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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

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

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    Reviews for Melissa (previously published as GEORGE)

    4.5/5

    1,127 ratings81 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 4/5
      This book tackles an interesting, contemporary issue, and it does so in a way that pretty much every age level can understand, which I really appreciate. As someone who was born female and identifies as female, I wish there were prequels and sequels to this book, because I am very curious to know how and when George realized she was a girl, not a boy, and I really want to see how things progress in her life. I think this is a great subject for younger books to be written about, and look forward to more in general, and from this particular author.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      George is known primarily as a book with a transgender protagonist, but it should also simply be known as an excellent contemporary, middle-grade book about learning to be yourself. While the focus is on a transgender girl, the story also touches on a number of issues which affect all children such as bullying. It shows regular, real families as they are instead of presenting perfect, nuclear families. All of this combines to make the book relatable to almost any child. That very relatability may well help cisgender children (and adults) to develop greater empathy for special challenges faced by those who are transgender. It even includes a FAQ that offers guidance on how to be courteous and supportive to transgender people.There isn't a soul in the world to whom I wouldn't recommend this. Whether you would be described as transgender, cisgender, child, or adult, George has something to offer you. The author says they dream of this book someday becoming historical fiction in a world that can't quite understand why Melissa being trans is a big deal. I fervently hope Mx. Gino gets to see their dream come true.Juvenile contemporary fictionGrades: 3 - 8Ages: 8 -13Lexile Measure: 790LDRA Level: 70Themes: adolescent issues, bullying experiences, growing up, LGBTQ experiences, middle school, being yourself, trans experiences

      1 person found this helpful

    • 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.
    • 1/5
      Una historia muy tierna sobre la identidad de género.
      Desafortunadamente nuestro protagonista es un niño que está en 4to grado.
      Me pregunto, ¿qué hace un infante pensando que necesita tener un Jigglypuff en lugar de su Pikachu?
      Debería estar jugando, aprendiendo y DESCUBRIENDO, sin importar que género posea.

      Las palabras son poderosas, por ello tenemos que pensar dos veces antes de exponerlas.

      Ojo, no estoy en contra de la comunidad LGBT, solo estoy preocupado por la calidad de la información que llevamos a nuestros niños.
    • 5/5
      I truly loved every min of this book. Jamie Clayton's enthusiasm and emotion while reading this made it that much more entertaining. I am so happy there are more books like this coming out to let children know they can be who they are. They are not alone and they are loved!
    • 5/5
      In my opinion George is a great beginning to relate to and understand what some of the many hurdles a trans youth must jump over. I am great full Melissa had Kelly as a friend!!
    • 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.
    • 5/5
      It was perfect. Everyone should read this. Even adults, especially if they're cis.
    • 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!
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 5/5
      An inspiring book about being transgender and gender dysphoria when you are young
    • 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.
    • 5/5
      I love this book it really reminds me of gracefully Grayson because the stories are so similar
    • 4/5
      I found it heartwarming and essential for middle grade readers.
    • 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!
    • 5/5
      Loved the story. Loved the Narrator. This is such an important book for younger kids to hear whether its to help them go through the same thing as George/Melissa or to better understand someone else going through it or just what it means to someone who has to deal with this type of situation or just feeling 'different' in general. Loved it.
    • 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.
    • 5/5
      Queer, especially trans and nonbinary, books for young readers deserve all the stars!!!
    • 5/5
      So inspiring, the story made me cry and laugh. This is an eye opener to be more empathetic and inclusive.
    • 4/5
      A book about a transgender fourth-grader could have been maudlin and message-y and just fail on so many levels. However, this wasn't. This was a sweet, compassionate story and Kelly is absolutely the best Best Friend a kid could ever have.
    • 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.
    • 3/5
      I find this a developmentally appropriate book for readers 4th grade up about a child who struggles with his/her gender identity. Readers see George's internal struggles and frustration as she yearns over the pictures in her beauty and fashion magazines, copes with bullies at school, and wishes her mother would understand. Thankfully her best friend Kelly is the beginning of George's possible salvation. I would be interested to see how child readers react to it especially those who are not dealing with gender identity issues. How would they consider or accept George's story?
    • 5/5
      George is a book I picked up when I was looking for something to listen to as I was organizing the bookshelf last weekend. I realized my library had an audio copy of this book that had been on my TBR list since it first came out and I quickly snapped it up and downloaded it right away.George is a poignant middle grade novel about Melissa, a transgender girl who longs to play Charlotte, in her fourth grade class production of Charlotte’s Web. I really loved this book! It was heartbreaking, but I grew to see Melissa as a real child struggling to show her family and the world that she’s a girl, not the boy she’s perceived to be. She is an inspiration and I was so proud of her for standing up for her dreams.George stopped. It was such a short, little question, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the sounds.Mom, what if I’m a girl?George was narrated by Sense8‘s Jamie Clayton. While I haven’t watched the show, she did a great job narrating the characters of this book. She added an extra dimension to this middle grade book and I could believe the emotion in her voice. I hope she continues to narrate books because I would love to listen to more from her! I could tell each character apart and its clear she spent time on her performance.Though the book was clearly written to a younger audience, it teaches an important lesson that we could all learn from: BE WHO YOU ARE. Alex Gino says that they wrote George because “the hole in children’s literature was clear, and they knew how they wanted to fill it,” and I have to say it was a success! This is a book that should be in all school libraries. It is important, relevant, and teaches readers to love and celebrate who you are. I will definitely be reading more from Alex Gino!
    • 5/5
      I loved the story and it was amazing that it was shared to the world. Children can be so cruel and I am so glad Alex you had a beautiful friend that supported you in this journey of discovery of what you really wanted to be and are. Again, thank you for sharing and giving our young youth a chance of having literature that would help them learn about themselves and to feel that they are not alone, it is normal. Be you and be the best of you, always and love yourself. Love--Love--Love this book! thank you for making this book possible for our young children. Continue writing and can't wait to read your other books.
    • 5/5
      This is suck a heartwarming book, I loved it! Kelly is an amazing friend.
    • 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.
    • 5/5
      It was an excellent book. I feel everybody should read this book about a guy that changed to a girl. It teaches valuable lessons in today's society.
    • 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
    • 4/5
      A really nice and sweet book. Definitely will check out other books by this author.