I Shall Never Fall in Love

Gr 9 Up–It’s 1800s England and the pressure is on to find a spouse and settle down. George, Eleanor, and Charlotte are each grappling with the issue. George, who was assigned female at birth but uses they/them pronouns and prefers to wear men’s clothing, struggles to hide their true identity from a rigid society that does not acknowledge anything outside of convention. Living on a large estate that is in danger of bankruptcy, George pitches in to oversee the land and its inhabitants. Close friends of George’s since childhood, Eleanor and her cousin Charlotte have their own ideas about the future. They go to their share of elegant balls and mix with high society, never finding exactly what they’re looking for. Charlotte, who is Black, faces discrimination and often finds herself in the company of people who don't hold issue with investing in plantations in America. As the three friends learn from poor decisions, they ultimately realize that in order to find happiness, in love and in life, they need to be true to who they are. With realistic, detailed drawings of the English countryside and the city of London, the story comes to life. The characters are well developed, revealing their inner thoughts through dialogue and reflection, and through George, the author explores what it was like to live as a young transgender person navigating the obstacles of Regency England. The topics of class, gender identity, feminism, and LGBTQIA+ rights are woven into the action seamlessly.