Assigned reading for MLIS 7421: Multicultural Youth Literature.

George is the story of a child who's realized that she is a girl, even if she was born into a body that was assigned "male" at birth. Given the subject matter, it's already a heavy read at times, but when you add in the transphobia from many other characters—including George's own mother—it's downright heartbreaking in places. That said, I don't think it would be a spoiler to tell you that this children's story ends happily, and we get to watch George blossom into Melissa, her true self, complete with frilly dresses and bows. It's absolutely precious to watch her grow not only to accept herself, but also to start being accepted by her family, as well as her incredibly supportive best friend.

I listened to the audiobook format of this story, of which there are two versions; the one I listened to is narrated by trans actress Jamie Clayton, and knowing that the voice telling the story belonged to a woman who had undergone so many of the same feelings that are detailed in the story added a tremendously touching layer of authenticity. There are actually a couple of scenes in which you can hear the emotion in Jamie Clayton's voice, and those moments really drove the impact home of how important and powerful this story is. If you have the chance, I highly recommend Jamie's narration of the book.