I know this book is life changing because immediately after finishing it I had a meltdown in therapy. I wish I had this book sooner than I did. I wish that fifteen year old me existed in the same timeline as Man o' War. I know that without a doubt it would've given me the language I needed at that time to find comfort in who I didn't know I was. Outside of this book completely redirecting the path my life was on, it was just so necessary. Small town, stuck-in-the-suburbs trans and queer kids deserve to know they aren't alone. Across the country there are kids just like them learning and growing into who they are. 

Man o' War follows River, an Arab American teenager living in a small Ohio town. At the start of the book, they aren't doing well; in fact, River struggles for most of the book. Honestly, I had to take this book in small chunks because it mirrored a lot of my own experiences with depression and dysphoria as a teenager and even now at 25. However, it's not just a story of trans trauma, it's also a story of immense trans joy. Even in their landlocked Midwestern town they're able to find community, support, and a family. 

This book spans many years of River's life and returns to this SeaWorld like aquarium that has defined much of their life. You get glimpses into several marine creatures, especially the titular Man o' War that River embodies. You get to see how much River grows in each section of the book, as they return to this aquarium and reflect on who they were before. 

I truly loved this book. I want to buy my own copy and reread it already. I know that I will return to this many times in my life.