One thing I think I really got from this book was an awareness that gender non-conforming individuals are included under the trans umbrella as well. I had never really thought of that, always keeping them in separate groups in my head. I suppose that might not be true for all genderqueer individuals, but for me, Tobia's description of himself as trans took a little while for me to get used to.

This memoir is needed, because we don't have a lot of memoirs about people who do not identify as male or female. Tobia's memoir will open people's eyes about what that experience is like, including elements that were difficult. One part that will not sit well is the section where he describes his college selection experience--complaining about a full ride to Duke when most people don't get offered a full ride anywhere isn't an easy read, especially when the complaint is that you could have gone to Harvard instead.

I read this book to see if it would be a good cross-over title for a YA award, and I do think it would work well in high schools for free reading, but I don't know if teachers and librarians would go for it on a list. It will be interesting to discuss that at the meeting.