A World Worth Saving

Gr 6 Up–A is a 14-year-old Jewish, trans, panromantic boy whose parents are not supportive of him. They force him to go to meetings of a conversion support group, Save Our Sons and Daughters (SOSAD). The only silver lining of the meetings is being able to make friends with the other teens. At a meeting, his friend Yarrow, who is 16, agender, and uses the name Yarrow instead of pronouns, is taken away by the group leader, and A fears he may be next. At the start of the quest to save Yarrow, A meets a golem who helps him learn about the sheydim behind SOSAD—demons who are feeding off of the suffering of trans folks and the grief and anger of those who don’t support trans loved ones. The golem and a visit to A’s synagogue provide context and explanation about Jewish folklore and traditions. It is important to note for readers that transphobia is prominent in this book and that it carries significant messages intertwined with the plot’s humor and fantasy. Things like protests, politics, and hate are given a magical form, adding layers of visual understanding and a bit of distance from the pain of these experiences. Lukoff offers a realistic perspective in the afterword about maintaining safety while navigating resources for trans youth.