Ana on the Edge is a middle grade book about a Chinese/jewish American figure skater. Ana is twelve and is starting to realize that she does not see her gender the same way as others see her. She is not a girl. *Note: I am using female pronouns because in the story Ana does not change her pronouns. No non-binary person has to change their pronouns, especially before they are ready do do so.* 

 

I listened to this book on audio, and loved it. I plan on purchasing it in print also - this needs to be on my selves. You have no idea how much I wish I had this book in middle school. Our culture is so gender binary that when you are outside that binary it is confusing. You cannot put into context who you are as a person. Thankfully that is changing. Our conversations and vocabulary are adapting, and this book is part of that. 

 

In this story there is a trans boy, Hayden, who has always known he was male. When Ana finally talks to him about being non-binary she asks him if he has ever had to struggle to figure out who he was. He did not, he always knew he was a boy. Being non-binary trans is different because there is not this concrete everyday example of our gender identity and this novel captured this perfectly. 

 

It did so in a very middle grade way. The story is ultimately sweet and clean. It is an amazing child who just wants to help out her mom, skate, and be good for her friends. She may loose her way for a summer, but she is struggling with a lot internally at the time, so it is understandable. It ends up sweet and wholesome. Not perfect and resolved, but with the explanation of more self discovery to come. 

 

This is a novel that could be read to even the youngest of children to help represent the diversity of gender identity. I am so thankful for the author for writing this book. Like them, I transitioned to non-binary as an adult after years of not understanding who I was. I hope that the next generation of non-binary kids can be seen from the beginning.