Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen

Gr 9 Up—In this memoir, a female-born, transgender teenager describes the challenges presented by his transition. Andrews was always pleased to be called a tomboy as a child; in spite of his body, he felt like a boy, and his mother's insistence that he wear dresses and take part in pageants was painful. Andrews's relationship with his first girlfriend, a lesbian, helped him become aware of the fluidity of gender and sexuality and realize that it wasn't so bad to be different. However, his mother saw his girlfriend as a terrible influence and forbade the boy from seeing her. Andrews struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts: Who was he? Why did he feel so out of place? A YouTube video introduced the teen to the idea of being transgender. With the help of a family therapist specializing in gender dysphoria and an adolescent LGBT support group, Andrews began the journey toward transition and taking on his true identity. Readers will find many useful resources at the end, such as organizations, websites, and YouTube channels. The teen writes frankly and bravely about his transition and romantic relationships. This nonfiction account from an actual transgender teen author—as opposed to a novel, such as Cris Beam's I Am J (Little, Brown, 2011)—is enlightening. The tone is more journalistic than personal, which may hold some readers at arm's length, but this is still a solid addition.—Brandy Danner, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA