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theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
3.0
My Dad Thinks I'm a Boy?! by Sophie Labelle is a book I was really excited to read. In my effort to have a very inclusive home library, I was excited to read my first trans positive children's book. I wasn't too excited with the result though. The description explained it to be amusing, powerful and uplifting, but for the most part, I felt more sad than amused for Stephie. I'm glad she has one parent that accepts her, but the struggle to keep her father - who insists that she is a boy - happy is more sad than amusing to me. There is no happy ending - which I know is a reality of many trans people in regards to their family - and there is also nothing that shows that her father is trying to be more understanding, only that he's trying to force his ideas onto her. The only reason I gave it three stars is that Stephie is shown to prevail and stick to her image of herself, which encourages young readers to do the same.
I like that at the end of the book there are questions to encourage discussion with your children and I will also try the books that are mentioned there as well. But this one did not quite meet the mark for me.
I like that at the end of the book there are questions to encourage discussion with your children and I will also try the books that are mentioned there as well. But this one did not quite meet the mark for me.
winelovingbooknerd's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful, kid-friendly, trans-positive story about a girl named Stephie that was born a boy named Stephen. Stephie's dad is having a hard time accepting this but she handles it in stride. Great read to help trans-children know they're not alone but also to help all children understand the challenges and to learn to be more accepting.
jugglingpup's review against another edition
5.0
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I got an ARC of this book.
I love this book. This book is directed at trans kids. They get to see themselves and it gives them advice. It tells them that sometimes adults are wrong and that’s ok. Adults are not perfect and neither are doctors. This is a huge lesson and it is especially important for trans kids. Trans kids are at a very high risk of abuse, homelessness, drug abuse, bullying, and suicide. So yeah, this message that adults can be wrong is really important. It would have stopped me from hiding being a dude for as long as I did.
The book speaks in a way that a kid could understand. It is about being true to yourself, but it is also about giving others a chance. There is only so much you can do when someone won’t listen to you. This is just a lot more than I expected from a picture book. Though I am not surprised at all that Labelle is the one who created something this important.
I will need to track down Labelle’s other books now.
I got an ARC of this book.
I love this book. This book is directed at trans kids. They get to see themselves and it gives them advice. It tells them that sometimes adults are wrong and that’s ok. Adults are not perfect and neither are doctors. This is a huge lesson and it is especially important for trans kids. Trans kids are at a very high risk of abuse, homelessness, drug abuse, bullying, and suicide. So yeah, this message that adults can be wrong is really important. It would have stopped me from hiding being a dude for as long as I did.
The book speaks in a way that a kid could understand. It is about being true to yourself, but it is also about giving others a chance. There is only so much you can do when someone won’t listen to you. This is just a lot more than I expected from a picture book. Though I am not surprised at all that Labelle is the one who created something this important.
I will need to track down Labelle’s other books now.
larakaa's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.75
Perfect for young readers and even has a discussion guide and further reading recs in the back.
angstyp's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me this book to read in advance!
Transgender awareness is something that is important to me and parental acceptance is something that should be talked about. Displaying grown people having tantrums on the floor because their child wants to wear a Halloween costume is damaging to the conversations that need to be had. I found that the way the father is described to be defeating and hypocritical, and the lack of real discussion makes the story one sided with no real conclusion. The story layout feels blocky and not well thought out.
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me this book to read in advance!
Transgender awareness is something that is important to me and parental acceptance is something that should be talked about. Displaying grown people having tantrums on the floor because their child wants to wear a Halloween costume is damaging to the conversations that need to be had. I found that the way the father is described to be defeating and hypocritical, and the lack of real discussion makes the story one sided with no real conclusion. The story layout feels blocky and not well thought out.
notwithoutmybook's review against another edition
5.0
What a lovely book! I read this with Sophie (aged 6) and Jack (aged 10), who are both cisgender children (cisgender is a term for people who's gender identity matches the sex that they were assigned at birth). I felt the story might be a bit young for Jack, but he enjoyed it and had a lot of questions.
The first half of the book is told from Stephie's point of view; as she explains her frustrations of having a dad who does not understand that although she was born with a body that looks like a boy's, she is in fact a girl. It upsets her that her dad insists on calling her by a boy's name and tries to get her to do things that he considers activities for boys, things that Stephie doesn't enjoy. Like children often are, she's very thoughtful of her dad's feelings, but we all feel quite sad for Stephie having to deal with this. I particularly like how the author emphasizes that nobody, not even a parent gets to decide who a child is but themselves.
The second half of the book is made up of questions for further discussion, aimed at teachers and educators and there are suggestions for similar books. We went through quite a few of the questions, which prompted a really productive conversation between myself and the children. I think this book is so important and I would love to see it available in schools and libraries. Trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming children need and deserve to feel seen and represented and it's so important for cis gendered children to be educated.
Thank you very much to Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Sophie Labelle and Netgalley for an E-ARC of this book.
The first half of the book is told from Stephie's point of view; as she explains her frustrations of having a dad who does not understand that although she was born with a body that looks like a boy's, she is in fact a girl. It upsets her that her dad insists on calling her by a boy's name and tries to get her to do things that he considers activities for boys, things that Stephie doesn't enjoy. Like children often are, she's very thoughtful of her dad's feelings, but we all feel quite sad for Stephie having to deal with this. I particularly like how the author emphasizes that nobody, not even a parent gets to decide who a child is but themselves.
The second half of the book is made up of questions for further discussion, aimed at teachers and educators and there are suggestions for similar books. We went through quite a few of the questions, which prompted a really productive conversation between myself and the children. I think this book is so important and I would love to see it available in schools and libraries. Trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming children need and deserve to feel seen and represented and it's so important for cis gendered children to be educated.
Thank you very much to Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Sophie Labelle and Netgalley for an E-ARC of this book.
melissa_h's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed, we need more books like this but did it end too abruptly or is my copy messed up??
nerdybookies's review
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
betweenworlds_she's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0