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Melissa (previously published as GEORGE)
Melissa (previously published as GEORGE)
Melissa (previously published as GEORGE)
Audiobook3 hours

Melissa (previously published as GEORGE)

Written by Alex Gino

Narrated by Jamie Clayton

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

()

About this audiobook

BE WHO YOU ARE.

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.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 25, 2015
ISBN9780545880213
Melissa (previously published as GEORGE)

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Reviews for Melissa (previously published as GEORGE)

Rating: 4.316557007525871 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

1,063 ratings81 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    George is a middle-grade book about George, a fourth grader who was born a boy but knows in her heart that’s she’s a girl. She hasn’t told anyone, not even her best friend. Every day is a struggle. She comforts herself by looking at the models in her secret stash of fashion magazines when she gets home from school.The fourth grade school play is Charlotte’s Web. George desperately wants to play Charlotte and decides to audition for the part. She knows she’d be perfect. Unfortunately, her teacher is not open to a “boy” playing a female role.I read this book with my eight year old daughter and while I don’t think she totally got the concept of what it means to be transgender, she does have at least some knowledge now. It was a good starting point for us to discuss it. She did think it was quite unfair that George couldn’t audition to play Charlotte. I highly recommend George for kids of all ages.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In this short and to the point book, fourth-grader George has always thought of herself as a girl, even if she was born with male body parts. She's carried this secret for some time, but things come to a head when her class is putting on a play version of Charlotte's Web and George desperately wants to act as Charlotte -- a part reserved for girls only.As far as I can tell, George does a good job of describing the feelings and troubles of a transgender child. This book is occassionally a bit didactic, although that's somewhat to be expected given the subject matter and the intended audience. Depending on your child(ren), this book might be a bit much for a young audience, with references to "dirty" things like porn magazines and boys taking pictures up girls' skirts. (Unfortunately, however, those things are a reality.) For myself, the only thing that truly bothered me were a couple of rather detailed descriptions of vomit, which made me feel rather queasy as a result.Although there are some cautions, this book ends on positive notes. Perhaps this is more tidy and optimistic than real life, but it is nice for children to see a world where they aren't judged for who they are. For the audiobook listener, I wasn't blown away by Jamie Clayton's reading, which seemed a bit placid for my taste.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4 Stars - updated after reflection - writing maybe a little young/simple for target ages but still really solid and incredible important; highly recommended -

    This is such a wonderful book! It is heartache inducing and warm and hopeful all at the same time. Most important is the hope - hope that all people need but especially children and youth - that things will be okay no matter who you are because who you are is not just okay, but good!

    As a book the narrative is solid, engaging, and believable. The characters are well developed and even those that see little stage time show unique depth. The subject matter is so important (transgender youth) but the story is so much more than that and youth and adults alike all have things to learn from George. Read it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A well-written novel that explores how young kids explore and understand identities, but also how they may need support and inclusion from outside of themselves to feel welcomed and supported.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I belive this book broke barriers for children literacy books. Groege is about a boy who is starting to realize hs sexuality at a young age but doesnt know how to face it. The perfect opportunity comes about when it is time to audition for the schools play of Charollets Web. George wants to be play the role as the female spider, but due to him being a boy he was rejected. His best friend Kelly auditioned for the role and when she got the role she got the idea where they could book be the spider. Kelly was Georges biggest cheerleader and I feel without her pushing George, who knows when he would have came out about his feelings. I sit back and wonder all the children in the world that are going through the same struggle.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A heartwarming story of a girl who just wants to be accepted as one.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    George is a 4th grader who desperately wants to play the part of Charlotte in her school production of Charlotte's Web. Unfortunately, the teacher is only casting girls for the part, and although George knows she is a girl, her physical appearance says otherwise. Thanks to George's best friend, Kelly, George has the opportunity to shine and make the small steps necessary to show the world who she really is. While there are a growing number of books for the young adult audience--and even some picture books out there--this is the first one I've seen that brings up gender issues for the elementary school-aged reader. George has already won a number of awards for its portrayal of a young girl trapped in the body of a boy and the unhappiness and bullying she suffers. However, the story is told with a light touch and remains optimistic thanks to Kelly's encouragement and later, the support of George's brother and elementary school principal. George's mother, too, eventually comes around and by the end of the book suggests counseling for both George and herself. JF
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I liked this. I liked that there wasn't a tremendous amount of conflict.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Children seem to be more aware of their gender identity today. This book details George's thoughts and feelings about identifying as female, though born a male. He struggles, and is bullied sometimes. With the help of his friend, Kelly, his brother and his Mom he comes to a place where he can begin to accept himself and his gender identity. I enjoyed reading this book, and feel it would be helpful to others in a variety of ways. It is a timely topic. Parents might want to read this book if they'd like to broach the subject of gender identity with their children.This book would be good for readers interested in stories about gender identity. This book would be good for a health class with a unit on gender identity. This book would interest those who enjoy books about contemporary topics and diversity.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Important topic, and enjoyed the naturalness in the text. Nothing felt too forced. I wanted to like the writing a lot more than I did, but, this is a solid GLBT addition for younger & Middle School collections.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If you have no idea what it might be like to grow up as a girl in a boy's body, read this book. If you know a child who may be struggling with gender issues, get this book into the kid's hands. If you want to ensure that your own children grow up with an understanding of the variety of people around them, get this book. Thought some of the details are slightly dated and the book has a laser-like focus on its purpose, author Alex Gino accomplishes an amazing feat in a simple and lovely way. George is the perfect example of how reading fiction improves empathy.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Short simple text aimed at a young audience covering the topic of gender identity.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book for chapter book audience on the topic of awareness and acceptance of gender variant kids. While it is extremely helpful when approaching the topic of transgender, it is also about children deciding how to treat others who differ from themselves. Best of all, the author comes from a background of being gender variant. Bravo to Scholastic Press for doing the right thing!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    George is a girl inside a boy's body. She thinks that she may have to keep this a secret forever, but with the help of her best friend, George finds a way to reveal who she really is. This story gets to the point of what it is like to be a transgender child struggling with your identity and afraid of bullying, rejection and disappointment from those closest to you. I would recommend this for students in Grades 4 to 7.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It was perfect. Everyone should read this. Even adults, especially if they're cis.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Such a well-done independent reader book addressing one trans youth experience. I’m so glad a trans woman was chosen to narrate it, and absolutely anyone who engages with children at this age should read/listen to it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is suck a heartwarming book, I loved it! Kelly is an amazing friend.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    George é um livro sobre uma criança que nasceu com o sexo biológico masculino, mas que se identifica com o gênero feminino. Em outras palavras, George é uma menina transexual.

    Ela tem aproximadamente 11 anos, e o livro conta sua história na medida em que a menina vai tomando maior consciência da sua transexualidade e tenta se assumir para seus amigos e para sua família.

    Um ponto muito positivo do livro é que, desde o princípio, a narradora se refere a George utilizando os pronomes femininos, o que contribui muito para o pleno entendimento do leitor a respeito da personagem. Outro ponto interessante é o livro ser um infanto-juvenil, então os assuntos são abordados com leveza e naturalidade, e as cenas se passam principalmente na escola de George, o que contribui para gerar identificação por parte do público-alvo.

    Algo que me incomodou um pouco foi um foco constante na performance da feminilidade e em estereótipos de gênero. Eu, particularmente, tenho bastante dificuldade com essa abordagem, então fiquei com um pé atrás em relação ao livro devido a esse enfoque. No entanto, em alguns trechos, a questão da performance foi bem trabalhada, como em momentos em que a mãe de George diz que ela não pode fazer determinada coisa pois tal coisa é de menina, e George pensa "mas eu sou uma menina", revelando que não é puramente uma questão de querer fazer algo que não é permitido aos meninos, mas de efetivamente ser uma menina, por isso não entender a proibição.

    De modo geral, achei uma leitura válida, bastante introdutória no tema dentro do âmbito da ficção, mas que me fez refletir algumas coisas. Não sou muito envolvida em questões referentes à transexualidade, tanto no âmbito teórico, referente ao conceito de gênero, quanto no âmbito prático, no que diz respeito à luta por direitos efetivamente, talvez por isso não tenha compreendido plenamente alguns aspectos da construção da personagem.

    Em todo caso, recomendo a leitura para quem queira iniciar o envolvimento com esse tema, por ser um livro leve e sem grande complexidade.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It was so cute and beautiful. It has such a good message for kids and adults alike. I loved to see a supportive brother and friend so accepting and cool. I only wish it was a little bit longer.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4/5 stars. I’m happy kids have books like this to read. Although I’m not the target demographic for this, I think it’s important that books like this exist. Read it, regardless of age.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This middle grade book did so much so right. I know it can often be difficult going into a middle grade book as an adult with the intention of reviewing it. Our standards of plot and character development is on such a higher scale. For me though, many years of reading bedtime stories and buddy reading with my daughter as she grew, gave me the opportunity to see this kind of writing though a different lens. That being said, George blew me away.

    George is transgender and this is the story of her coming to terms with the realization of who she is not in a world that defines her based on her appearance, typical stereotypes and gender roles that are prevalent in society. George experiences the world through a role she was born to play, a role that society has deemed appropriate for a boy/man. George knows that how she feels is not congruent with what she experiences or what is expected of her as a son, male student, or a boy friend. This book follows George through one week of her life, one week that will change forever how she feels about herself and the world around her.

    The toughest parts of this book are not what George feels, but lets be clear what she feels is very important, because for me children realizing who they are is a natural evolution. The tough parts are seeing how others, mostly adults, react to George. The reactions of George's brother and mother were both well portrayed, his brother being a surprise stand out. But it was George's best friend Kelley who got me in the feels. This book just shows, even though it is in the smallest way, that kids are more accepting and unfazed by George's secret than all of the adults were. It shows how much of the biases that children grow into come from the adults who refuse to educate themselves or who are not above spreading hate as long as it serves their narratives.

    This snippet is such a small window into George's life, one that had been hard up until the point we joined her. I am sure that she would continue to struggle if the story were to span her getting older because sadly, society isn't catching up fast enough. This book is important because it gives kids, who may be silently struggling with similar things, the knowledge that they are not alone and that in itself is worth spreading this book to anyone who will read it. This books is excellent for any adult trying to educate themselves or any adult reading it with or to their children to expand their own empathy and understanding of those deemed different. In the end, George wants what everyone, adult or child, wants... Acceptance.

    For me personally, my daughter could tell me she was a rock and I would do everything in my power to help her be the best rock she can be. I only hope for a time when being gay, transgender, non-binary and the like won't be a big deal. A time when what our children, friends, and family identify as has no barring on the beautiful people they are. Books like George take us one more step in that direction.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was well written and shows another side of how children feel about themselves. Even at the age of 10 children know who they are. We have to learn to listen to them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    George / now Melissa (yay) is a wonderful book to show friendship, support, and family relationships. Melissa also grows to become herself as she moves from her given name of George to Melissa. I love that the author and publisher moved to change the title, something that shows the growth occurring on all levels. This is a sweet story that ties in Charlotte's Web with common and uncommon themes for elementary students. A must read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Read this for my children's lit class. This is a book that has been challenged because of its frank discussion of sexuality, but I think that is a fig leaf to hide conservative's denial of the very concept of a transgender child.

    This is an important book because it not only could give comfort to children who are going through gender transition, but for cis children it will (hopefully) help them empathize with their trans peers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story of Melissa who wants to play Charlotte in the class play of Charlotte's Web in the play that her class puts on after reading the book. A nice story, it has been banned in various places because of the storyline.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great amazing story of someone discovering and revealing who they are despite social pressures. The author shows the complexity of a trans experience in a young person. Great for kids and adults to read
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An inspiring book about being transgender and gender dysphoria when you are young
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I read this book, due to it being on the 2022 BANNED Book list. Melissa, previously published as George until April 2022, is a children's novel about a young transgender girl written by American author Alex Gino. The novel tells the story of Melissa, a fourth-grade girl who is struggling to be herself, with the rest of the world. The rest of the world views Melissa as George, a boy.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved it. I wasn't sure I would at first because it was a kids book but once I got deeper into the story I fell in love with George/Melissa. To bad people can't be who they want to be or who they are deep down. Fantastic book!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    So inspiring, the story made me cry and laugh. This is an eye opener to be more empathetic and inclusive.