Much like May the Best Man Win this is a book I wish I had when I was younger. I saw so much of myself in Bug as a young trans boy who didn't know I was a trans boy, and so struggled to be feminine (and subsequently struggled to fit in and relate to my much for feminine female friends).

I loved how this book explored dysphoria through haunting, because being trans and not knowing it is almost like being haunted by yourself, be it who you believe you are not feeling real or there being some nebulous idea of who you could be that you just can't quite define. I especially like that Bug was specifically being haunted by his gay drag queen uncle, who died before he could help Bug realize that he might actually be trans and so decided to help him from beyond the grave.

Bug also has a moment where he realizes that he might actually not mind being more feminine (having longer hair, wearing makeup) now that he knows he's a boy in part because the other queer presence in his life was a GNC man. This also meant so much to me because I have also gone through the process of becoming more comfortable and learning that I can be feminine now that I know I'm a guy and present myself as such (although I went through it much later in life, much longer after I transitioned). I'm so glad that Bug knows that now because of his uncle, and is letting himself continue to grow into his masculinity and not restrict himself to a rigidly defined (cis, straight) masculinity (especially since he might not to straight- he thinks a boy he befriends is cute).

Overall, I absolutely loved this story, and I wish that I had this when I was this age. I hope that there are fifth and sixth graders who get this book and realize that there are other options.