Melissa

By: Alex Gino

Narrated by: Jamie Clayton

BE WHO YOU ARE.

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.

©2015 Alex Gino (P)2015 Scholastic Inc.

Perfect <3

I loved this book so much!! It was absolutely sweet and wholesome and showed the experience of a young trans girl in a relatable and touching way. I wish there were more children's books like this, and I wish I'd read this as a kid. It would have helped me accept myself.
The narration here was also highly enjoyable and generally I recommend this to everyone, no matter what age!

Wow

I received this book for free in order to give an honest opinion. Wow! As a mother I can only imagine how hard it would be for a child to feel so completely cut off from who he/she felt they where inside.,transgender is so new to many of us. But it is very sad.this book really help me to see things from the child's point. Very grateful. I'm also a foster parent I'll keep this book as an aide should I ever need it to help another child.

incredible story

this book is an incredible and very important story for adults and kids! it will have a lasting impact on your heart and change the way you view the world and people around you

The book I didn't know I needed

I wish a book like this had been available to me as a child. Melissa is a heartwarming tale about a young girl struggling to come to terms with something outside her control, and grow into herself. As an adult member of the same community as her, who was in very similar situations that went more poorly than hers, I wish I could share this book with my childhood self. the writing is spot on, and the content is easy to digest for it's target audience while still being impactful for adults as well. A copy will always be in both my home library, and my classroom library, ready for any kid that needs it.

Wow, a happy ending!

This book is an amazing portrayal of the trans experience from a trans writer and narrator. As a Cis person, I felt like I finally saw from George's perspective the daily slights and indignities suffered by kids whose identitities do not match the gender assigned to them at birth. Every time George was misgendered, even by those who love her, I winced. So many stories about trans kids are syrupy-sweet optimism or scary and depressing; To have a portrayal be realistic but with a happy ending felt good and real. I hope to share the print book with my students this year, and give my students another perspective of what it may be like for trans people in our world.