By Tash McAdam
Soho Teen, 2023. 269 pages.
Young Adult Fiction
For me, this book is the definition of not judging based on the cover - this cover doesn't do the novel justice! It is waterfalls of meaningful prose, woven in between a suspenseful thriller and everyday teen angst, and I read it all in one day.
BEFORE: Newly out trans guy Max is having a hard time in school. Things have been tough since his summer romance, Danny, turned into his bully. This year, his plan is to keep his head down and graduate. All that changes when new "It Girl," Gloss, moves to town. No one understands why perfect, polished Gloss is so interested in an introverted skater kid, but Max blooms in the hothouse of her attention. Caught between romance and obsession, he'll do whatever it takes to keep her on his side.
AFTER: Haircuts, makeovers, drugs, parties. It's all fun and games until someone gets killed at a rager gone terribly wrong. Max refuses to believe that Gloss did it. But if not Gloss, who? Desperate to figure out truth in the wake of tragedy, Max veers dangerously close to being implicated - and his own memories of that awful night are fuzzy.
I was captivated by the relationship between Gloss and Max; equally scared and excited for both of them. Max, particularly, is such an extraordinary character; his inner monologues ring true and cut deep. It's so important that we humans use books to build empathy and compassion for people who are different than ourselves. If you've been hesitant to read a Book with a trans main character, or just haven't ever considered it as an option, this book is a good one to start with.
"The world urgently needs culture-changing stories about transgender people. More people say they have seen a ghost than know a trans person. When you don't know people, it's easy to demonize them," said GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis. "Visibility creates understanding and opens doors; it's life-saving. Our community has achieved so much and yet, we are still being victimized and villainized with cruel and harmful lies. Sharing stories is the antidote."
If you like No One Left But You, you might also like:
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Young Adult Fiction
After coming out as transgender, Chris is still processing a frightening assault he survived the year before, while Maia, grieving the loss of her older sister, is trying to find her place in the world, which makes falling in love the furthest thing on their minds - until it's not.
If I Can Give You That
By Michael Gray Bulla
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Young Adult Fiction
Seventeen-year-old Gael, a trans boy, learns to let his walls down while finding community, discovering his sexuality, falling in love, and navigating difficult family situations.
The Sky Blues
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Young Adult Fiction
Sky Baker may be openly gay, but in his small, insular town, making sure he was invisible has always been easier than being himself. His small town turns absolutely claustrophobic when his secret promposal plans get leaked to the entire school.
Only on the Weekends
By Dean Atta
Balzer + Bray, 2022. 551 pages.
Young Adult Fiction
Fifteen-year-old Mack is a hopeless romantic - likely a hazard of growing up on film sets thanks to his father's job. Mack has had a crush on Karim for as long as he can remember and he can't believe it when gorgeous, popular Karim seems into him too.
LKA
