness to question his own sexuality. This becomes particularly important towards the end of the story.
These concerns are not reasons to dislike the book. On the contrary, they provide excellent talking points. Rather than making assumptions about the author's intent or rejecting the book for perceived flaws, we should have open dialog about what those things mean.
Overall, I rank this as one of my all-time favorite YA books. Despite the fact that I'm well past the target age and rarely read the genre, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend it to anyone who has adolescents, in part because the beginning of empathy is understanding. Provided the book is still in print, I fully plan to make sure my kids read it when they are older.
I give this book 4.5 stars.
~Amy
March 3, 2015
When I read this book back in December of 2013, I absolutely fell in love with the storytelling style of this author. It was done in alternating POVs of both Gabriel and Treasa, and was really nice to 'get in their heads' so to speak. And the fact there was a glossary at the beginning of the book, well, it came in real handy, as I was VERY unfamiliar with the Afrikaans way of life and terminology.
Gender Dysphoria. What is it? Is it something we should know about, or better yet, how will it make me a better person in understanding what it is? This book does a very good job of explaining it in a very relatable way when we are introduced to one of our main characters, Treasa.
Going through a day in the life of a South African teen, well, it was like I was there, like the author gave me a plane ticket, and let me be a voyeur in another culture, following along in these young people's daily activities in such a way that I could smell, see, and hear everything from their homes, their school-life and from their individual, very personal point of view.
I loved the way the author handled Treasa's questioning and confusion so delicately, gradually, and yet so matter of fact. It worked so well that I could actually see the wheels turning in the minds of the people around Treasa also.
This was more of a coming to self-realization piece than a romance, even though I was happy to see there was some sweet romance included, it wasn't what I'd consider the focus. First and foremost, I think it was written in a way that a young person would be able to relate to Treasa, and not feel alone, or abnormal if they also felt like they were 'in the wrong skin' so to speak. And Gabriel, with his troubles, was very relatable, also.
I came away from this story knowing I would always remember these two young people, and the writer's style was so natural and fluid, that I know I will look forward to more books written by her. Highly recommended!
Gender Dysphoria. What is it? Is it something we should know about, or better yet, how will it make me a better person in understanding what it is? This book does a very good job of explaining it in a very relatable way when we are introduced to one of our main characters, Treasa.
Going through a day in the life of a South African teen, well, it was like I was there, like the author gave me a plane ticket, and let me be a voyeur in another culture, following along in these young people's daily activities in such a way that I could smell, see, and hear everything from their homes, their school-life and from their individual, very personal point of view.
I loved the way the author handled Treasa's questioning and confusion so delicately, gradually, and yet so matter of fact. It worked so well that I could actually see the wheels turning in the minds of the people around Treasa also.
This was more of a coming to self-realization piece than a romance, even though I was happy to see there was some sweet romance included, it wasn't what I'd consider the focus. First and foremost, I think it was written in a way that a young person would be able to relate to Treasa, and not feel alone, or abnormal if they also felt like they were 'in the wrong skin' so to speak. And Gabriel, with his troubles, was very relatable, also.
I came away from this story knowing I would always remember these two young people, and the writer's style was so natural and fluid, that I know I will look forward to more books written by her. Highly recommended!
June 27, 2014
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
I really liked the sound of the blurb, but I never expected to like it as much as I did. I really like this authors writing style and as soon as I started this book I just couldn't stop reading it. The story totally captured my attention. The story is fresh and original and the author captures those teenager feelings of feeling left out so well. I could totally relate to Treasa, even though she has different problems, those feelings of being alone and misunderstood are feelings I struggled with when I was a teenager as well. I loved how well Suzanne captured those feelings and wrote this story without being afraid to handle the difficult topics.
I really liked the characters and how real they felt, for some reason I love it in contemporary romance books when the character feel real. They acted realistic and I enjoyed learning more asbout these two troubled teenagers. The two point of view thing really worked for this story and gives the reader both Treasa and Gabriel their point of view. Both have their issues, but I really liked both of them and understood why they acted the way they did. While dealing with some serious topics, it managed to have enough light and funny moments as well.
I really liked the romance in this book. The ending was a bit too open for my taste, while on the one hand it was a great ending, I also wanted more. I grew to like these characters and I just wanted to know what would happen next.
There are some south african words thrown in, but as the language looks a lot like Dutch (my mother language) I didn't have much difficulty understanding the words and I liked how this book was set in a country i've never read about, although there wasn't much focus on the setting I still liked it.
To conclude: I really enjoyed The Other Me and once I started it I didn't want to put it down. I really like Suzanne her writing style and I loved how well she wrote about difficult issues and managed to write those feelings of feeling alone and different so well. The ending was great, although a bit too open for my taste. The romance was done well. The Other Me is one of the most fresh and original Young Adult contemporary romances I read in a while!
I really liked the sound of the blurb, but I never expected to like it as much as I did. I really like this authors writing style and as soon as I started this book I just couldn't stop reading it. The story totally captured my attention. The story is fresh and original and the author captures those teenager feelings of feeling left out so well. I could totally relate to Treasa, even though she has different problems, those feelings of being alone and misunderstood are feelings I struggled with when I was a teenager as well. I loved how well Suzanne captured those feelings and wrote this story without being afraid to handle the difficult topics.
I really liked the characters and how real they felt, for some reason I love it in contemporary romance books when the character feel real. They acted realistic and I enjoyed learning more asbout these two troubled teenagers. The two point of view thing really worked for this story and gives the reader both Treasa and Gabriel their point of view. Both have their issues, but I really liked both of them and understood why they acted the way they did. While dealing with some serious topics, it managed to have enough light and funny moments as well.
I really liked the romance in this book. The ending was a bit too open for my taste, while on the one hand it was a great ending, I also wanted more. I grew to like these characters and I just wanted to know what would happen next.
There are some south african words thrown in, but as the language looks a lot like Dutch (my mother language) I didn't have much difficulty understanding the words and I liked how this book was set in a country i've never read about, although there wasn't much focus on the setting I still liked it.
To conclude: I really enjoyed The Other Me and once I started it I didn't want to put it down. I really like Suzanne her writing style and I loved how well she wrote about difficult issues and managed to write those feelings of feeling alone and different so well. The ending was great, although a bit too open for my taste. The romance was done well. The Other Me is one of the most fresh and original Young Adult contemporary romances I read in a while!
November 12, 2015
I have really contradictory feelings about this novel. On one hand, it felt way too long, but on the other, I thought it didn't get to the point until the very end. Reading from the back cover that one of the main characters "wants to be a boy" (I'm quoting because it's a problematic phrase, but it's the one the character/author used), and having been recommended this book as a YA novel with a trans main character, the huge plot twist wasn't really a plot twist at all, and that was a bit disappointing.
I'm wondering to what kind of reader is this book intended to. If you pick out the clues about the character's gender identity early, there is really no point to the story. If you don't pick them up, do you have enough knowledge on trans issues to feel like the story is complete? Doesn't it really leave everything hanging in the air?
I understand the need/want to write a book about someone who hasn't yet figured out their gender identity, and who does so during the book. That's an important point and very welcome to the genre, I think. (From my experience, most YA books with a trans main character go along the lines "I've always know and now I've decided to come out") But still, the story felt inconsistent. There wasn't much text/talk/pondering about gender or gender identity or expression. Of course the typical, "I don't want to wear a dress" type of speech was present, but it felt like the book was built on one metaphor (feeling like an alien because you're trans), and that's how far it got. Nothing to relate to, and the moment when Tristan realized they are trans, is just skipped over and left as "something huge to be revealed later".
I was a bit disappointed, and I'm giving the novel three stars mainly for the effort.
I'm wondering to what kind of reader is this book intended to. If you pick out the clues about the character's gender identity early, there is really no point to the story. If you don't pick them up, do you have enough knowledge on trans issues to feel like the story is complete? Doesn't it really leave everything hanging in the air?
I understand the need/want to write a book about someone who hasn't yet figured out their gender identity, and who does so during the book. That's an important point and very welcome to the genre, I think. (From my experience, most YA books with a trans main character go along the lines "I've always know and now I've decided to come out") But still, the story felt inconsistent. There wasn't much text/talk/pondering about gender or gender identity or expression. Of course the typical, "I don't want to wear a dress" type of speech was present, but it felt like the book was built on one metaphor (feeling like an alien because you're trans), and that's how far it got. Nothing to relate to, and the moment when Tristan realized they are trans, is just skipped over and left as "something huge to be revealed later".
I was a bit disappointed, and I'm giving the novel three stars mainly for the effort.
March 17, 2014
Review first published on my blog, Pieces of Whimsy.
4.5/5
This book is a great new contemporary read, so different from everything else that's out there, and it is brilliant! Suzanne van Rooyen does a brilliant job of crafting a story that is not only entertaining and engaging, but interesting and unique too.
There are several important issues that were brought up in this book, one of which I haven't come across before: gender dysphoria. Not to get too technical but basically one of the main characters, Treasa, while having the physical appearance/body of a woman, emotionally/mentally/spiritually Treasa knew she was a boy; outside = female, inside = male. Now this is a difficult topic and I was a little worried about how the author would approach it, but I have to say I was blown away.Everything in this book was handled tastefully and in a way so it remained real and true to the characters and situations.
The ending of The Other Me was perfect. Though I would've have loved to read more about Gabriel and Treasa, when you love characters you never want to let them go, I don't think the author could've have done a better job in ending this book. It left you with just the right amount of wonder and hope and I must really applaud Suzanne at doing such a fantastic ending!
This book was about forgiveness, acceptance, and looking past appearances and what's on the outside, and I was captivated by the story from start to finish. This is a wonderful contemporary story and I'm so glad I read it!
4.5/5
This book is a great new contemporary read, so different from everything else that's out there, and it is brilliant! Suzanne van Rooyen does a brilliant job of crafting a story that is not only entertaining and engaging, but interesting and unique too.
There are several important issues that were brought up in this book, one of which I haven't come across before: gender dysphoria. Not to get too technical but basically one of the main characters, Treasa, while having the physical appearance/body of a woman, emotionally/mentally/spiritually Treasa knew she was a boy; outside = female, inside = male. Now this is a difficult topic and I was a little worried about how the author would approach it, but I have to say I was blown away.Everything in this book was handled tastefully and in a way so it remained real and true to the characters and situations.
The ending of The Other Me was perfect. Though I would've have loved to read more about Gabriel and Treasa, when you love characters you never want to let them go, I don't think the author could've have done a better job in ending this book. It left you with just the right amount of wonder and hope and I must really applaud Suzanne at doing such a fantastic ending!
This book was about forgiveness, acceptance, and looking past appearances and what's on the outside, and I was captivated by the story from start to finish. This is a wonderful contemporary story and I'm so glad I read it!
December 29, 2013
Finally a teenage girl I can relate to, and not a school drama full of candy floss and makeup!
The Other Me tells a story of Treasa, alien to her own body, and Gabriel, the troubled multi-talent boy. Discussing their feelings and fears makes this book interesting on multiple levels: Nobody is perfect and you should not fear what you feel inside. The musical and school related themes bind the story well together to a believable teenager scenario one can truly relate to. You find yourself cheering for the characters to go on and express themselves, and they do.
This book is a good read for teenagers and parents alike if one is having a hard time with theirselves, or a loved one is experiencing alienated feelings regarding their own body. Life is not about fitting into a norm, but discovering what you feel and love.
I enjoyed the book. Hoped it to be longer, but the ending still left me with a happy, fuzzy feeling of the story.
The Other Me tells a story of Treasa, alien to her own body, and Gabriel, the troubled multi-talent boy. Discussing their feelings and fears makes this book interesting on multiple levels: Nobody is perfect and you should not fear what you feel inside. The musical and school related themes bind the story well together to a believable teenager scenario one can truly relate to. You find yourself cheering for the characters to go on and express themselves, and they do.
This book is a good read for teenagers and parents alike if one is having a hard time with theirselves, or a loved one is experiencing alienated feelings regarding their own body. Life is not about fitting into a norm, but discovering what you feel and love.
I enjoyed the book. Hoped it to be longer, but the ending still left me with a happy, fuzzy feeling of the story.
March 15, 2014
Every once in a while I encounter a novel that has so much resonance that I feel as if author Suzanne van Rooyen has written the book with just me in mind. The Other Me is such a story. Set in South Africa, this novel is told from the perspectives of two teenagers at a time of their lives when they are coming to terms with aspects of their selves.
See the full review at http://yougottaread.com/review-the-ot...
See the full review at http://yougottaread.com/review-the-ot...
January 27, 2014
I was expecting something completely different than I read, but I'm glad I was wrong. The Other Me focuses on a girl named Treasa who suffers from Gender Dysphoria. The author, I think, did a good job making the reader feel Treasa's confusion and feelings of being abnormal as she struggles to fit in as a teenager, but also as a boy. Really great read!
April 27, 2014
Hoping for a sequel with these boys in the future.
December 12, 2017
Nicely intersecting stories here—Treasa* trying to understand her feelings towards her body and Gabriel struggling with the loss of his mother, while they also have a fledgling sort-of romance. I love that van Rooyen made a point to separate gender and sexuality here, and that there's a limit to how much Treasa and Gabriel's stories have to do with each other. I wish it had gone on a bit further, because Treasa in particular seems to really only be getting to the beginning of the journey by the end of the book. But overall this was better than I'd expected, and I'd love to see more along these lines.
*
*
July 12, 2015
Fifteen-year-old Treasa Prescott thinks she’s an alien. All signs in her carefully executed experiments lead to this conclusion since she clearly doesn’t fit in with the other preppy South African private school kids she attends classes with. She feels claustrophobic in her own skin, constantly questioning herself. When Treasa meets amazing Gabriel dr Preez, she thinks he is perfect. Treasa grows increasingly concerned when what she thinks is love for Gabriel turns into a deep longing to just be him. Suddenly she is less sure that she’s an alien and more sure that she’s been born into the wrong gender’s body. Together Treasa and Gabriel battle dark secrets and find a way to live authentically.
This was a really interesting look at gender dysphoria. Treasa has the physical appearance and body of a female, but is emotionally and spiritually male. Her confusion and pain is evident throughout, as she fights to find a reason for why she feels so different in her own skin.
I felt like the book started off really slow and took awhile to really get into the flow, which was really too bad, because once it does, it gets really good. It is written in dual POV, switching between Treasa and Gabriel, and I loved that the author really gave us a good look at both teen’s stories.
The last half of the book moves at a much quicker pace than the first and when it finally gets down to the nitty gritty of the story, I was intrigued. Unfortunately it wandered quite a bit along the way and then ended a little abruptly for me. I had just really gotten into the characters when all of a sudden it was over. I wanted to see much more of Treasa’s emotions and thought processes once she accepts the fact that she is actually male.
This book is a captivating look at acceptance and looking past outward appearances, with wonderful themes of redemption and forgiveness. The Other Me tackles the tough topic of gender dysphoria with grace and compassion, giving readers a look into what it really feels like to live in a body that feels foreign to you.
May 3, 2014
A great story for a young adult with gender dysphoria, the author expresses Treasa's emotions and thoughts to her gender well and Treasa's circumstances, opening up to friends and family and the general difficulties with acceptance and understanding from those friends and family.
Treasa is a typical teenager, pushing boundaries, watching favourite tv shows, writing fan-fiction, listen to music and trying to have fun. Whilst Treasa has a difficult time understanding herself she realises it is her gender that's wrong. While seeking her true gender identity as a boy, Treasa meets Gabriel. He is everything she wants to be, perfect!
Gabriel is a talented teenager musically and academically, but he carries a heavy load of sorrow and guilt. Gabriel finds himself drawn to Treasa, there's something different about her. Can he share his secrets with Treasa? Will she want to know him anymore if he does? Unbeknown to Gabriel, Treasa has a secret of her own, will he still have the same feelings for her when she shares this with him?
For me, this story had a slow start, but this could be down to the storyline being suited to the younger reader. I like what Suzanne did with the book, giving a good example of a young person with gender identity issues. I like that the story is set in South Africa, there is a translation at the start of the book that is very helpful for those who are not familiar with Afrikaans slang terms and words. I did find the ending disappointing though - could there be a sequel?
Reviewed by Teddy
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
Treasa is a typical teenager, pushing boundaries, watching favourite tv shows, writing fan-fiction, listen to music and trying to have fun. Whilst Treasa has a difficult time understanding herself she realises it is her gender that's wrong. While seeking her true gender identity as a boy, Treasa meets Gabriel. He is everything she wants to be, perfect!
Gabriel is a talented teenager musically and academically, but he carries a heavy load of sorrow and guilt. Gabriel finds himself drawn to Treasa, there's something different about her. Can he share his secrets with Treasa? Will she want to know him anymore if he does? Unbeknown to Gabriel, Treasa has a secret of her own, will he still have the same feelings for her when she shares this with him?
For me, this story had a slow start, but this could be down to the storyline being suited to the younger reader. I like what Suzanne did with the book, giving a good example of a young person with gender identity issues. I like that the story is set in South Africa, there is a translation at the start of the book that is very helpful for those who are not familiar with Afrikaans slang terms and words. I did find the ending disappointing though - could there be a sequel?
Reviewed by Teddy
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
October 19, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Wow this book was truly a roller coaster ride. I felt like half of it was straight from my head. It was fantastic! I loved it. I read this and wished there was more. I wanted more. That’s always the feeling I want to have after reading a book.
Summary:
The Other me is a book that is written is 1st person following the two perspectives of Gabriel and Tristan (Resa). They both struggle mentally and both have baggage they carry with them everyday. Gabriel struggling with the death of his mother and struggling to cope. Making him eventually resort to SH. Gabriel also struggles with being himself in front of his dad because he believes he’s too much like his mom. Tristan struggles in a different way, Tristan is a trans-male in denial and struggles feeling comfortable in his own skin. He has in his mind come to the conclusion that because of his thoughts he is a alien.
During all of this happening Tristan is starting to fall for Gabriel. They don’t officially date but they get close enough to the extent they hang out on the weekends and at party’s. They both make each other’s lives better and learn to except everything for the way it is. Gabriel with him not be guilty for his mom’s death and Tristan for being trans. Tristan starts changing himself and eventually cuts his hair finally so he can stop hiding and being him.
As all happy things are, they all have to come to a end. Gabriel and Tristan tell each other about there struggles and Gabriel freaks out and runs. Tristian is left alone. From here the story changes and it’s all about discovery. By the end they become friends and possibly one day more than that.
Review:
You know, this book was pleasant. I would’ve given it 5 Starla if the beginning didn’t feel so slow, it took me a little time to actually get invested in the plot but once I did, I literally couldn’t put it down. It was so good. This felt like a memoir coming straight from my head (as someone that struggles with gender dysphoria) and it truly was realistic to the experience. I liked the language used, but I felt it was a tad bit redundant. I finished the book with a sort of “that’s it?” Expression and it left me wanting more, I love having that feeling when reading. But at the same moment it’s sort of a left down that it ended there. Tristan’s character was pleasant, I preferred him over Gabriel. Not that Gabriel was bad, his chapters just didn’t interest me as much. Truly this book was well written and sure as hell relatable.
Conclusion:
Overall, I would 100% recommend this book for anyone! The other me was enjoyable and fascinating and to anyone who can relate to either of the protagonists. This book is perfect for you.
Wow this book was truly a roller coaster ride. I felt like half of it was straight from my head. It was fantastic! I loved it. I read this and wished there was more. I wanted more. That’s always the feeling I want to have after reading a book.
Summary:
The Other me is a book that is written is 1st person following the two perspectives of Gabriel and Tristan (Resa). They both struggle mentally and both have baggage they carry with them everyday. Gabriel struggling with the death of his mother and struggling to cope. Making him eventually resort to SH. Gabriel also struggles with being himself in front of his dad because he believes he’s too much like his mom. Tristan struggles in a different way, Tristan is a trans-male in denial and struggles feeling comfortable in his own skin. He has in his mind come to the conclusion that because of his thoughts he is a alien.
During all of this happening Tristan is starting to fall for Gabriel. They don’t officially date but they get close enough to the extent they hang out on the weekends and at party’s. They both make each other’s lives better and learn to except everything for the way it is. Gabriel with him not be guilty for his mom’s death and Tristan for being trans. Tristan starts changing himself and eventually cuts his hair finally so he can stop hiding and being him.
As all happy things are, they all have to come to a end. Gabriel and Tristan tell each other about there struggles and Gabriel freaks out and runs. Tristian is left alone. From here the story changes and it’s all about discovery. By the end they become friends and possibly one day more than that.
Review:
You know, this book was pleasant. I would’ve given it 5 Starla if the beginning didn’t feel so slow, it took me a little time to actually get invested in the plot but once I did, I literally couldn’t put it down. It was so good. This felt like a memoir coming straight from my head (as someone that struggles with gender dysphoria) and it truly was realistic to the experience. I liked the language used, but I felt it was a tad bit redundant. I finished the book with a sort of “that’s it?” Expression and it left me wanting more, I love having that feeling when reading. But at the same moment it’s sort of a left down that it ended there. Tristan’s character was pleasant, I preferred him over Gabriel. Not that Gabriel was bad, his chapters just didn’t interest me as much. Truly this book was well written and sure as hell relatable.
Conclusion:
Overall, I would 100% recommend this book for anyone! The other me was enjoyable and fascinating and to anyone who can relate to either of the protagonists. This book is perfect for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2016
This is a fairly quick read, as it’s young adult and not long. It’s relatively fast-paced, as I expected. The YA genre and length should not be deterrents for anyone interested in the subject, however. This was hands-down one of the best works of YA queer fiction I’ve ever read.
It is the story of a South African trans teenager, though it is also in part a love story. Not merely in the romantic sense (though there’s a bit of that too) but in a general sense, including self-acceptance and love between friends or family members. Most people, not only teenagers, would be able to relate to the themes of feeling like an outsider and of being trapped in a life or body that feel wrong.
The first thing that impressed me was that it’s about a trans boy. More often than not, trans fiction focuses on people living their authentic lives as girls/women. Of the several YA tans-themed books I’ve read previously, all were about trans girls. The second thing of note is that it’s told mainly from Treasa’s perspective and with Treasa’s feelings about actually being a boy. Other books have told trans stories mainly from the perspective of lovers or family members. Finally, the last thing that stood out was that Treasa is also not straight. Again, the vast majority of my previous readings have involved trans people who are presumed gay until they transition, but Treasa maintains a preference for boys throughout.
Another aspect to Treasa’s identity as a gay boy is that often, trans stories are incredibly binary. In other words, someone “proves” to be a “real” boy because of a love for sports and typically masculine pursuits and interests. Treasa is, even as a boy, still somewhat gender-non-conforming. I appreciate that the author didn’t go overboard to assure us just how much of a boy Treasa truly is.
Those things alone make the book an absorbing read. In addition, the two main point-of-view characters, Treasa and Gabriel, are both very different from the teenagers who populate many YA novels. They both have secrets and things about which they feel hurt and shame, however, both are highly sympathetic characters. They are the sort of people who feel like friends after reading their stories. Characters are always my favorite part of any story, and I found myself drawn to both of them.
The only things about which I had any concerns are a few minor implications. First, Treasa muses that it must not be normal for a girl to want to write fan fiction about two boys. It’s hard to tell whether this is the author’s view as well or whether Treasa just feels like an “alien” already that everything is suspect.
My other concern was that Gabriel insists throughout the book that his few very minor gender-non-conforming behaviors (mainly music and nail polish) don’t make him gay. But he does it to the point that I couldn’t help wondering who he was trying to convince–himself or the reader. Again, it was hard to tell if this was the author’s insertion of her views or genuinely part of his character, an unwillingness to question his own sexuality. This becomes particularly important towards the end of the story.
These concerns are not reasons to dislike the book. On the contrary, they provide excellent talking points. Rather than making assumptions about the author’s intent or rejecting the book for perceived flaws, we should have open dialog about what those things mean.
Overall, I rank this as one of my all-time favorite YA books. Despite the fact that I’m well past the target age and rarely read the genre, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend it to anyone who has adolescents, in part because the beginning of empathy is understanding. Provided the book is still in print, I fully plan to make sure my kids read it when they are older.
It is the story of a South African trans teenager, though it is also in part a love story. Not merely in the romantic sense (though there’s a bit of that too) but in a general sense, including self-acceptance and love between friends or family members. Most people, not only teenagers, would be able to relate to the themes of feeling like an outsider and of being trapped in a life or body that feel wrong.
The first thing that impressed me was that it’s about a trans boy. More often than not, trans fiction focuses on people living their authentic lives as girls/women. Of the several YA tans-themed books I’ve read previously, all were about trans girls. The second thing of note is that it’s told mainly from Treasa’s perspective and with Treasa’s feelings about actually being a boy. Other books have told trans stories mainly from the perspective of lovers or family members. Finally, the last thing that stood out was that Treasa is also not straight. Again, the vast majority of my previous readings have involved trans people who are presumed gay until they transition, but Treasa maintains a preference for boys throughout.
Another aspect to Treasa’s identity as a gay boy is that often, trans stories are incredibly binary. In other words, someone “proves” to be a “real” boy because of a love for sports and typically masculine pursuits and interests. Treasa is, even as a boy, still somewhat gender-non-conforming. I appreciate that the author didn’t go overboard to assure us just how much of a boy Treasa truly is.
Those things alone make the book an absorbing read. In addition, the two main point-of-view characters, Treasa and Gabriel, are both very different from the teenagers who populate many YA novels. They both have secrets and things about which they feel hurt and shame, however, both are highly sympathetic characters. They are the sort of people who feel like friends after reading their stories. Characters are always my favorite part of any story, and I found myself drawn to both of them.
The only things about which I had any concerns are a few minor implications. First, Treasa muses that it must not be normal for a girl to want to write fan fiction about two boys. It’s hard to tell whether this is the author’s view as well or whether Treasa just feels like an “alien” already that everything is suspect.
My other concern was that Gabriel insists throughout the book that his few very minor gender-non-conforming behaviors (mainly music and nail polish) don’t make him gay. But he does it to the point that I couldn’t help wondering who he was trying to convince–himself or the reader. Again, it was hard to tell if this was the author’s insertion of her views or genuinely part of his character, an unwillingness to question his own sexuality. This becomes particularly important towards the end of the story.
These concerns are not reasons to dislike the book. On the contrary, they provide excellent talking points. Rather than making assumptions about the author’s intent or rejecting the book for perceived flaws, we should have open dialog about what those things mean.
Overall, I rank this as one of my all-time favorite YA books. Despite the fact that I’m well past the target age and rarely read the genre, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend it to anyone who has adolescents, in part because the beginning of empathy is understanding. Provided the book is still in print, I fully plan to make sure my kids read it when they are older.
June 5, 2015
Reading this book I started to understand what people with hey fever go through. I was constantly crying and it wasn't that the whole book was sad but more that everything seemed to add to the tragedy of her life. Starting from somewhere around the middle of the book I couldn't hold back my tears. I was reading and my tears kept blurring my vision.
June 16, 2014
A Guest review of this book can be seen on my blog on 6/17/14. A Friend went BEA and received a complimentary copy of the book. She asked to be a guest reviewer of my blog
January 1, 2015
it's good. I hoped for it to last though
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