#melissa alex gino

[chillychive]

Anyone have any good book recommendations about trans kids? (Doesn't need to be about a trans kid's transition/coming out, but that's fine if it is)

Mine would be:

Both Sides Now

Melissa

and that's basically it from the top of my head. The first one is fantastic I read it like last week and I cried for hours. (It's not sad)

[wahlpaper]

Review of Melissa

Melissa by Alex Gino

CW: Misgendering, Deadnaming, Violence, Vomit, Reference to Dirty Magazines, Transphobia, Bullying, Unsupportive Parent and Teachers, Being in the Closet by Force

5/5

Melissa by Alex Gino is a middle grade novel set in the same world as Rick, also by Alex Gino. Although Melissa comes first, I read the books out of order and didn't face any confusion while reading Rick. Still, having been given a taste of Melissa's story, I wanted the rest. I had hoped to obtain a copy of Melissa sooner and write about it alongside Rick. Although this didn't happen, I absolutely want to discuss Melissa anyway.

Melissa is a trans 4th grader who hasn't come out yet. When her class puts on a performance of Charlotte's Web, she finds herself struggling to keep who she is a secret. She wants to play the role of Charlotte, but her school won't give the role to someone they believe to be a boy. As the play approaches, Melissa starts to learn what it could be like for her if she comes out, the good and the bad. What she discovers will make her very happy.

Melissa is one of the first children's/middle grade books to be written about a trans character. Although Gino is trans as well, this is not their coming out story. As a genderqueer kid growing up at an earlier point in time, they had not had the support or resources that Melissa has. Instead, this is the story Gino would have wanted as a kid. It is so important to allow kids to see themselves or someone similar to them in the media they consume. It can bring joy and validation to know you aren't alone. It may also be an opportunity to learn more about yourself.

I found the story to be quite sweet and hard to put down. The story does involve instances of characters referring to Melissa by the name her parents gave her (the original name for the book), misgendering accidentally and on purpose, transphobia, queerphobia, and described dysphoria. While these things are realistic and important to address, you are completely valid if you do not want to read through these experiences. One thing that I appreciated was that the 3rd person narrator always used she/her pronouns for Melissa. Another was that I could feel the discomfort every time someone unknowingly misgendered her. I could also feel the pure joy coming from Melissa whenever she explored her gender. Melissa may be just one fictional story, but it comes across as authentic and honest.

Rick takes place 2 years later, so having the context of that far in the future gave me a unique perspective as I read. I knew that the bully's sidekick would turn out to be a good guy. I also knew what would happen to his friendship with the bully. I was given a frame of reference for why Kelly was so protective of Melissa against Rick. I was also saddened to find out that Melissa's mom made her wait two years to present as herself at school. It still makes sense to read Melissa before Rick, but I'm glad that I could experience the duology in this way.

If you get the chance to read Gino's Melissa, you should absolutely take advantage! It's a shorter book, it's engaging, and it helped to diversify representation in children's literature. I think we can all get something out of reading this story, so I hope you'll give it a chance.

[transbookoftheday]

Melissa by Alex Gino

When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl.

Melissa 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. Melissa 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.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte – but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

[thatfantasyreader]

Stop banning books

One of my all time favorite books is George(Melissa) by Alex Gino. I loved how they were able to show and depict many LGBTQIA+ issues in an age appropriate way. I knew that it must have been controversial because it has LGBTQIA+ themes but, I recently found out that it was the most banned and challenged book of 2020. This was because many believe it was encouraging children to clear their browser history and “become transgender��. I don’t get it. There are limiting access to content for children who may be lgbtq or just have different people around them. All in all banning books is bad and can be harmful. I will never get why people feel the need to try to ban them. If you don’t like it, don’t look.

[haveyoureadthistransbook]

Melissa by Alex Gino

goodreads

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. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte—but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

Mod opinion: I haven't read this and I do dislike how often her deadname is mentioned in the summary, but I do remember being happily surprised when I first saw it, as it was one of the first trans books I heard talked about by people that weren't actively searching out trans lit.

[kidlit-queen-competition]

Round 1 poll 25: Alyss Mainwaring from Ranger's Apprentice vs Melissa from Melissa

propaganda under the cut:

Alyss Mainwaring:

Graceful, intelligent and has a razor sharp wit. An orphan who's raised in the castle ward and works to become the apprentice and protege of one of the best couriers in the country. Also Alyss being super tall with a deep voice but proud of these things and canonically stunning not despite but often because of these things healed my little 10 year old heart

Melissa:

Melissa deserves better! She gets to be Charlotte from Charlotte's Web. Also, f**k TERFS!

[brothersonahotelbed]

[geese-in-flight]

Asked Alex Gino if they were comfortable signing old copies of Melissa and not only did they sign it, but they got out their sharpie and fixed it for me. I am SO delighted.

I started Rick last night with the intention to have a good time, and I am feeling SO uncomfortably seen right now. There are tons of details that mirror my own growing-up-ace experience so closely that I keep having to stop. I’ve cried four times already and I’m only halfway in. Highly recommend.

[therapybooks]

Alex Gino, Melissa (Transgender Youth)

I came across this title on a list of frequently banned books. It is a middle-grade novel about a transgender fourth grader, known to family and schoolmates as George. Early on, we learn that the character thinks of herself as Melissa, even though she hasn’t felt safe to share her gender identity with anyone. Melissa and her classmates are reading Charlotte’s Web in preparation for their upcoming…

[haveyoureadthispoll]

[archivlibrarianist]

Oh, it looks like this issue at St. Mary's, Kansas's public library was resolved and everything is fine now, if you just read the headline.

It is, in fact, worse:

"Tensions have been mounting since a book came to light in the library’s collection called Melissa by trans author Alex Gino, a story about a middle school-aged trans student fighting to be accepted as a girl. The book is no longer available at the library after a St. Marys parent paid to have the book removed, according to the Reflector." [emphasis added]

They. Paid. To have the book removed.

What.

The.

Fuck.

What did they pay? Who got paid? Where did the book go?

[oldfangirl81]

Now reading- Melissa by Alex Gino (2022)

[transbookoftheday]

Melissa by Alex Gino

When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

Melissa 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. Melissa 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.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

[redgoldsparks]

Transcript below the cut.

instagram / patreon / portfolio / etsy / my book / redbubble

Panel 1: For the second year in a row, Gender Queer was the most challenged book in the US, reported the American Library Association.

Panel 2: It’s been a weird two years. Number of unique titles challenged in the US by year. 2000: 378 titles. 2005: 259 titles. 2010: 262 titles. 2015: 190 titles. 2020: 223 titles. 2021: 1858 titles. 2022: 2571 titles.

Panel 3: It’s been a hard two years. The ACLU is tracking 469 anti-LGBTQ bills in the US.

Panel 4: Usually I prefer to wait until something is over before I write about it, so I have time to reflect. But this experience has not ended.

Panel 5: It has only gotten louder. (A series of screen shoots of news headlines about Gender Queer, book challenges and an obscenity lawsuit against the book being dismissed in the state of Virginia).

Panel 6: I’m constantly wondering, “When should I speak and when should I let the book speak for itself?”

Panel 7: I remember when I realized that the previous most challenged book spent five years in the top five.

2020- Melissa by Alex Gino at #1 2019- Melissa by Alex Gino at #1 2018- Melissa by Alex Gino at #1 2017- Melissa by Alex Gino at #5 2016- Melissa by Alex Gino at #3

Panel 8: Oh, I think I can take my time figuring out how to respond. I think I’m in this for the long haul...

Panel 9: Ways to support libraries and challenged authors: Check out and read challenged books. Vote for and attend library board and school board meetings. Report censorship to the ALA and PEN America. Vote to fund libraries. Speak up against legislation limiting the teaching of queer history, sex ed, abortion and the history of racism in the US.

Panel 10: Most challenged books of 2022:

1. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson

3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

4. Flamer by Mike Curato

5. (tie) Looking For Alaska by John Green

5. (tie) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez

10. (tie) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

10. (tie) Crank by Ellen Hopkins

10. (tie) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

10. (tie) This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

[duckprintspress]

Celebrate International Non-Binary People’s Day with Books by Non-Binary Authors!

Today, July 14th, is International Non-Binary People’s Day. Last year, we put together a post featuring our favorite books with non-binary characters. This year, we changed it up by highlighting books we loved written by out non-binary authors! We hope you’ll take a peek at the works we’ve listed here and other stories created by these awesome folks! The contributors to this list are: Shea Sullivan, Nina Waters, Sanne, May Barros, Shadaras, Tris Lawrence, Meera S. and two anonymous contributors.

Iron Widow (Iron Widow series) by Xiran Jay Zhao

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine

Nimona by N.D. Stevenson

How to Love: A Guide to Feelings and Relationships for Everyone: A Graphic Novel by Alex Norris

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

Chameleon Moon (Chameleon Moon series) by RoAnna Sylver

Gamechanger (The Bounceback series) by L.X. Beckett

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg

Foxhunt (Foxhunt series) by Rem Wigmore

An Accident of Stars (Manifold Worlds series) by Foz Meadows

A Taste of Gold and Iron (Mahisti Dynasty series) by Alexandra Rowland

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Melissa by Alex Gino

Once & Future (Once & Future series) by A.R. Capetta

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey

Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare by Yuhki Kamatani

Providence Girls by Morgan Dante

Soulstar (The Kingston Cycle series) by C.L. Polk

Who are YOUR favorite non-binary authors?

[sillypenguinwitch]

isaac's books in heartstopper s2

episode 1:

Tillie Walden: I Love This Part

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé: Ace of Spades

episode 2:

Nina LaCour: We Are Okay

Oscar Wilde: The Importance of Being Earnest

episode 3:

Ocean Vuong: Night Sky with Exit Wounds (the one he is carrying under his arm, I'm assuming that's his and not for the display?)

has read: Ritch C. Savin-Williams: Bi: Bisexual, Pansexual, Fluid, and Nonbinary Youth

Emily Henry: Book Lovers

episode 4:

Victor Hugo: Les Mis��rables

Antoine De Saint-Exupéry: The Little Prince

Kate Chopin: The Awakening

Nina LaCour: We Are Okay (again)

episode 5:

Albert Camus: The Outsider

episode 6:

Martin Handford: Where's Wally? The Great Picture Hunt

Meredith Russo: Birthday

Jules Verne: Around the World in Eighty Days

Sara Pennypacker: Pax Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, Sophie Mas: How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are ? ? ? Damian Dibben: The Color Storm Alice Oseman: Loveless Susan Stokes-Chapman: Pandora Katy Hessel: The Story of Art Without Men ? Evelyn Waugh: Rossetti Arthur Conan Doyle: The Hound of the Baskervilles A.O. Scott: Better Living Through Criticism ?: Then We Came to an End (?) Ruth Millington: Muse Dr. Jaqui Lewis: Fierce Love Charlotte Van Den Broek: Bold Ventures - Thirteen Tales of Architectural Tragedy ?

Richard Siken: Crush

episode 7:

Garrard Conley: Boy Erased

George Matthew Johnson: All Boys Aren't Blue

Samra Habib: We Have Always Been Here

episode 8:

Akemi Dawn Bowman: Summer Bird Blue

Angela Chen: Ace

bonus:

Truham school library pride display (seen in ep. 3 and 8):

top to bottom, left to right: Angela Chen: Ace Andrew Holleran: The Kingdom of Sand Mary Jean Chan and Andrew McMillan: 100 Queer Poems Scott Stuart: My Shadow Is Pink Lotte Jeffs: My Magic Family Tucker Shaw: When You Call My Name Ritch C. Savin-Williams: Bi - Pansexual, Fluid, Nonbinary and Fluid Youth Alok Vaid-Menon: Beyond the Gender Binary George M. Johnson: All Boys Aren’t Blue Mason Deaver: I Wish You All the Best Alex Gino: George Melissa

on top of shelves (left to right): Kevin Van Whye: Nate Plus One Xixi Tian: This Place is Still Beautiful Becky Albertalli: Leah on the Offbeat Mya-Rose Craig: Birdgirl Bernardine Evaristo: Girl, Woman, Other Connie Glynn: Princess Ever After Saundra Mitchell: The Prom

Charlie's choice at Shakespeare and Co (ep. 6): Allan Hollinghurst: The Swimming Pool Library

That's it for now.

Sorry about the ones i couldn't identify and sorry if i missed any! Might try and do some of the ones in Isaac's room later but that'll take a minute