George

Gino, A.  (2015)  George.  New York:  Scholastic.

George is a fourth grade boy who feels like a girl.  George's class is doing a play for Charlotte's Web and George wants to play Charlotte so everyone can see him like a girl.  George and his best friend Kelly practice for the play, but his teacher won't let him have a girl part.  George finally confides to Kelly about how he feels like a girl.  So, the day of the play, George and Kelly, come up with a surprise plan on how he can have a perfect part in the play!  This story is about gender roles, friendship, and acceptance.

The character of George changes throughout the book.  He wants everyone to know he feels like a girl.   In the beginning of the book he sneaks girl magazines into his room.  Later, the readers see him practicing the role of Charlotte for the school play.  George feels like if he is a girl in a play, then everyone will see him as a girl.  He finally reveals his feelings to his best friend.  Then, he tells his mom and he becomes Charlotte in the school play.  There is a huge transformation in George’s confidence.

The setting of the school is crucial to this story because it allows a place for George to tell others that he feels that he is a girl.  The play was a platform for him to shine as Charlotte.  His best friend Kelly and the principal were very accepting of George being a girl.

Interview with Alex Gino:
http://www.slj.com/2015/09/interviews/alex-gino-on-debut-novel-george-and-the-importance-of-transgender-voices-in-the-kid-lit-world/#_