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The Pants Project
A touching, humorous story of strong-willed eleven-year-old Liv, who is determined to challenge his school's terrible dress code and change his life. Inspire empathy and compassion (and a few laughs!) in young readers with this stunning middle-grade novel.
"My name is Liv (Not Olivia)... I'm not technically a girl. I'm transgender. Which is a bit like being a Transformer. Only not quite as cool because I probably won't get to save the world one day."
Liv knows he was always meant to be a boy, but with his new school's terrible dress code, he can't even wear pants. Only skirts.
Operation: Pants Project begins! The only way for Liv to get what he wants is to go after it himself. But to Liv, this isn't just a mission to change the policy—it's a mission to change his life. And that's a pretty big deal.
Perfect for parents, educators, and librarians looking for a book for young readers that:
Has a transgender main character with a humorous voice
Is a hopeful, sweet story with a happily-ever-after ending
Will prompt discussions on gender identity, bullying, self-esteem, empathy, acceptance, and social justice
A 2018 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People selection
Amelia Bloomer Project nominee
A 2020 Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Awards nominee
"My name is Liv (Not Olivia)... I'm not technically a girl. I'm transgender. Which is a bit like being a Transformer. Only not quite as cool because I probably won't get to save the world one day."
Liv knows he was always meant to be a boy, but with his new school's terrible dress code, he can't even wear pants. Only skirts.
Operation: Pants Project begins! The only way for Liv to get what he wants is to go after it himself. But to Liv, this isn't just a mission to change the policy—it's a mission to change his life. And that's a pretty big deal.
Perfect for parents, educators, and librarians looking for a book for young readers that:
Has a transgender main character with a humorous voice
Is a hopeful, sweet story with a happily-ever-after ending
Will prompt discussions on gender identity, bullying, self-esteem, empathy, acceptance, and social justice
A 2018 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People selection
Amelia Bloomer Project nominee
A 2020 Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Awards nominee
272 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2017
108 people are currently reading
5017 people want to read
About the author
Cat Clarke
15 books1,163 followersCat was born in Zambia and brought up in Edinburgh and Yorkshire, which has given her an accent that tends to confuse people.
Cat has written non-fiction books about exciting things like cowboys, sharks and pirates, and now writes YA novels. She lives in Edinburgh with a couple of cats, Jem and Scout, who spend their days plotting to spit up furballs at the most inconvenient times. She likes cheese A LOT, especially baked camembert.
Cat has written non-fiction books about exciting things like cowboys, sharks and pirates, and now writes YA novels. She lives in Edinburgh with a couple of cats, Jem and Scout, who spend their days plotting to spit up furballs at the most inconvenient times. She likes cheese A LOT, especially baked camembert.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 524 reviews
April 12, 2017
*3.5/5
Note: I am cis so I cannot comment on how authentic the representation was.
While initially I had issues with the voice of this novel - the writing wasn't my favorite, sometimes sounding a bit too young or a bit disjointed - I think by the end it really came into its own. Liv as a character grew and grew on me, and his personality shone through in a lot of really fabulous ways. I appreciated his anger but also his way of processing things the way that kids do. There are these little jumps in logic that he makes that felt so authentic in terms of the understanding that kids have and how illogical their assumptions can sometimes be.
I also loved, loved, loved that this was a family with two moms. The moms were fabulous and I'm thrilled to see more and more same sex parents in YA and middle grade. And more than that, I thought the way that the book dealt with the impact of having two moms was well done. There is never any indication that their family is bad or wrong, but the book still had those elements of kids having to deal with other children bullying them for having a family that is not like their own. I appreciated the honesty that was given to that experience, while also constantly showing how loving and wonderful Liv's family was.
I liked a lot of the little things this book did. There was a small moment where Liv sort of recognizes male privilege for the first time that was well done. And there was also a moment where Liv talks about socialized gender that I adored. Liv talks about how, when he was a kid, he used to love the color pink. That is, until he learned that there were "rules" about who could like pink and who couldn't, and so he felt like he had to leave that color behind. It was a nice way of enforcing the fact that Liv feels at least in some ways like he has to behave in a certain way in order to validate his identity. It is something that I obviously don't have that experience in, because I am cis, but a feeling I have read so many trans people dealing with. The societal enforcement that when trans people present, they have to go ultra feminine or ultra masculine or they are called into question. It was just a really nice moment that wasn't given a huge amount of time, but that I thought was great in how it was brought up.
There is also a side character who has hypermobility and sometimes has to walk with a cane. He was only a side character, but I loved that he was also given a space to come into his own alongside Liv.
There is one character, Jade, who says some very homophobic and transphobic things over the course of the book, but she is always called out as being in the wrong and those negative sentiments are not expressed by anyone else in the book. She is clearly highlighted as a bully whose opinions are harmful and wrong. But that is just a warning that those moments are in there.
Overall, though I think it was a slow start, I really liked the message of this book. It was showing kids, even at age 11, that it is okay to fight for how you want to be seen. And I loved how much that was enforced as the story goes on. It was a really cute book, but also one that had a lot of super valuable things to say and I would definitely recommend it to middle grade audiences in particular.
Note: I am cis so I cannot comment on how authentic the representation was.
While initially I had issues with the voice of this novel - the writing wasn't my favorite, sometimes sounding a bit too young or a bit disjointed - I think by the end it really came into its own. Liv as a character grew and grew on me, and his personality shone through in a lot of really fabulous ways. I appreciated his anger but also his way of processing things the way that kids do. There are these little jumps in logic that he makes that felt so authentic in terms of the understanding that kids have and how illogical their assumptions can sometimes be.
I also loved, loved, loved that this was a family with two moms. The moms were fabulous and I'm thrilled to see more and more same sex parents in YA and middle grade. And more than that, I thought the way that the book dealt with the impact of having two moms was well done. There is never any indication that their family is bad or wrong, but the book still had those elements of kids having to deal with other children bullying them for having a family that is not like their own. I appreciated the honesty that was given to that experience, while also constantly showing how loving and wonderful Liv's family was.
I liked a lot of the little things this book did. There was a small moment where Liv sort of recognizes male privilege for the first time that was well done. And there was also a moment where Liv talks about socialized gender that I adored. Liv talks about how, when he was a kid, he used to love the color pink. That is, until he learned that there were "rules" about who could like pink and who couldn't, and so he felt like he had to leave that color behind. It was a nice way of enforcing the fact that Liv feels at least in some ways like he has to behave in a certain way in order to validate his identity. It is something that I obviously don't have that experience in, because I am cis, but a feeling I have read so many trans people dealing with. The societal enforcement that when trans people present, they have to go ultra feminine or ultra masculine or they are called into question. It was just a really nice moment that wasn't given a huge amount of time, but that I thought was great in how it was brought up.
There is also a side character who has hypermobility and sometimes has to walk with a cane. He was only a side character, but I loved that he was also given a space to come into his own alongside Liv.
There is one character, Jade, who says some very homophobic and transphobic things over the course of the book, but she is always called out as being in the wrong and those negative sentiments are not expressed by anyone else in the book. She is clearly highlighted as a bully whose opinions are harmful and wrong. But that is just a warning that those moments are in there.
Overall, though I think it was a slow start, I really liked the message of this book. It was showing kids, even at age 11, that it is okay to fight for how you want to be seen. And I loved how much that was enforced as the story goes on. It was a really cute book, but also one that had a lot of super valuable things to say and I would definitely recommend it to middle grade audiences in particular.
August 7, 2016
OK, you might say, really? A middle school about someone who is transgender?
And I would say, yes, really.
And you might say. But why? Middle school? Isn't that too young for anyone to know that their gender assigned at birth is wrong? And really, do kids that age need to read those sorts of book?
And I would say HELL YES. Gender orientation is not sexual orientation. Gender orientation, when it is first realized is scary because you think you are broken, or that you can fix it, or it is too scary to talk about. To have a book, where someone is going through what you have been going through could be a life raft when you are lost at sea.
OK, off my soap box, and on to the rest of the review.
This is a wonderful middle-school story of a boy, born as a girl, who knows he is transgender, but doesn't know whom to tell. He thinks his best friend would understand, but she has joined up with the "mean girls", so that is out. Then he meets Jacob, and they hit it off.
And the pants project is how Liv works, with Jacob and others, to turn over the school dress code so he is not forced to wear a skirt because he is perceived as female.
The thing about these types of books, is that they are needed, just the way that coming out stories were needed when there were none for Gay and Lesbian youth. The more you see yourself in literature, the more you realize you are no an abomination. That is more important than anything, because LGBTIQ youth are the highest percentage of suicides out there.
And when it isn't all coming out, when the stories of LGBTIQ youth are just part of the scenery, then we have what we need to have, being part of the whole.
Highly recommend this book for libraries, for school, for everyone, as a good introduction to middle school to the concept of transgender, as well as for those transgender youth who are wondering if they are the only ones out there.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And I would say, yes, really.
And you might say. But why? Middle school? Isn't that too young for anyone to know that their gender assigned at birth is wrong? And really, do kids that age need to read those sorts of book?
And I would say HELL YES. Gender orientation is not sexual orientation. Gender orientation, when it is first realized is scary because you think you are broken, or that you can fix it, or it is too scary to talk about. To have a book, where someone is going through what you have been going through could be a life raft when you are lost at sea.
OK, off my soap box, and on to the rest of the review.
This is a wonderful middle-school story of a boy, born as a girl, who knows he is transgender, but doesn't know whom to tell. He thinks his best friend would understand, but she has joined up with the "mean girls", so that is out. Then he meets Jacob, and they hit it off.
And the pants project is how Liv works, with Jacob and others, to turn over the school dress code so he is not forced to wear a skirt because he is perceived as female.
The thing about these types of books, is that they are needed, just the way that coming out stories were needed when there were none for Gay and Lesbian youth. The more you see yourself in literature, the more you realize you are no an abomination. That is more important than anything, because LGBTIQ youth are the highest percentage of suicides out there.
And when it isn't all coming out, when the stories of LGBTIQ youth are just part of the scenery, then we have what we need to have, being part of the whole.
Highly recommend this book for libraries, for school, for everyone, as a good introduction to middle school to the concept of transgender, as well as for those transgender youth who are wondering if they are the only ones out there.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
November 27, 2017
*Another book in my personal Kindle experiment*
Writing: 3 stars
Characters : 3.5 stars
Plot 3.5 to 4 stars
Did it live up to my expectations?: Yes
----
The writing was so-so and a bit rushed for me at times (our MC is 11, I wasn't expecting a master storyteller or anything) but the voice felt authentic to me and drew me into the story.
Jade reminded me of some of the mean kids at my school, and more than once I wanted someone to drop her in a lake.
Liv and Jacob's friendship : loved it! Their banter back and forth was great and I loved how stuck by Liv and supported him through everything going on.
Liv's family was wonderful (Enzo was so adorable haha). Wish we had gotten more of them (and I want to pop over to their house for that Pizza).
It didn't blow me away but I still enjoyed the story. I think every library should have this and encourage kids to read it.
*Crappy review but aah well*
Writing: 3 stars
Characters : 3.5 stars
Plot 3.5 to 4 stars
Did it live up to my expectations?: Yes
----
The writing was so-so and a bit rushed for me at times (our MC is 11, I wasn't expecting a master storyteller or anything) but the voice felt authentic to me and drew me into the story.
Jade reminded me of some of the mean kids at my school, and more than once I wanted someone to drop her in a lake.
Liv and Jacob's friendship : loved it! Their banter back and forth was great and I loved how stuck by Liv and supported him through everything going on.
Liv's family was wonderful (Enzo was so adorable haha). Wish we had gotten more of them (and I want to pop over to their house for that Pizza).
It didn't blow me away but I still enjoyed the story. I think every library should have this and encourage kids to read it.
*Crappy review but aah well*
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January 30, 2019
Trigger Warning: bullying
Four stars for this inclusive story about a closeted transgender boy starting middle school—and being forced to wear a skirt because of a super strict dress code. Bonus: he has two moms :) AND there's disability rep too!
Although I'm tired of the "best friends break apart with the non-MC friend wants to join with the popular group" trope, I was delighted that Liv and Jacob became so close, and that it was non-romantic.
Anywho, this is such a good book and I'm so happy to see a middle-grade novel featured a trans boy—although I'm disappointed that .
I also liked that aside from the principal most of the adults were welcoming and on the side of marginalized kids, particularly Mr. Escol (if this is misspelled this is because I listened to the audiobook), and that like many MG novels Liv eventually learned that lying always has consequences, being yourself and doing what is right is more important that being popular, and that adults are generally to be trusted.
Also present is, of course, the controversy over many school dress codes. Although mostly the main argument is that skirts are really dated and inconvenient for, well, anything, I did like that there was mention about how gendered clothing (and certain colors) can be, and that it always a good thing to allow children the ability to feel comfortable in their own skins. And let's face it—some kids feel best in pants, and others like skirts.
Four stars for this inclusive story about a closeted transgender boy starting middle school—and being forced to wear a skirt because of a super strict dress code. Bonus: he has two moms :) AND there's disability rep too!
Although I'm tired of the "best friends break apart with the non-MC friend wants to join with the popular group" trope, I was delighted that Liv and Jacob became so close, and that it was non-romantic.
Anywho, this is such a good book and I'm so happy to see a middle-grade novel featured a trans boy—although I'm disappointed that .
I also liked that aside from the principal most of the adults were welcoming and on the side of marginalized kids, particularly Mr. Escol (if this is misspelled this is because I listened to the audiobook), and that like many MG novels Liv eventually learned that lying always has consequences, being yourself and doing what is right is more important that being popular, and that adults are generally to be trusted.
Also present is, of course, the controversy over many school dress codes. Although mostly the main argument is that skirts are really dated and inconvenient for, well, anything, I did like that there was mention about how gendered clothing (and certain colors) can be, and that it always a good thing to allow children the ability to feel comfortable in their own skins. And let's face it—some kids feel best in pants, and others like skirts.
June 16, 2020
This was a cute book about a student in a uniformed middle school that has begun to identify as a boy. The uniform code forces Liv to wear a skirt. It is geared for a younger audience.
The voice of Liv is well constructed, and they are brought to life. Liv brings their fight from the hairdresser to the principal in their quest to wear pants instead of a skirt. There is a lot of facing down issues and injustice, and it's great to see the way that the kids come together and stand up for the freedom to be who you are on the inside.
A cute quick read. 4 Stars
The voice of Liv is well constructed, and they are brought to life. Liv brings their fight from the hairdresser to the principal in their quest to wear pants instead of a skirt. There is a lot of facing down issues and injustice, and it's great to see the way that the kids come together and stand up for the freedom to be who you are on the inside.
A cute quick read. 4 Stars
January 8, 2024
This was fabulous!
An honest explosion of middlegrade feels.
I loved how the author didn't shy away from the ugly bits of growing up, while still showing the friendlier side of family and friends.
I really enjoyed following Liv around while they tried to navigate a new school, change in friends, and coming to terms with who their true self is.
I highly recommend this to (literally) everyone, especially parents looking to introduce their child to a trans character.
It was fun, honest, sad and extremely empowering!
An honest explosion of middlegrade feels.
I loved how the author didn't shy away from the ugly bits of growing up, while still showing the friendlier side of family and friends.
I really enjoyed following Liv around while they tried to navigate a new school, change in friends, and coming to terms with who their true self is.
I highly recommend this to (literally) everyone, especially parents looking to introduce their child to a trans character.
It was fun, honest, sad and extremely empowering!
August 19, 2016
Clarke, Cat. The Pants Project. Sourcebooks Jaberwocky, 2016.
A delightful middle grade novel in the vein of Gracefully Grayson with the upbeat hopefulness of Better Nate Than Ever.
Liv is not excited about starting middle school. He hasn't told his moms yet, but Liv has figured out that he's transgender, and his school has a strict dress code which will require him to wear a skirt since everyone thinks he's a girl. Not only that, but he loses his best friend to the popular crowd within the first week of school. Liv takes matters into his own hands and decides to challenge the school's dress code, and along the way he finds allies in unexpected places.
This story was completely adorable, from the small details of Liv's Italian heritage to the superhero comic pages his friend Jacob draws. I am so glad to see that there are more middle grade books featuring transgender characters, especially FTM (female to male) characters. This book is smart and funny and good, and even though the ending wraps up in a Disney-esque fashion, I want my middle grade readers to see some "happily ever after" endings. I love Liv, and I'm so glad his moms are supportive of him being true to himself. Strongly recommended
Recommended for: middle grade readers
Red Flags: minor bullying - Liv is referred to as "it" on occasion and called a freak, usually in reference to his two moms and not related to his being trans*
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
Read-Alikes: The Other Boy, Gracefully Grayson, George, I Am Jazz
A delightful middle grade novel in the vein of Gracefully Grayson with the upbeat hopefulness of Better Nate Than Ever.
Liv is not excited about starting middle school. He hasn't told his moms yet, but Liv has figured out that he's transgender, and his school has a strict dress code which will require him to wear a skirt since everyone thinks he's a girl. Not only that, but he loses his best friend to the popular crowd within the first week of school. Liv takes matters into his own hands and decides to challenge the school's dress code, and along the way he finds allies in unexpected places.
This story was completely adorable, from the small details of Liv's Italian heritage to the superhero comic pages his friend Jacob draws. I am so glad to see that there are more middle grade books featuring transgender characters, especially FTM (female to male) characters. This book is smart and funny and good, and even though the ending wraps up in a Disney-esque fashion, I want my middle grade readers to see some "happily ever after" endings. I love Liv, and I'm so glad his moms are supportive of him being true to himself. Strongly recommended
Recommended for: middle grade readers
Red Flags: minor bullying - Liv is referred to as "it" on occasion and called a freak, usually in reference to his two moms and not related to his being trans*
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
Read-Alikes: The Other Boy, Gracefully Grayson, George, I Am Jazz
May 5, 2018
Liv starts middle school with a big secret. She’s actually a boy on the inside. The dress code says girls must wear skirts, bad enough, but since Liv’s outsides are girl, she must comply. She sets out to change the code, alienating her ex best friend, but making some new friends along the way. Also, a popular mean girl bullies Liv because she has two moms.
THE PANTS PROJECT hits all the right note for a middle grade story, compelling characters, diversity, interesting plot and even a strong message that doesn’t feel like a message. Cat Clarke gave Liv an engaging, authentic voice. She’s a good kid, flawed who makes mistakes. Although she’s excluded by the popular kids, when another excluded girl reaches out, Liv is afraid of her reputation. Like most eleven year olds, she doesn’t always get it right the first time.
A strong recommendation for THE PANTS PROJECT.
THE PANTS PROJECT hits all the right note for a middle grade story, compelling characters, diversity, interesting plot and even a strong message that doesn’t feel like a message. Cat Clarke gave Liv an engaging, authentic voice. She’s a good kid, flawed who makes mistakes. Although she’s excluded by the popular kids, when another excluded girl reaches out, Liv is afraid of her reputation. Like most eleven year olds, she doesn’t always get it right the first time.
A strong recommendation for THE PANTS PROJECT.
May 24, 2017
Review from E.C.P (age 9)
Everyone thinks Liv is a girl but Liv doesn't feel like a girl. Liv's problem is the dress code at school. He wants to wear pants but he's not allowed to because of the dress code. Liv meets a boy named Jacob who he feels can help. Then Liv and Jacob come up with "The Pants Project." Kids need to sign papers to show the principal that there should be no dress code. Then one day, Liv and Jacob do something different--Liv wears pants and Jacob wears a skirt. This seems to change the minds of many.
My favorite part is when Jade turns around and isn't mean to Liv anymore.
I thought this was a great book and I would give it 10/10.
Everyone thinks Liv is a girl but Liv doesn't feel like a girl. Liv's problem is the dress code at school. He wants to wear pants but he's not allowed to because of the dress code. Liv meets a boy named Jacob who he feels can help. Then Liv and Jacob come up with "The Pants Project." Kids need to sign papers to show the principal that there should be no dress code. Then one day, Liv and Jacob do something different--Liv wears pants and Jacob wears a skirt. This seems to change the minds of many.
My favorite part is when Jade turns around and isn't mean to Liv anymore.
I thought this was a great book and I would give it 10/10.
April 20, 2019
Why hadn't I heard of this book before? Why isn't anybody reading it?? Just why the heck doesn't such books get the attention they deserve???
Lmao. People, we're doing literature all wrong.
Lmao. People, we're doing literature all wrong.
December 21, 2019
I have a more detailed spoiler-free review of this book, but overall, some of the chapters are clunky, but I loved the story.
February 19, 2017
Read this in one sitting. The situations and characters are realistic. Although protagonist lucked out in finding boys willing to wear skirts to help her in her fight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2019
Cute read
I liked how the story played out. Liv is transgender and figuring out how to live her life now that she's entered middle school. There was no romance, they're in 6th grade so I'm glad for that. It was about being yourself, whatever that means. It addressed LGBTQ topics very well and Liv was a cute character. I loved Jacob and how accepting he was. This was definitely enjoyable.
(Although Liv is transgender, she still uses she/her pronouns so that's what I've done in my review)
I liked how the story played out. Liv is transgender and figuring out how to live her life now that she's entered middle school. There was no romance, they're in 6th grade so I'm glad for that. It was about being yourself, whatever that means. It addressed LGBTQ topics very well and Liv was a cute character. I loved Jacob and how accepting he was. This was definitely enjoyable.
(Although Liv is transgender, she still uses she/her pronouns so that's what I've done in my review)
February 7, 2017
***I received a free e-ARC from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review***
THE PANTS PROJECT follows Liv, a transgender boy, as he navigates his first year of middle school and tackles his school's outdated gendered dress code.
I was initially hesitant about reading requesting this book because I couldn't find any information about the author and whether or not THE PANTS PROJECT was an #ownvoice book. Generally, I do not read books with trans characters that are not written by trans authors because cis people tend to make a mess and mockery of the trans experience. I did, however, end up requesting this book. There were a few lines that felt off to me (comparing being trans to being a transformer) but since that's outside of my experience, I can't speak on whether that language is problematic or not. While I am nonbinary, I have not had the same experience as Liv and so my review will not be focusing on the trans aspect until I hear from trans reviewers and what their thoughts on the language and terminology in the book is.
I did enjoy this book. The plot was solid and I enjoyed reading about Liv tackling a resistant intuition and forcing them to reevaluate their gendered dress code (pants for "boys", skirts for "girls"). I thought the reactions of everyone in the story was very true to real life. The characters themselves were wonderfully fleshed out, everyone had a distinct voice in the story, even the minor characters.
My favorite part of the book is that while Liv forgives his former best friend, he doesn't feel the need to accept her back as a friend. I think that's important thing for young readers to understand. Too many times we have books where the best friend betrays the MC in a terrible way but by the end of the book, they are best friends again. It's definitely important to remind young children (and even adults!) that we don't have to allow people back into our lives just because they are "sorry" that they treated us poorly.
A few things that I didn't like in this book: I wish the author would have explained more about Jacob's condition. This is a middle grade book and I'm guessing a lot of middle grade aged kids probably wouldn't really understand what hypermobility is. That was the second thing I didn't like about this book- sometimes it felt like the author forgot they were writing a middle grade book. The kids in the book are 11/12 years olds but sometimes it felt like the author was writing them as 16/17 year olds.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good 'sticking it to the man' story.
THE PANTS PROJECT follows Liv, a transgender boy, as he navigates his first year of middle school and tackles his school's outdated gendered dress code.
I was initially hesitant about reading requesting this book because I couldn't find any information about the author and whether or not THE PANTS PROJECT was an #ownvoice book. Generally, I do not read books with trans characters that are not written by trans authors because cis people tend to make a mess and mockery of the trans experience. I did, however, end up requesting this book. There were a few lines that felt off to me (comparing being trans to being a transformer) but since that's outside of my experience, I can't speak on whether that language is problematic or not. While I am nonbinary, I have not had the same experience as Liv and so my review will not be focusing on the trans aspect until I hear from trans reviewers and what their thoughts on the language and terminology in the book is.
I did enjoy this book. The plot was solid and I enjoyed reading about Liv tackling a resistant intuition and forcing them to reevaluate their gendered dress code (pants for "boys", skirts for "girls"). I thought the reactions of everyone in the story was very true to real life. The characters themselves were wonderfully fleshed out, everyone had a distinct voice in the story, even the minor characters.
My favorite part of the book is that while Liv forgives his former best friend, he doesn't feel the need to accept her back as a friend. I think that's important thing for young readers to understand. Too many times we have books where the best friend betrays the MC in a terrible way but by the end of the book, they are best friends again. It's definitely important to remind young children (and even adults!) that we don't have to allow people back into our lives just because they are "sorry" that they treated us poorly.
A few things that I didn't like in this book: I wish the author would have explained more about Jacob's condition. This is a middle grade book and I'm guessing a lot of middle grade aged kids probably wouldn't really understand what hypermobility is. That was the second thing I didn't like about this book- sometimes it felt like the author forgot they were writing a middle grade book. The kids in the book are 11/12 years olds but sometimes it felt like the author was writing them as 16/17 year olds.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good 'sticking it to the man' story.
October 8, 2016
Easily as good as George, I'm doubly glad for Netgalley introducing me to this author in her debut into middle grade fiction.
Liv is just entering middle school and so around 10 years old when this book starts and is actually a boy. This has never been more apparent than when he enters into a school where the uniform policy dictates that people who were assigned female at birth need to wear skirts.
Although Liv never actually comes out to the teachers at school about why its so important that he is allowed to wear pants, the narrative doesn't suffer from that. This story is above all Liv's journey, and all the people who are important in Liv's life do get told. And react well. Which is always nice to see.
Other interesting things about this book was that Liv's parents are both women--the mums--and his new best friend, Jacob, is someone with a disability and a walking cane.
The author definitely made a good choice in telling the story from first person point of view with this story, which is interesting only in reflection only because the subject of Liv's pronouns doesn't get brought up unless in synopses of the book or reviews like this one.
June 30, 2021
i wish there was a way to give this book negative stars. a book for cis people by a cis person about the most watered down trans experiance. i hated how the author implied being trans was similar to being disabled and how being gay was the same as being disabled. the main character was only NOT misgendered in the blurbs by cis people; he was misgendered and deadnamed for the entirety of the book. it was maybe the most watered down version of transphobia i’ve ever seen while also including transphobic slurs. this book does more harm than good. never in my life have i been so tempted to destroy a library book. i wanted to rip it in half.
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July 3, 2020DNF- I didn’t realize until it was too late that this is a book about a trans boy written by a cis female. For that reason I did not finish it and I could not rate it.
April 16, 2019
Really great read! My son picked this up at the library because the title contains the word "pants," and he had recently caught part of a "Parks & Rec" episode I was watching. Ben said they were going to a gala, and Andy asked if it was a shorts or pants gala. Ben took a beat and stressed it was a pants gala, and my kid still thinks that hilarious.
So we didn't know what this book was about, but we both ended up loving it. It gives a glimpse into the life of a kid my son's age who is deciding whether to tell their parents, friends and family about them being transgender. Good reminders to be yourself and the fortune of family and friends who always love and support you.
So we didn't know what this book was about, but we both ended up loving it. It gives a glimpse into the life of a kid my son's age who is deciding whether to tell their parents, friends and family about them being transgender. Good reminders to be yourself and the fortune of family and friends who always love and support you.
June 5, 2020
I had some minor issues with this book, the primary one being parents who know their child is supremely uncomfortable wearing skirts sending her to a school that only allows girls to wear skirts and not doing their own work to talk to the principal and school board/PTA before she even went to the school. Also when has the PTA ever been in charge of dress codes at a public school? There were a few other things, but it was okay and good enough to include on rainbow read lists for middle schoolers.
August 3, 2020
First off, I'm extremely happy that this book exists. A book about a trans boy middle schooler (with two moms!) fighting back against his school's sexist dress code? Hell yeah! But I just never quite connected to Liv as a character, which is probably due to the fact that this is middle grade and he's a 6th grader. I did enjoy Liv's perspective though, and I loved the side characters we had in his two moms and in Jacob. Get this book into the hands of its target demographic!
April 26, 2017
This is a middle grade with a transgender character fighting his school on something he believes in, something that needs to be changed. We need more stories like this! Liv and the other characters were absolutely engaging. My only issue is that the voice sounded older than the age group intended. I read this via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
April 7, 2020
Quick read and smooth writing style. A bit straightforward in terms of plot and no real surprises, but I definitely think this could go over well for the middle school book club.
I unfortunately kept reading Liv’s friend’s name as John Arbuckle, due to years of Garfield....
I unfortunately kept reading Liv’s friend’s name as John Arbuckle, due to years of Garfield....
May 10, 2022
Did I enjoy reading this book? Yes, yes I did. And while yes, this is a book about the struggles of trans sixth grader, I also still expected it to be a novel of feminism and in a way it was, but the author attacked gender norms set for girls while encouraging the ones set for men. The MC just seemed to struggled off male stereotypes and issues way too easily (I just mean when the MC’s guy friend mentioned how dumb it was that he couldn’t wear a skirt to school and the MC laughed it off). I mean I guess 4⭐️?
October 6, 2021
Une lecture fluide, drôle et agréable pour parler aux plus jeunes de sexisme et de causes LGBTQI+. Je recommande !
On y parle aussi de perte d'ami·es et de harcèlement de manière réaliste !
On y parle aussi de perte d'ami·es et de harcèlement de manière réaliste !
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October 21, 2021
bit thin imo but it works
February 9, 2017
Liv (Olivia) was born a girl, but knows in his heart that he's a boy. But this realization isn't easy for a kid entering middle school, which can be a heartless place for anyone. What complicates things for Liv is a move to a new school, which brings a stringent dress code: girls must wear skirts. No exceptions. Whatsoever. Liv knows in his heart that he's a boy, but the school system (and kids at school) don't see it that way. Liv is already dealing with enough, but now he feels uncomfortable everyday in his school clothes. It also doesn't help that his best friend is dropping him for a group of mean-spirited bullies who bully Liv on a daily basis. But Liv perseveres and comes up with an idea: Operation Pants Project. Liv is going to get this uniform dress code overturned, no matter what.
This is an excellent YA novel that draws you in immediately. I found the storyline to be interesting from the very beginning, and it never wavered. Liv is a wonderful, amazing, resilient young man, and I loved him from the moment I met him. Liv's story is heartbreaking at times, but also very poignant. I see this tale as a must-read for transgender kids, but also all middle school kids, as it offers a wonderful chance to teach empathy. But, seriously, just having this story, and the way Liv expresses his thoughts on being transgender is so key. Yes, a lot of the story is probably a tad simplified, but still. It's just so refreshing to see this in book form.
Liv also has same-sex parents (two mothers) for which he is teased at school, which breaks my heart (being part of a same-sex marriage and having two young daughters). So much of the story hurts your heart at times and makes you just despair how much young kids have to go through at school. Liv meets a new friend in middle school, Jacob, and in reading this book, I just hope that the world continues to be filled with more Liv and Jacobs: it will make it a better place for sure. (I also enjoyed that Clarke seemed to insert an inside joke about how awful and cliche lesbian films can be!)
Overall, I loved this book, and I wish it was on the shelves of every middle school (and high school) -heck all libraries and bookstores-- everywhere! Huge portions of it make you smile, and you will find yourself just rooting for plucky, wonderful Liv and his spirit. There's a great sappy message in this book that I wish everyone could read in these troubled times. Liv has a wonderful sense of humor, and Clarke's writing is perfect for the targeted age group. I do think a great deal is this book is probably a little simplified (not all parents may be as supportive of Liv, for instance), but the bullying aspects at school are spot-on. Just seeing a transgender "tween" in print is great. I would like to see a list of support resources at the end of the book (and I just read an ARC, so it's not the final version) for those who do not have the same support system as Liv. Yes, this book goes a long way toward showing acceptance, but it's not as easy for everyone. I certainly hope it inspires kids to treat everyone equally: it's an important message. I definitely recommend this wonderful novel for kids and adults alike.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 03/01/2017.
This is an excellent YA novel that draws you in immediately. I found the storyline to be interesting from the very beginning, and it never wavered. Liv is a wonderful, amazing, resilient young man, and I loved him from the moment I met him. Liv's story is heartbreaking at times, but also very poignant. I see this tale as a must-read for transgender kids, but also all middle school kids, as it offers a wonderful chance to teach empathy. But, seriously, just having this story, and the way Liv expresses his thoughts on being transgender is so key. Yes, a lot of the story is probably a tad simplified, but still. It's just so refreshing to see this in book form.
Liv also has same-sex parents (two mothers) for which he is teased at school, which breaks my heart (being part of a same-sex marriage and having two young daughters). So much of the story hurts your heart at times and makes you just despair how much young kids have to go through at school. Liv meets a new friend in middle school, Jacob, and in reading this book, I just hope that the world continues to be filled with more Liv and Jacobs: it will make it a better place for sure. (I also enjoyed that Clarke seemed to insert an inside joke about how awful and cliche lesbian films can be!)
Overall, I loved this book, and I wish it was on the shelves of every middle school (and high school) -heck all libraries and bookstores-- everywhere! Huge portions of it make you smile, and you will find yourself just rooting for plucky, wonderful Liv and his spirit. There's a great sappy message in this book that I wish everyone could read in these troubled times. Liv has a wonderful sense of humor, and Clarke's writing is perfect for the targeted age group. I do think a great deal is this book is probably a little simplified (not all parents may be as supportive of Liv, for instance), but the bullying aspects at school are spot-on. Just seeing a transgender "tween" in print is great. I would like to see a list of support resources at the end of the book (and I just read an ARC, so it's not the final version) for those who do not have the same support system as Liv. Yes, this book goes a long way toward showing acceptance, but it's not as easy for everyone. I certainly hope it inspires kids to treat everyone equally: it's an important message. I definitely recommend this wonderful novel for kids and adults alike.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 03/01/2017.
February 14, 2017
4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think this story of a transgender middle school child was really well done. I think books like this are really important, so that kids who may be going through what Liv was, as well as kids who are NOT transgender, can see it as normal, and book-worthy. It's important that kids be able to relate to characters, and I think it's also important for kids to be able to read about families and lives that may be very different from their own experiences.
I thought the family life, with the two moms, was written very well. The plot was somewhat predictable, but I think perfectly acceptable for the target audience of middle school. The only thing I found that didn't quite ring true to me was that the kids were only in 6th grade. They read a little older to me, more like 8th. (And I say that as the mom of a 6th grader. But I realize my kid is on the less-mature side, and that 6th grade has a HUGE range of maturity levels in it, so maybe I'm just biased by my own experience.)
Overall, though, I would highly recommend this for middle school kids, teachers, and libraries.
I think this story of a transgender middle school child was really well done. I think books like this are really important, so that kids who may be going through what Liv was, as well as kids who are NOT transgender, can see it as normal, and book-worthy. It's important that kids be able to relate to characters, and I think it's also important for kids to be able to read about families and lives that may be very different from their own experiences.
I thought the family life, with the two moms, was written very well. The plot was somewhat predictable, but I think perfectly acceptable for the target audience of middle school. The only thing I found that didn't quite ring true to me was that the kids were only in 6th grade. They read a little older to me, more like 8th. (And I say that as the mom of a 6th grader. But I realize my kid is on the less-mature side, and that 6th grade has a HUGE range of maturity levels in it, so maybe I'm just biased by my own experience.)
Overall, though, I would highly recommend this for middle school kids, teachers, and libraries.
March 18, 2017
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
I received an e-ARC of this book from Sourcebooks Jabberwocky via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I am a cisgender, straight woman and I know very little about transgender issues. If I say anything in this review that can be seen as offensive to the transgender community, please let me know!
Also here’s a review by a multigender writer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... which I found on this list of reviews of trans/non-binary literature by trans/non-binary reviewers: https://xanwest.wordpress.com/2017/01.... If you know of any #ownvoices reviews of this book, let me know so I can share them here!
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
This book was really entertaining and cute. There’s a lot of passion and several themes that I enjoyed reading about and that I think are important within a middle grade specially. This book talks about acceptance, honestly, family, friendship and sticking up for yourself. Overall, it was a really nice read, super fast and just generally feel good even with the integration of serious topics.
Writing Style – 3 out of 5 stars
The writing style was really fast paced and easy to read. I could’ve finished the book in one sitting if I had had the time to do so. The main character has a very distinct voice and personality which I liked but it also felt very disjointed and there were some weird metaphors. Some things were not explained in the best way in my opinion and kind of made me raise my eyebrows a bit.
Characters – 3 out of 5 stars
I liked the characters in this book, most of all the relationships between them and how they grew and developed as the book went on. Liv was pretty great. He was very determined and had a lot of tenacity which I appreciated. He was very adamant about what he wanted to accomplish with The Pants Project and what it meant to him and I love his purpose. However, he also had a temper that had gotten him in trouble a few times and it was interesting to see that kind of growth, learning how to feel his anger without physically lashing out. He was really vulnerable and secretive for various reasons but he was really kind as well. Like I said above, I really liked the relationships that were explored in the story. The family dynamic is really great and Liv has a sibling with whom he gets along well, as well as you can with a younger sibling and I loved their relationship! There are quite a few side characters and the ones that had most page time I felt were well developed and interesting to read about. I want to mention that there is one character who does say transphobic and homophobic things. They are clearly condemned in the text and the author makes a point to call them out for being bad things to say and to believe but I want to make sure people know before reading in case it’s triggering.
Emotionally
I received an e-ARC of this book from Sourcebooks Jabberwocky via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I am a cisgender, straight woman and I know very little about transgender issues. If I say anything in this review that can be seen as offensive to the transgender community, please let me know!
Also here’s a review by a multigender writer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... which I found on this list of reviews of trans/non-binary literature by trans/non-binary reviewers: https://xanwest.wordpress.com/2017/01.... If you know of any #ownvoices reviews of this book, let me know so I can share them here!
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
This book was really entertaining and cute. There’s a lot of passion and several themes that I enjoyed reading about and that I think are important within a middle grade specially. This book talks about acceptance, honestly, family, friendship and sticking up for yourself. Overall, it was a really nice read, super fast and just generally feel good even with the integration of serious topics.
Writing Style – 3 out of 5 stars
The writing style was really fast paced and easy to read. I could’ve finished the book in one sitting if I had had the time to do so. The main character has a very distinct voice and personality which I liked but it also felt very disjointed and there were some weird metaphors. Some things were not explained in the best way in my opinion and kind of made me raise my eyebrows a bit.
Characters – 3 out of 5 stars
I liked the characters in this book, most of all the relationships between them and how they grew and developed as the book went on. Liv was pretty great. He was very determined and had a lot of tenacity which I appreciated. He was very adamant about what he wanted to accomplish with The Pants Project and what it meant to him and I love his purpose. However, he also had a temper that had gotten him in trouble a few times and it was interesting to see that kind of growth, learning how to feel his anger without physically lashing out. He was really vulnerable and secretive for various reasons but he was really kind as well. Like I said above, I really liked the relationships that were explored in the story. The family dynamic is really great and Liv has a sibling with whom he gets along well, as well as you can with a younger sibling and I loved their relationship! There are quite a few side characters and the ones that had most page time I felt were well developed and interesting to read about. I want to mention that there is one character who does say transphobic and homophobic things. They are clearly condemned in the text and the author makes a point to call them out for being bad things to say and to believe but I want to make sure people know before reading in case it’s triggering.
Emotionally
March 5, 2017
This review can also be found at Lost in My Library. I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was just so gosh darn cute. I love happy queer books! And I'm so happy that these kinds of books are becoming more widely available and being written about a wider variety of characters.
Minor spoilers ahead, with no details - I was really happy to see a story involving a queer character who starts out in the closet whose story doesn't revolve around coming out. We need all kinds of queer stories, because there are all kinds of queer people! And I can't think of too many others that are like this.
I was also pleasantly surprised at how diverse this book is. I knew it had a trans main character when I picked it up, but he has two moms, and one of his best friends is disabled!
Liv is such a great protagonist. He's funny, he has good intentions even if he doesn't always go about things in the best way, and no matter how great he is, he's still realistically imperfect. His voice made me like him right off the bat, and I was rooting for him the whole way through!
This wasn't the main focus of the book, but one of my favorite parts was how this discussed that apologizing for something doesn't automatically make everything okay. There were a few times that I was worried that things would be resolved in a quick, forced way, since I tend not to expect as much depth from middle grade (which is a habit I should really break). But I had nothing to worry about! It handled real emotions and real problems exceptionally well.
I may not have given this a full five stars, but really, I have no complaints. I guess it was just missing that little extra something that would have made me absolutely love it. If this kind of book seems like your thing, I'd highly recommend it!
This was just so gosh darn cute. I love happy queer books! And I'm so happy that these kinds of books are becoming more widely available and being written about a wider variety of characters.
Minor spoilers ahead, with no details - I was really happy to see a story involving a queer character who starts out in the closet whose story doesn't revolve around coming out. We need all kinds of queer stories, because there are all kinds of queer people! And I can't think of too many others that are like this.
I was also pleasantly surprised at how diverse this book is. I knew it had a trans main character when I picked it up, but he has two moms, and one of his best friends is disabled!
Liv is such a great protagonist. He's funny, he has good intentions even if he doesn't always go about things in the best way, and no matter how great he is, he's still realistically imperfect. His voice made me like him right off the bat, and I was rooting for him the whole way through!
This wasn't the main focus of the book, but one of my favorite parts was how this discussed that apologizing for something doesn't automatically make everything okay. There were a few times that I was worried that things would be resolved in a quick, forced way, since I tend not to expect as much depth from middle grade (which is a habit I should really break). But I had nothing to worry about! It handled real emotions and real problems exceptionally well.
I may not have given this a full five stars, but really, I have no complaints. I guess it was just missing that little extra something that would have made me absolutely love it. If this kind of book seems like your thing, I'd highly recommend it!
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