Gino, A. (2015). George. NY: Scholastic.
George is about a young child who is deeply troubled and unhappy. The the world sees George as a boy, she knows deep down in her bones she is a girl. Her sadness comes from the fact that she feels she will need to keep this a secret the rest of her life. While her mother and brother love her deeply as a boy, she fear the unknown outcome of telling them she is a girl. In her 4th grade class, they are going to put on a play of the book they just finished reading, Charlotte's Web. This book deeply touched George and she feels as if her and Charlotte are kindred spirits. She would like to be Charlotte but her misguided teacher doesn't think it would be appropriate. This breaks George's heart. George's best friend Kelly gets the part and she devises a plan to make George the star of one of the 2 performances. Kelly was the first person George confided in about her true identity, and she showed George the compassion and understanding she had always craved. Kelly's acceptance of her and the strength inspired by Charlotte helped George can confidence and courage to be who she is. She confides in her brother and he is completely accepting. George also confides in his mother who is shocked and dumbfounded by this information. George knows if his mother could just see her perform as Charlotte she would truly see her as a girl and know that is her true identity. George surprises everyone, especially her mother, at the second performance during open house by coming out as Charlotte. George receives rave reviews and her mother comes to accept George's true identity. The book ends with George and Kelly going on a trip with her distant uncle to the zoo. Kelly lends George some of her clothes and George is free that day to be her true self, Melissa.
George is a revolutionary book that, in recent years, has been placed on the challenged book list for it's sexuality aimed at a younger audience. I, however, thought the book was quite tame and there wasn't any sexuality involved but rather the issue of identity. This book could not only reach a reader who is struggling with their own identity but it also teaches tolerance and acceptance for those that are different. I think this is a very important book and teaches so many essential life lessons. I would say the audience for this book is 5th grade and above.
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