The Passing Playbook

un libro donde se menciona a taylor swift y a el señor de los anillos no puede ser malo. very very cute 💚💚💚

This book had me experience more fear and suspension than any horror movie ever could.

I am biased bc I love any books about gay trans men This story somehow hit close to home even though I hate sports, I could somehow exactly feel how the main character felt Cried so much at the part where he comes out to his team and they treat him the exact same Definatly one I would read again, its a nice short book and it reads nicely

Spencer is a stealth trans guy who recently moves to a new school and joins the soccer team. Initially, things go well, but Spencer ends up benched because of local laws and the F on his birth certificate. He struggles between staying closeted or standing up and fighting to be allowed to play.

The story is easy to digest and has a good message. I especially appreciated its approach on coming out, with emphasis on how personal of a decision it is and stating that not coming out is a completely valid option.

The team dynamic was great. I loved how encouraging and supportive they all were of each other. Justin did annoy me in the beginning and I struggled to understand Spencer's crush on him at that time. I did warm up to Justin a little more by the end and thought the romance was fine.

For my own preferences, I found this book to be enjoyable enough but not the type of thing I should keep picking up. For those that really enjoy YA contemporary and sports in books, this book hits the right notes and is sure to please.

Overall a good story but a bit of a cliché/done before aside from the trans aspect which I did enjoy as it added some dimension to the story. Not as much young person™️ language which made it bearable at least. There was no cheesy love confessions which I appreciate and the relationship didn’t feel rushed. I do think one proper admittance of feelings would have been nice but it’s fine without. I wish the family aspect was flushed out a bit more and I was hoping that our main character would take things into his own hands but he chose to let them unfold naturally which was disappointing. It was also hard to picture the story revolving around high school sophomores but it was a decent read.

“I’m not going to make you grow up into someone you’re not meant to be.”....... so basically i cried

This story was very well done in my opinion

oh how this brings me back to my soccer days

I really liked this book, I mean im not the person who likes soccer but I thought this book was sweet but also tackled some serious issues.

Coming out was never easy, even when it went well. Publisher: Penguin Books, Dial Books (USA) Release date: 1st June 2021 Pages: 304 Representation: Trans (FTM), Non-Binary, BIPOC, MLM. Trigger warnings: homophobia, transphobia, religious extremism Summary: Spencer is Trans. After problems at his old school, he’s determined to have a fresh start. The fewer people know about his birth gender, the better, but when his chance to play Football (soccer) is jeopardised, Spencer has to choose between revealing his secrets or losing the game he loves. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. Outside of it’s own story, the passing playbook is a love letter to LGBTQIA+ youth everywhere. I didn’t have high hopes for this book. I’m not a football fan, but this was gifted to me, so I thought I’d see what it was like. I’m so glad I did. I don’t cry at books a lot, but it was hard not to be emotional whilst reading this. It handles LGBTQIA+ issues in a way I’ve rarely seen in media. It made me feel heard and showed me that I didn’t imagine experiences that I’ve had myself (i.e. homophobia from other members of the LGBTQIA+ community). Spencer is a typical teenager, precisely the opposite of the chosen one. The majority of the book focuses on how the people around him act, and how much it affects him and what he’s going through. I got so excited when the love interest admitted he was gay, even though I knew it was coming. I cared that much about the characters and their relationship. I really was rooting for them, and the more I found out the more I wanted them to have their happy ending. It’s written in easy to read prose, perfect for the age at which it’s aimed. All of it is simple to understand, and because of it, we also understand Spencer’s struggles and pain. There’s not doubt about how much he’s hurting, or falling in love, or questioning everything. The side characters are a huge variety of people, and were extremely well written. I liked them until I didn’t, or I didn’t even think of them until they were brought into the spotlight. The book contained a lot of intended transphobia/homophobia from certain side characters, but it was dealt with in a respectful way and shown as wrong. None of it was excused; not even subtle passing comments, as they so often are in real life. I didn’t give it five stars because of how slowly the plot progressed. The main plot issue doesn’t present itself until later chapters and is over within about 30 pages. I understand that the antagonist of this story isn’t a physical being; it’s internalised transphobia, but without further direct obstacles, the story is anticlimactic and doesn’t live up to all it could be. (In other words, I had a vibe whilst reading it) Finishing this book felt like a warm hug. I know for certain I’m going to be chasing that feeling in my next few reads; it’s one we all long for but is so hard to find within the pages of even the best written books. Fatal flaw: A weak plot- I was waiting for the part on the blurb to come into play, but it took far too long. It ruined all suspense. Shining glory: Lighthearted , unapologetic and easy to read, it offers the story of an LGBT boy written in the best style. Read this if: You like easy reading, want some good LGBTQIA+ representation and are prepared for some tears. Skip this if: You prefer heavily plot driven books, or prefer a more complicated read. You don’t want to read about real life Trans and LGBTQIA+ struggles that may hit too close to home.

This was genuinely amazing! I read this basically in one sitting and I absolutely loved it! I’m so emotionally attached to Spencer, justice and basically everyone in this book. I felt like everyone was so flawed and realistic and I loved the passion the team had towards soccer too. It has such a good message and is now going to be listed alongside some of my other comfort reads.

A wonderfully sweet YA story about Spencer a trans teen trying to find his way in a new private school. He joins the football team, develops a crush on a teammate and joins the QSA but isn't out as transgender after a mysterious but definitely awful episode at his old school. Perhaps it's a teeny bit trite in places and the issues are resolved surprisingly easily but it was also a breath of fresh air to read read a trans story that wasn't absolutely full of trauma. A warm, big-hearted, story of trans masculine experience written with a deft touch that doesn't discount prejudice or discrimination but chooses not to centre it to the exclusion of all else

I loved this book. It quickly drew me in and kept me interested until the last page. throughout this book I found myself having strong feelings about each and every character from Spencer to Justice's parents. They all felt so real and put together that they existed outside of the story in their own ways. What I found so wonderful about this novel and the writing/character development is that there were many arcs happening but not in a way that was confusing or seemed less important. This story felt so real and I am sure parts of it are in different parts of peoples lives. This book has representation of so many different things including a trans main character as well as a brother who is autistic and other characters that are queer, non-binary or gay. This book left with a kind of open end but, reminds us that society has not developed enough for the author completely tie up the loose ends. Overall, I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to learn more about the experiences and hardships of others. There is enough wholesome-romance for anyone who loves romance as well as talks about soccer and just being a young person in today's society.

FAVE QUOTES : "You know, this is the most gay people I've been around. How does it feel? Sort of like being home." 💛💛💛💛 "You don't get ally points for doing one thing for trans people when they're dead if you're not doing anything for them when they're alive." 👏 "You used to be my sister, but now you're my brother because you were brave." 😭😭😭💛 "It isn't about bathrooms, just like the civil rights movement wasn't about water fountains or seats on a bus. Denying someone a basic human right is another way to dehumanize them." FAVE THINGS : • Neurodivergent rep • Love how Spencer's mom reacted to his transition • So many queer kids!! I think a lot of people use rural towns/conservative areas to say there aren't a lot of queer people, but they're SO. WRONG. Queer people are everywhere, you just don't know it. • The LOTR references • How a quick, but complete read this book is • Slightly enemies-to-lovers, but quickly done (no time to get annoying ahaha) • Homecoming and how Spencer and Justice's relationship evolved

There are so many little things in this book that I absolutely love. Our main character, Spencer, is a trans guy. After being bullied for being trans at his old school, he moves to a new school where he goes stealth (doesn't disclose his trans identity).  Spencer is such a great character, and on his first day at the QSA (Queer Straight Alliance) he uses his passing privilege to stand guard outside the men's bathroom so that another trans student, Riley, can use the bathroom without having to worry about any cis guys coming in.  Theo, Spencer's younger brother, is autistic. I adore the relationship between them, Spencer genuinely cares about his little brother and that's such a great thing to see, especially when I've read so many books where the autistic sibling is treated like a burden. Theo is definitely not a burden, and despite the age difference, Spencer seems to really enjoy spending time with Theo.  I had mixed feelings about Spencer's parents throughout the story, at times they seemed so wonderful and supportive, but at other times it was almost like they didn't really see Spencer as a boy. Luckily, by the end of the book, it is extremely clear how much they love and support both of their sons, and it's lovely to see.  The relationship between Spencer and Justice was built really well, it started out a little bit rocky but became something beautiful. It wouldn't be a high school romance without some kind of drama, but it all ends well. The love interest comes from a very religious family who are homophobic, transphobic, etc. and this definitely has an impact on the relationship. I felt really bad for Justice, especially with some of the stuff he had to listen to from his family and people at his church - and that was before they even knew he was gay.  There are some great friendships throughout this book, Spencer has a best friend named Aiden who he met at a trans camp. Aiden is a pretty cool guy who helps Spencer through some stuff. He's also in a band called The Testostertones, which is the coolest band name ever in my opinion. There's also Riley, who Spencer meets at his school's QSA. Riley is a sweet kid and Spencer repeatedly sticks up for them and quickly befriends them. Spencer's football teammates quickly accept him on to the team and acknowledge how valuable he is as a player. Their friendships build throughout the book and it is incredible to see Spencer bonding with the team, especially as this is something he's wanted for a long time.  Football is really important to Spencer. He's been playing for most of his life, and now he's finally playing on the boy's team at his school, as he should be. That is, until he's benched because the law says he can't play on a boy's team while there's an F on his birth certificate. As he's not out as trans at his new school, Spencer has a big decision to make - come out and risk losing his friends, or stay benched and miss out on the chance to do what he loves.  Overall, this book is incredibly heartwarming and the social commentary is spot on. There are some extremely powerful and moving scenes throughout and I can say with certainty that I love this book and will happily read whatever Isaac Fitzsimons writes next.

There are so many little things in this book that I absolutely love. Our main character, Spencer, is a trans guy. After being bullied for being trans at his old school, he moves to a new school where he goes stealth (doesn't disclose his trans identity).  Spencer is such a great character, and on his first day at the QSA (Queer Straight Alliance) he uses his passing privilege to stand guard outside the men's bathroom so that another trans student, Riley, can use the bathroom without having to worry about any cis guys coming in.  Theo, Spencer's younger brother, is autistic. I adore the relationship between them, Spencer genuinely cares about his little brother and that's such a great thing to see, especially when I've read so many books where the autistic sibling is treated like a burden. Theo is definitely not a burden, and despite the age difference, Spencer seems to really enjoy spending time with Theo. I had mixed feelings about Spencer's parents throughout the story, at times they seemed so wonderful and supportive, but at other times it was almost like they didn't really see Spencer as a boy. Luckily, by the end of the book, it is extremely clear how much they love and support both of their sons, and it's lovely to see. The relationship between Spencer and Justice was built really well, it started out a little bit rocky but became something beautiful. It wouldn't be a high school romance without some kind of drama, but it all ends well. The love interest comes from a very religious family who are homophobic, transphobic, etc. and this definitely has an impact on the relationship. I felt really bad for Justice, especially with some of the stuff he had to listen to from his family and people at his church - and that was before they even knew he was gay. There are some great friendships throughout this book, Spencer has a best friend named Aiden who he met at a trans camp. Aiden is a pretty cool guy who helps Spencer through some stuff. He's also in a band called The Testostertones, which is the coolest band name ever in my opinion. There's also Riley, who Spencer meets at his school's QSA. Riley is a sweet kid and Spencer repeatedly sticks up for them and quickly befriends them. Spencer's football teammates quickly accept him on to the team and acknowledge how valuable he is as a player. Their friendships build throughout the book and it is incredible to see Spencer bonding with the team, especially as this is something he's wanted for a long time. Football is really important to Spencer. He's been playing for most of his life, and now he's finally playing on the boy's team at his school, as he should be. That is, until he's benched because the law says he can't play on a boy's team while there's an F on his birth certificate. As he's not out as trans at his new school, Spencer has a big decision to make - come out and risk losing his friends, or stay benched and miss out on the chance to do what he loves. Overall, this book is incredibly heartwarming and the social commentary is spot on. There are some extremely powerful and moving scenes throughout and I can say with certainty that I love this book and will happily read whatever Isaac Fitzsimons writes next.