eloise_bradbooks's profile picture

eloise_bradbooks 's review for:

The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
4.0

This book focuses on Spencer, a trans boy who just moved to a new school after being bullied in his last one. This year he wants a fresh start and he gets just that: great friends, a place on the soccer team, he might even be falling for his teammate.
But when his position on the team gets compromised and Spencer starts getting close to Justice, he might just have to come out as trans, and change the system for the better.

This was a great story of acceptance and fighting for your rights.
It felt great to see that, despite struggles, Spence was so well surrounded by people who loved and accepted him, and that, compared to so many other stories we read about, he managed to get most of what he wanted. By fighting for it, and paving the way for others.
I also really appreciate the focus on Spencer's family, especially his mum and his little brother whom he helps with his autism. They all love each other so much while being realistically imperfect.

The only thing that disappointed me was how Spencer treated Justice, his christian teammate whose family is so homophobic that he isn't ready to be out yet and has to deal with constant homophobia.
It almost felt like Spencer has been lucky enough to be surrounded with great people that he almost abandonned the one person he cared so much about while he needed him the most...
Yes, ultimately things get sorted out, but I would have prefered a little more understanding from Spencer, who seems to be such a great guy otherwise.