The Passing Playbook draws the reader in immediately and the story remains engaging throughout. The main character is Spencer, a 15 year-old trans boy who has transferred to a liberal private school after being bullied and threatened at his previous school. He has a supportive family who have had their own journey and growth in terms of having a trans son.
Spencer is very anxious about coming out at his new school, given his frightening experience at the previous school. He loves soccer and joins the school's boys soccer team. He falls in love with one of the other players, a gay boy who has his own struggles with his homophobic, religious family.
Spencer's anxiety intensifies when a discriminatory law forces Spencer's coach to bench him because his birth certificate says female. Spencer is forced to make a choice - quit soccer and the team he loves or publicly come out and fight for his rights and the rights of other trans people.
The Passing Playbook puts a human face on the struggles that trans people face. Spencer is a likeable, relatable character and the reader empathizes with his emotions. The diversity in this book is incredible - there are BIPOC, trans, bi, gay, non-binary and autistic characters. The Passing Playbook is a great debut and I hope there are more books to come by Isaac Fitzsimmons.
Spencer is very anxious about coming out at his new school, given his frightening experience at the previous school. He loves soccer and joins the school's boys soccer team. He falls in love with one of the other players, a gay boy who has his own struggles with his homophobic, religious family.
Spencer's anxiety intensifies when a discriminatory law forces Spencer's coach to bench him because his birth certificate says female. Spencer is forced to make a choice - quit soccer and the team he loves or publicly come out and fight for his rights and the rights of other trans people.
The Passing Playbook puts a human face on the struggles that trans people face. Spencer is a likeable, relatable character and the reader empathizes with his emotions. The diversity in this book is incredible - there are BIPOC, trans, bi, gay, non-binary and autistic characters. The Passing Playbook is a great debut and I hope there are more books to come by Isaac Fitzsimmons.