Name: Melissa
Rating: 4.1640625 (128 reviews)
ISBN: 9780545812542

Alex Gino

A bright, bold debut about a girl who was born a boy, but refuses to let that stand in the way of her dream. More than anything else, George wants to play Charlotte in her fourth-grade class's production of Charlotte's Web. The problem is, her teacher won't let her, because George is a boy. But George isn't about to let that squash her dream. With the help of her best friend, George must learn to stand up for her wish -- and brave a few bullies along the way. Transcending all categories and genres,George is a pertinent and poignant middle-grade read for kids of all backgrounds.

Previously published as George

Melissa 

Sindhujaw

George says, "Be who you are".<br /><br />This review contains a serious spoiler about Charlotte's Web.

 absolutely adored this book. there is nothing I would change. I am so happy books like this exist. 1000000/5 stars

emily learmont

Paula Plaza Ponte 

Really cute book about gender, Charlotte's Web and being true to yourself.

Sarah Sammis

"Allow me to introduce you to a remarkable book, full of love, wonder, hope, and the importance of getting to be who you were meant to be. You must read this." - David Levithan, author of Every Day and editor of George. When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy.

George

Kelsey Munson

menna

okay this this the most precious thing EVER.

Melissa Alice 

Starting this book tomorrow. Hope it'll be up to what I expect!!

Sierra Nguyen

George is a fourth-grader. Although she has a body of a boy and everybody she knows keeps referring to her as a boy who will one day become a good man, she always feels and sees herself as a girl. The book is a story of bravery and resilience through hardship of George, and her heart-warming friendship with Kelly - the best friend who helps George through her challenges and gets her to own who she is. 
I hope that everyone can find a "Kelly" in their life, and that everyone who is like George would understand that they are worthy of love and deserve to be cared for. "Be who you are!"

Izza

5 stars | THIS BOOK!!! It’s so important and so beautiful! 💖 why isn’t it more popular?? I’m so happy that this is a middle grade book 🙌🏻 I need a sequel!

A bright, bold debut about a girl who happens to have been born a boy, but refuses to let that stand in the way of her dream.

George (Scholastic Gold)

Rachel Evans

(3.5/5) 54 minutes - An important book for the middle grade genre. Not necessarily a perfect take, but for a children's book, it is filling a gap where transgender/gender diversity is rare. The writing was quite simplistic but it complimented the story. I enjoyed this book!

Emelie

** spoiler alert **
           This was truly a fantastic read. I felt really bad inside when George Didnt get accepted for who she really was! 

As a reader with no experience in this kind of topic it was really an eye opener in to this world and how a small boy can feel so uncomfortable with his body, when he know he's a she by heart! 

I think the author captured the reactions of friends and family in a very touching way, and im happy that everybody at the end could accept George for who she was. 

The last chapter when George get to dress up as a girl and call herself Melissa was really beautiful. Just such a thing for her to go to the ladies Room to pee made me cry! :')

Moral lecture: You should not be ashamed of who you are. You should be who you are meant to be! And im more than proud of all of you who have made this transformation! You're truly an inspiration!

jess

This book is incredibly important. It's written for trans kids by a trans author, but it can be enjoyed by all. I don't normally read lower MG but I do think that this is entirely appropriate for kids of George's age. She was a very real character and her family had realistically supportive reactions. There's so much support for her, even though there's hesitation at first. It helps trans kids see they're not alone.

Sonja H

Erst habe ich lange dieses Buch nicht zur Hand genommen, weil ich mich ein wenig vor Büchern fürchte, in denen Kinder sich in unangenehmen Situationen befinden. So etwas spricht für schwierige Emotionen und dafür benötige ich die richtige Stimmung.

Nachdem ich „George“ gelesen hatte, habe ich erneut lang überlegt, ob ich dazu überhaupt eine Rezension verfassen soll.

Dieses Buch hat mich von Anfang bis Ende geärgert.

Eigentlich begann es noch recht vielversprechend: wir begegnen einem Schulmädchen und stellen erst ein paar Seiten später fest, dass es sich offenbar um einen Jungen handelt.
George möchte endlich nicht mehr Versteck spielen, traut sich aber nicht, mit der Wahrheit ans Licht zu kommen, nur ihre Freundin scheint keine Probleme mit ihrer widersprüchlichen Identität zu haben.

Klingt gut? So erzählt schon…..

Aber: dieses Buch missachtet jegliche Form guter Geschichtenerzählung! Flache Charaktere, die noch dazu null eigene Persönlichkeit haben. So betont Georges Bruder immer wieder das „Jungssein“ und fordert maskulines Verhalten von George. Als diese sich schließlich ihm gegenüber irgendwann outet, ist der Bruder dann gar nicht überrascht, denn als Junge habe George ohnehin nichts getaugt. Sicher. So einfach ändert man sein Rollenbild.
Auch Georges Mutter ist da in keiner Weise besser. Zwar will sie es anfangs nicht wahrhaben, sucht dann aber ganz eifrig im Internet nach Informationen und scheint keinerlei Sorgen um das weitere Leben ihrer „Tochter“, die noch keine ist und die sich sehr vielen Widrigkeiten wird entgegensetzen müssen. Schön, dass sie eine so coole und gelassene Mutter ist, aber der Realität dürfte das nicht gerade entsprechen.

Alle, wirklich alle Figuren in dieser Geschichte, die mehr Raum einnehmen als lediglich das Publikum des Bühnenstücks gegen Ende, haben keine bis wenige Schwierigkeiten mit Georges Eröffnung „ich bin kein Junge, ich bin ein Mädchen“. Ich finde es unglaublich verantwortungslos seitens eines Autors/einer Autorin, der/die selbst transgender ist, so locker mit diesem Thema umzugehen. Was ist denn die Message des Buchs und an wen ist es gerichtet?
Sollen Kinder ab 10 Jahren es lesen (teures Hardcover für knapp 15 Euro), die vielleicht große Angst haben, sich zu outen, wird ihnen hier gesagt „macht ruhig, alles wird gut, passiert nichts“. So dürfte die Realität aber noch lang nicht aussehen! Es wäre sehr viel besser gewesen in diesem Fall, aus der Ich-Perspektive zu schreiben und Georges Ängste und Reaktionen deutlicher zu machen. Was geht in den Kids vor, die sich dem anderen Geschlecht zugehörig fühlen und wie können sie besser damit umgehen? DAS wäre wichtig gewesen zu erfahren.
Richtet sich das Buch bei dem Preis und der Aufmachung an Erwachsene, dann hätte man die Situation ebenfalls verschärfen müssen und sie vielleicht aus der Sicht der Mutter schildern sollen. Auch hier hätte man zeigen sollen, wie man am besten reagiert, wie man mit den eigenen Gefühlen umgeht, wo man hilfreiche Unterstützung findet.

In diesem Buch ist NICHTS von all dem zu finden! Stattdessen haben wir eine seichte Story, die außerdem erzähltechnisch viel früher hätte enden sollen (über den mangelnden Aufbau will ich mich gar nicht mehr weiter auslassen).

„George“ ist in meinen Augen nicht mehr als ein aufgeblähtes Bilderbuch ohne Bilder.
Wenn Gino wirklich so lang (er/sie schreibt was von 12 Jahren) über diese Geschichte nachgedacht hat, dann hätte er/sie mit deutlich mehr Sorgfalt und Verantwortung an das Buch herangehen sollen. Ehrlich gesagt verstehe ich auch die Verlage nicht, die sich dieser schlecht konstruierten Erzählung angenommen haben – das einzige Verkaufsargument war das Thema „transgender“, aber vermutlich reichte das schon aus. Ich finde es extrem traurig. Das hätte gerade eine transgender Person besser machen können und sollen.

Flavia Louise

I did enjoy it again the second time around and it is extremely great that a book like it exists.

4.5 stars
I am so happy this book exists, especially considering that it's both #ownvoices and a children's book. This along with Wonder by R J Palacio should be read to and by children all over the world.

Alexa Jade

Here are my jumbled up thoughts on this book. 

-Why I read this while wearing makeup I have no idea omg. 

-Can I get a best friend like Kelly??? 

-Mrs.Maldonado I love you. 

-I’ll never meet a Melissa and not think of this book. 

-I’m so happy this is a middle grade book. 

-I’m so happy this book exists. 

-Jamie Clayton is amazing. (I listened to the audiobook which she narrates.)

Nadine 

Continuing in the spectrum of gender identification, we have George who knows "she's" a girl despite having a boy's body. Well written, sensitive book for upper elementary where the action revolves around the school play of "Charlotte's Web". Conveniently George's best friend Kelly is a generous, compassionate, accepting and understanding soul. Her older brother likewise - having suspected George was gay - but admitting this is something on a whole different dimension. The school head has a rainbow poster in her office. Dad is out of the picture but mom is not ready to "hear / see" what is going on until the end. And then there is the internet - the saviour of all children who are on the right side of the digital divide, where they can have their questions answered without necessarily being ostracized or preached at - although George's internet searching ability appears to be somewhat more sophisticated than the average 10 year old!

As one of the first books in this genre for this age group it hits the mark comfortably and conveniently ends just as the difficult part starts. Will be interested to see if there is a sequel.

KADY BURNS

An adorable story about a young trans girl. We need more stories like this around

Grace O'Callaghan

** spoiler alert **
           This book has completely captured and melted my heart. A wonderful and important story all about Melissa, who was assigned male at birth. We follow her as she comes to terms with her identity whilst wanting to be Charlotte in her school’s performance of Charlotte’s Web.

Melissa is such a wonderful and strong little girl. Despite being bullied she still has the courage to go up on stage and present as her true identity.

I think that everyone should read this book, no matter their age. For children who need to see themselves in what they’re reading. For those who don’t understand. And for parents in particular to help their trans children.

This was such a short and accessible read that discusses important things such as bullying, identity and prejudice.

Overall, a powerful quick read for young readers to learn about trans experiences.

Jana

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 
So ein wahnsinnig tolles und berührendes Buch! 🏳️‍🌈

Jelke Lenaerts

This was just such a cute novel. It has some hard hitting moments but overall this book was just sweet. I really liked the characters in this novel. They jumped off the page and I really connected to them. I think this is a super important read and is great for the demographic this is aimed at. However, as someone who is older the writting just felt a bit too simple for me but that's honestly the only real complaint I have of it and it only makes the book more accesible to kids so I can't be too mad about it.

Mary Graham

This book was absolutely beautiful and something I think every young child should read.

Julia Milhomens 

Talvez 3.5? Me senti tao desconfortável em alguns momentos e em outros meus olhos encheram de água.
O jeito que desde criancinha os estereótipos de gênero estão prontos e quadrados me assustou demais.

Melissa Previously published as George

Reviews

Highlights