This was a read in one sitting, ignoring everything else around you, with an overflowing heart read. So much love for this book.
Spencer is starting a new school which is scary enough normally. For Spencer it is even more frightening because he does not know how much of himself he can safely share. Spencer is transgender and threats of violence led him to leave his former school. His family is making sacrifices so that he can attend a more liberal private school so there is even more seemingly at stake. It is hard to lock away the things that make you who you are though so Spencer ends up trying out for the soccer team, against his parents wishes, because he loves playing. As time passes and Spencer feels like he is part of something and forming friendships, and maybe more, sharing more about who he truly is starts to seem more important it becomes less clear what is riskier, sharing who he truly is or never fighting for the life you want.
There were so many times that my eyes filled with tears. Spencer was such a wonderful character and I loved the people surrounding him from his family, to his soccer team, and his supportive best friend. So much love and warmth inhabit this book which made it lovely to curl with up but is also just such a beautifully important thing to be able to read when transphobia is on the front page of every newspaper what seems like every day.
Spencer is starting a new school which is scary enough normally. For Spencer it is even more frightening because he does not know how much of himself he can safely share. Spencer is transgender and threats of violence led him to leave his former school. His family is making sacrifices so that he can attend a more liberal private school so there is even more seemingly at stake. It is hard to lock away the things that make you who you are though so Spencer ends up trying out for the soccer team, against his parents wishes, because he loves playing. As time passes and Spencer feels like he is part of something and forming friendships, and maybe more, sharing more about who he truly is starts to seem more important it becomes less clear what is riskier, sharing who he truly is or never fighting for the life you want.
There were so many times that my eyes filled with tears. Spencer was such a wonderful character and I loved the people surrounding him from his family, to his soccer team, and his supportive best friend. So much love and warmth inhabit this book which made it lovely to curl with up but is also just such a beautifully important thing to be able to read when transphobia is on the front page of every newspaper what seems like every day.