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Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
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From: Beth Martin <BMartin_at_dce.k12.wi.us>
Date: Wed, 07 May 2014 13:41:01 -0500
Although it is from 2009, this book helped educate me about transgender issues in a way that I will never forget. Here is part of a review I wrote for my local newspaper:
Told from the perspective of 18 year old Logan Witherspoon, Almost Perfect, tells the story of Sage Hendricks, whom Logan meets when Sage moves to his small town with her family. Sage is different than anyone Logan has ever met. She is beautiful, smart and friendly and Logan falls for her immediately, even though she is unusually tall. But Logan gets mixed messages from Sage. Her family is extremely protective of her and won???t let her date, yet her younger sister has a boyfriend. In addition, she alone has been home schooled for the last several years. Logan is sure that she is hiding something.
When Sage finally reveals her secret, that she is a transgender male, Logan reacts with anger. How could Sage have kept this from him? What does this revelation say about Logan and his own sexuality? Later, when he has had more time to think things over, Logan feels terrible about his reaction. He considers what life must be like for Sage, who feels trapped in the wrong body. Logan vows to remain her friend, but things become complicated as these two teens work through their feelings for each other.
Katcher does an excellent job of capturing the emotions of both Logan and Sage as well as family members and others who become part of their story. Logan becomes a reluctant hero and Sage is a very believable character, thanks to the many personal stories of teens just like her that have been shared with the author. Katcher works facts about the transgender process such as hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery into the plot and adds additional information at the end of the book for those who desire to know more.
Winner of the Stonewall Young Adult Literature Award for an English language book that has exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered experience, Almost Perfect is the kind of book that could save lives when put in the hands of the right teen. It gets the information out there that we all should know.
Beth Martin Library Media Coordinator DC Everest Middle School bmartin_at_dce.k12.wi.us 715-241-9700 ex.2320
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password: Look4Posts Received on Wed 07 May 2014 01:43:03 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 07 May 2014 13:41:01 -0500
Although it is from 2009, this book helped educate me about transgender issues in a way that I will never forget. Here is part of a review I wrote for my local newspaper:
Told from the perspective of 18 year old Logan Witherspoon, Almost Perfect, tells the story of Sage Hendricks, whom Logan meets when Sage moves to his small town with her family. Sage is different than anyone Logan has ever met. She is beautiful, smart and friendly and Logan falls for her immediately, even though she is unusually tall. But Logan gets mixed messages from Sage. Her family is extremely protective of her and won???t let her date, yet her younger sister has a boyfriend. In addition, she alone has been home schooled for the last several years. Logan is sure that she is hiding something.
When Sage finally reveals her secret, that she is a transgender male, Logan reacts with anger. How could Sage have kept this from him? What does this revelation say about Logan and his own sexuality? Later, when he has had more time to think things over, Logan feels terrible about his reaction. He considers what life must be like for Sage, who feels trapped in the wrong body. Logan vows to remain her friend, but things become complicated as these two teens work through their feelings for each other.
Katcher does an excellent job of capturing the emotions of both Logan and Sage as well as family members and others who become part of their story. Logan becomes a reluctant hero and Sage is a very believable character, thanks to the many personal stories of teens just like her that have been shared with the author. Katcher works facts about the transgender process such as hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery into the plot and adds additional information at the end of the book for those who desire to know more.
Winner of the Stonewall Young Adult Literature Award for an English language book that has exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered experience, Almost Perfect is the kind of book that could save lives when put in the hands of the right teen. It gets the information out there that we all should know.
Beth Martin Library Media Coordinator DC Everest Middle School bmartin_at_dce.k12.wi.us 715-241-9700 ex.2320
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password: Look4Posts Received on Wed 07 May 2014 01:43:03 PM CDT
