Part of what makes this book resonate with the community is how accurately it portrays all of these issues: Amanda’s suicide attempt (and a different character’s suicide) illustrate the risk transgender people (notably trans youth) face after being confronted with harassment or being ostracized at school and in the workplace. Many of the hot-button issues and stereotypes within the LGBTQ community are addressed in this book: homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, especially in the South suicide, both attempted and completed mental illness, such as major depressive disorder and panic disorder, as well as medication and therapy for mental health the bathroom issue rape drugs & alcohol “passing” coming out to your parents divorce Christianity/religion and the queer community. As a protagonist, Amanda shows us throughout the story that courage is not the absence of fear, and by the end of the story, she is ready to face all of her fears head-on. As a trans woman, she is the best person to tell this story of a young trans girl coming to terms with who she is and embracing it with courage and confidence.

I have never seen anything that tackles what it is like to be trans so realistically with so much truth and love, and I have Meredith Russo to thank profusely for bringing this story to light. This is a book for transgender people, written by a trans woman. But she’s terrified that once she tells Grant the truth, he won’t be able to see past it.īecause the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that she used to be Andrew. As they spend more time together, she finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself…including her past. Grant is unlike anyone she’s ever met-open, honest, kind-and Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. There’s a reason why she transferred schools for her senior year, and why she’s determined not to get too close to anyone.Īnd then she meets Grant Everett. Like any other girl, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. The author Meredith Russo is also a trans woman who lives in Tennessee with her two children.Īmanda Hardy is the new girl in school in Lambertville, Tennessee.

On a side note, the woman on the cover of the book is Kira Conley, a 21-year-old model and trans woman from Arizona who publicly talked about her career and transition in the July 2015 issue of Women’s Wear Daily. I’m apologizing in advance for how all over the place this review is it’s been a hard few days for me after the Orlando shooting, and reading this was such a positive emotional experience, so everything I say here is completely from the heart.

April daniels nemesis book 3