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George
by
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.
George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because sh ...more
George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because sh ...more
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Kindle Edition, 213 pages
Published
August 25th 2015
by Scholastic Inc.
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Middle grade contemporary fiction. This is a sweet, poignant novel about an elementary school student named George, who was born a boy but knows in her heart that she is a girl. When the chance comes to do the school's yearly production of Charlotte's Web, George knows that she wants to be Charlotte, the wise and kind mother spider, but will taking the role force her to reveal more about her true self than she is ready to share?
This is a fast read, great for giving elementary kids a glimpse of w ...more
This is a fast read, great for giving elementary kids a glimpse of w ...more

George stopped. It was such a short, little question, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the sounds.
Mom, what if I’m a girl?
This might be the most important novel released this year. George is a sensitive, honest, and much-needed story about a trans girl.
The simplicity of the story makes it even more emotional. Alex Gino never tries too hard to turn this book into a lesson, and there is no attempt to make us cry, but - personally - I think the subtle sadness, frustration and loneliness of ...more

This year, only two books have made me cry so hard I had to stop reading. This was one of them.
But it's not because it's sad--it's actually a sweet, hopeful book filled with the ordinary joys of childhood. It's more the understanding of how isolated the Georges of the world must feel, and the hope that every single one of us takes the time to listen, to understand, to be supportive, and to be kind.
Review to come. ...more
But it's not because it's sad--it's actually a sweet, hopeful book filled with the ordinary joys of childhood. It's more the understanding of how isolated the Georges of the world must feel, and the hope that every single one of us takes the time to listen, to understand, to be supportive, and to be kind.
Review to come. ...more

Nov 01, 2020
Petra is in abeyance on hiatus, just not here much
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
If you met me, you'd think I was a very girlie girl (view spoiler) . I've got curly red hair and I'm curvy in all the right places (and some more, sadly) and a definite girlie voice. But what I'm into is adventure. I've sailed an ocean, lived up the Amazon, hunted with spears, flown a plane, climbed a mountain, driven at Daytona, done off-road driving, trekked in a desert etc . What I've never done is had a white wedding, I've never had a husband I've called my DH, I
...more

The cutest.

Oct 01, 2016
Caz (littlebookowl)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favourites,
borrowed
I honestly could not give this book any less than 5 stars. It was beautiful and heartwarming. I felt so much for George and really connected to her. This book is just so important, and whilst as a middle-grade this is an easy ready with a simple writing style, I think that everyone should read it.

This was so wonderful. I've said this before but I LOVE seeing LGBTQ+ middle grade books. Society has a problem of thinking these topics are inappropriate for kids and that is so backwards and harmful.
This is about George/Melissa, a 10 year old girl born as a boy. I loved how Gino used female pronouns through the entire book. This was so lovely to see, since George thought of herself as a girl. Gino explained what transgender means in such a simple way for kids to understand.
This book is so imp ...more
This is about George/Melissa, a 10 year old girl born as a boy. I loved how Gino used female pronouns through the entire book. This was so lovely to see, since George thought of herself as a girl. Gino explained what transgender means in such a simple way for kids to understand.
This book is so imp ...more

“It takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination.”
This book had me right from the start. George is such a sweet and special character. You want to hug her and tell her everything will be alright.
I don't think I need to tell people how important representation is, especially for kids. I hope this book will help readers understand and open their eyes, as well as help many families and children in similar situations.
Find more of my books on Instagram ...more
This book had me right from the start. George is such a sweet and special character. You want to hug her and tell her everything will be alright.
I don't think I need to tell people how important representation is, especially for kids. I hope this book will help readers understand and open their eyes, as well as help many families and children in similar situations.
Find more of my books on Instagram ...more

This review is also posted at http://readingnookandcranny.blogspot....
Before I get into my review of this story, I need to tell you a little bit about myself, because my own personal experiences heavily impacted my thoughts on this novel.
When I was in elementary school, I did swim team and softball. In middle school, I gravitated towards martial arts and rock climbing. In high school, I played a lot of tennis, basketball and bowling. I went to college to go work in motorsports. Starting in middl ...more
Before I get into my review of this story, I need to tell you a little bit about myself, because my own personal experiences heavily impacted my thoughts on this novel.
When I was in elementary school, I did swim team and softball. In middle school, I gravitated towards martial arts and rock climbing. In high school, I played a lot of tennis, basketball and bowling. I went to college to go work in motorsports. Starting in middl ...more

Well, this was just exactly as good as everyone said it was. I'm so happy after finishing this.
...more

“My point is, it takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination.”
This review contains *spoilers*.
I needed a breather after Crooked Kingdom, so George came at the perfect time for me to pick up. The premise of this middle-grade novel tells the story of Melissa, a ten-year-old girl who desperately wants to play Charlotte in her classroom’s theatrical production of Charlotte’s Web.
“I want to be Charlotte,” George whispered.
Kelly shrugged. “That’s cool. If you ...more
This review contains *spoilers*.
I needed a breather after Crooked Kingdom, so George came at the perfect time for me to pick up. The premise of this middle-grade novel tells the story of Melissa, a ten-year-old girl who desperately wants to play Charlotte in her classroom’s theatrical production of Charlotte’s Web.
“I want to be Charlotte,” George whispered.
Kelly shrugged. “That’s cool. If you ...more

"My door is always open." ❤️
...more

This book is so lovely, well-done, and important! I wish I would have read this as a kid and I just adore the fact that it exists, especially as a kid's book. George's story is so relevant and heart touching and I love the way that this one was done! I just took a star off because since it is middle grade the writing was a bit simplistic, but it was still very quick and I will definitely be recommending this to people as an LGBTQ+ read!
...more

PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW!!!
I don't want someone to see this one star rating and instantly write this off as someone who was offended by this book so they gave it one star. That is not the case at all. In fact I'm sure enough people are going to comment and share their opinions about the topics of this book that I'm not even going to bothering chiming in. The fact is it doesn't matter because there is a super tangible reason why no one should ever read this book. The writing is straight up terribl ...more
I don't want someone to see this one star rating and instantly write this off as someone who was offended by this book so they gave it one star. That is not the case at all. In fact I'm sure enough people are going to comment and share their opinions about the topics of this book that I'm not even going to bothering chiming in. The fact is it doesn't matter because there is a super tangible reason why no one should ever read this book. The writing is straight up terribl ...more

I'm so happy that this book exists.
...more

Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
1.0 out of 5 stars
Politically correct propaganda
April 12, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: August 25, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00SZIBREW
This book came to my attention through an article on Bookbub, The ALA (American Library Association) reports the most challenged books of 2018.
I quite clearly remember being a child and am the father of an eleven year old girl. I know that children, even most teenag ...more
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
1.0 out of 5 stars
Politically correct propaganda
April 12, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: August 25, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00SZIBREW
This book came to my attention through an article on Bookbub, The ALA (American Library Association) reports the most challenged books of 2018.
I quite clearly remember being a child and am the father of an eleven year old girl. I know that children, even most teenag ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1627172939p2/15335689.jpg)
Assigned reading for MLIS 7421: Multicultural Youth Literature.
George is the story of a child who's realized that she is a girl, even if she was born into a body that was assigned "male" at birth. Given the subject matter, it's already a heavy read at times, but when you add in the transphobia from many other characters—including George's own mother—it's downright heartbreaking in places. That said, I don't think it would be a spoiler to tell you that this children's story ends happily, and we g ...more
George is the story of a child who's realized that she is a girl, even if she was born into a body that was assigned "male" at birth. Given the subject matter, it's already a heavy read at times, but when you add in the transphobia from many other characters—including George's own mother—it's downright heartbreaking in places. That said, I don't think it would be a spoiler to tell you that this children's story ends happily, and we g ...more

I read this in honor of Banned Books Week. This was at the top of the list for books banned most often in 2019. It is the sweet, compelling story of a pre teen who feels like a girl, even though she was born a boy. George is a regular kid with a devoted mom and a typical teenage brother. George likes to look at teen magazines and think about wearing makeup and girls' clothes. No one in her life knows what she is feeling, because, she keeps it to herself and hides the magazine's from her family a
...more

This book is so important. I mean, so important .
George explains what transgender means and how it's manifested in kids and what it feels like for kids who are trans so simply and in a way that is so easy to understand. Granted, I am 19 years old and already know pretty well what transgender means but really Alex Gino put George/Melissa's situation in such simple terms that this has to be true. The best thing that Gino did in George was to refer to George in female pronouns the entire novel ...more
George explains what transgender means and how it's manifested in kids and what it feels like for kids who are trans so simply and in a way that is so easy to understand. Granted, I am 19 years old and already know pretty well what transgender means but really Alex Gino put George/Melissa's situation in such simple terms that this has to be true. The best thing that Gino did in George was to refer to George in female pronouns the entire novel ...more

George is a children's book unlike any other and is much needed in today's ever changing, ever transitioning world.
George looks like a boy on the outside, but on the inside she knows she's a girl. When it's announced that George's class will perform Charlotte's Web for the school play, George yearns to be cast as Charlotte. But Charlotte is a girl's part, and George can't even tryout because everyone thinks she's a boy. George sets her sights on playing Charlotte and devises a plan to prove who ...more
George looks like a boy on the outside, but on the inside she knows she's a girl. When it's announced that George's class will perform Charlotte's Web for the school play, George yearns to be cast as Charlotte. But Charlotte is a girl's part, and George can't even tryout because everyone thinks she's a boy. George sets her sights on playing Charlotte and devises a plan to prove who ...more

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Y’all got your banned book ready? No time like the present. I have been reading at least one banned or challenged book during Banned Books Week for years now. Mainly to make sure my children always know that no one’s voice should ever be silenced. This year I chose George - because it made this list . . . .
The premise behind George is pretty simple . . .
It was such a short, little question, but she couldn’t make her mouth ...more

Y’all got your banned book ready? No time like the present. I have been reading at least one banned or challenged book during Banned Books Week for years now. Mainly to make sure my children always know that no one’s voice should ever be silenced. This year I chose George - because it made this list . . . .

The premise behind George is pretty simple . . .
It was such a short, little question, but she couldn’t make her mouth ...more

A hugely important read for so many kids out there who need to feel seen. This is the first middle grade I've read with a trans main character. George was born a boy, but she knows that she is a girl.
All George wants is to be Charlotte in the school play for Charlotte's Web - but looking like a boy to everyone else does not reflect how she is on the inside. She IS a girl, no matter what anyone else thinks, and she WILL play Charlotte, even when the drama teacher thinks she's joking, or when her ...more
All George wants is to be Charlotte in the school play for Charlotte's Web - but looking like a boy to everyone else does not reflect how she is on the inside. She IS a girl, no matter what anyone else thinks, and she WILL play Charlotte, even when the drama teacher thinks she's joking, or when her ...more

Words cannot express my love for this book. I highly recommend it to EVERYONE!

Aug 27, 2015
Sarah Churchill
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middlegrade,
books-i-own
I absolutely love everything about this. I really felt for George's character, who I think is relatable to a lot of people whether they're trans or not. I'm happy to be living at a time where books like this are available to young people, and I really hope its message can help promote acceptance and understanding in everyone; teachers and parents included.
...more

Powerful and heartwarming, this sweet children's story tells of George, a young transgender girl. Simply-written and packed with emotion, I'd recommend this to readers of any age.
It's been a while since I've read this book, but I remember the joy it brought me clearly. Educational, moving, and a delight to read. Thank you to Alex Gino for proving that it really isn't very hard at all to talk about transgender issues in a way that children will understand. ...more
It's been a while since I've read this book, but I remember the joy it brought me clearly. Educational, moving, and a delight to read. Thank you to Alex Gino for proving that it really isn't very hard at all to talk about transgender issues in a way that children will understand. ...more


3.75 stars
I read this because it was a top challenged book of 2017 and I am always down to read a banned or challenged book. I think George is an important book, one that I feel opens up a discussion for young adults that they may have never thought to discuss before.
I am terrible at reviewing lately so all I'll say is this, I'm glad this book exists, I wish more like it existed. Some things in this book seemed to just glide by without conflict which confused me, but I also hope our world chan ...more

Nov 17, 2015
farith
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
lgbt,
read-in-english
“My point is, it takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination.”
A must read for all those who have ever felt different than the average.
In George we follow the story of this child that everybody sees as a boy but what they don't know is that he is actually a she.
There's not really a lot to say about this book, just that it's an important read that can teach you tons of things about trans people. It's also important that kids start to learn and get involved ...more
A must read for all those who have ever felt different than the average.
In George we follow the story of this child that everybody sees as a boy but what they don't know is that he is actually a she.
There's not really a lot to say about this book, just that it's an important read that can teach you tons of things about trans people. It's also important that kids start to learn and get involved ...more

“But the world isn't always good to people who are different. I just don't want you to make your road any harder than it has to be.”
“Trying to be a boy is really hard.”
George was assigned male at birth, but she's known most of her life that she's a girl. But nobody knows. Nobody knows about the magazines in her closet she looks at when she's feeling sad, or that she wants to play Charlotte at her school's representation of Charlotte's Web. Nobody, until she comes out to her best friend Kelly.
Whe ...more
“Trying to be a boy is really hard.”
George was assigned male at birth, but she's known most of her life that she's a girl. But nobody knows. Nobody knows about the magazines in her closet she looks at when she's feeling sad, or that she wants to play Charlotte at her school's representation of Charlotte's Web. Nobody, until she comes out to her best friend Kelly.
Whe ...more

4.5/5
Oh my god I loved this! It was so cute and heartwarming and hopeful, but also very mature and serious. Seeing Melissa struggle with showing her true self brought a tear to my eye several times.
I loved the friendship between Melissa and Kelly. It was incredibly realistic for a fourth grade friendship. And I loved how supportive and accepting Kelly was. And Melissa’s family too, especially Scott.
Another thing I greatly admire about this book is that it didn’t shy away from things such as tr ...more
Oh my god I loved this! It was so cute and heartwarming and hopeful, but also very mature and serious. Seeing Melissa struggle with showing her true self brought a tear to my eye several times.
I loved the friendship between Melissa and Kelly. It was incredibly realistic for a fourth grade friendship. And I loved how supportive and accepting Kelly was. And Melissa’s family too, especially Scott.
Another thing I greatly admire about this book is that it didn’t shy away from things such as tr ...more

Update, after a reread: 2 stars.
Somewhat unrefined writing, pigeonholing, and a perpetuation of stereotypes about gender roles.
Somewhat unrefined writing, pigeonholing, and a perpetuation of stereotypes about gender roles.
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Challenging Persp...: 2021-10 - George | 3 | 4 | Oct 20, 2021 05:51PM | |
Goodreads Librari...: alternate title for George | 1 | 28 | Jul 13, 2021 10:25AM | |
PopSugar Reading ...:
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3 | 41 | Sep 03, 2020 07:22AM | |
What do we think about this book? How do we feel? | 5 | 64 | Apr 13, 2020 01:26AM | |
NZ Intermediate S...: George | 1 | 10 | Jul 20, 2019 10:55PM |
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“My point is, it takes a special person to cry over a book. It shows compassion as well as imagination...Don't ever lose that”
—
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“George stopped. It was such a short, little question, but she couldn't make her mouth form the sounds.
Mom, what if I'm a girl?”
—
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More quotes…
Mom, what if I'm a girl?”