Page Powars

Charlie has to keep a low profile at his traditional boys’ boarding school if he doesn’t want anyone to realize he’s transgender and get kicked out. Things only get more complicated when he realizes his new roommate—who just so happens to be the flirty boy who broke his heart at summer camp a year before he transitioned—is the one person who might be able to reveal his identity.

And They Were Roommates

Cici Pearson

thank you to roaring book press, macmillan children’s publishing group, and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i’m going to start by saying, in this day and age (i speak as an american about america but honestly this sentiment can probably be echoed through out the world) having a book with a trans main character face 

instances of transphobia is absolutely a needed (and refreshing) story. there were still struggles charlie faced towards centering his trans-ness but were focused elsewhere (passing as a cis-man mainly). so i truly appreciate page powers for writing a story of a trans teen not experiencing that.

now, for the story its self! i genuinely had a freaking BLAST. charlie is truly grumpy to a tee, yes mostly because he’s trying to keep his head down when getting continually singled out by his roommate (and ex-summer fling). and said roommate is just so adamant™️ about spending time together that he literally lures charlie into a 100 year old tradition (shenanigan). charlie is truly just a relatable teen tying to find his way at a new school while simultaneously being pressured to do extremely well academically. now, i bet charlie could run circles around me in any class but i’m not too far removed from those days. and i truly felt and related to him a ton in his struggles.

i think powars balanced the seriousness and concern we should have for charlie with their academics taking over their world. while also giving us the humor and needed banter for his relationship with jasper to develop. i loved seeing the moments were you can see jasper’s gears were pumping about recognizing his mannerisms without realizing. seeing their relationship develop and evolve was so lovely. and jasper truly is a bit of a saint (valentine… ha!) himself to be putting up with charlie’s reluctance and outright avoidance at times. seeing them discuss their feelings at the end and discuss what they wanted out of a relationship, i always appreciate seeing those “emotionally mature” scenes in books because i know it will impact how a future teen goes about their relationships.

this one was so fun but i beg of you to deal with jasper’s poetic language. the boy will grow on you, i swear!!

ash (smokedshelves)

thank you to roaring book press, macmillan children’s publishing group, and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i’m going to start by saying, in this day and age (i speak as an american about america but honestly this sentiment can probably be echoed through out the world) having a book with a trans main character face zero instances of transphobia is absolutely a needed (and refreshing) story. there were still struggles charlie faced towards centering his trans-ness but were focused elsewhere (passing as a cis-man mainly). so i truly appreciate page powers for writing a story of a trans teen not experiencing that.

now, for the story its self! i genuinely had a freaking BLAST. charlie is truly grumpy to a tee, yes mostly because he’s trying to keep his head down when getting continually singled out by his roommate (and ex-summer fling). and said roommate is just so adamant™️ about spending time together that he literally lures charlie into a 100 year old tradition (shenanigan). charlie is truly just a relatable teen tying to find his way at a new school while simultaneously being pressured to do extremely well academically. now, i bet charlie could run circles around me in any class but i’m not too far removed from those days. and i truly felt and related to him a ton in his struggles.

i think powars balanced the seriousness and concern we should have for charlie with their academics taking over their world. while also giving us the humor and needed banter for his relationship with jasper to develop. i loved seeing the moments were you can see jasper’s gears were pumping about recognizing his mannerisms without realizing. seeing their relationship develop and evolve was so lovely. and jasper truly is a bit of a saint (valentine… ha!) himself to be putting up with charlie’s reluctance and outright avoidance at times. seeing them discuss their feelings at the end and discuss what they wanted out of a relationship, i always appreciate seeing those “emotionally mature” scenes in books because i know it will impact how a future teen goes about their relationships.

this one was so fun but i beg of you to deal with jasper’s poetic language. the boy will grow on you, i swear!!