“You can have anything,” she said. “Once you admit you deserve it.”

No one likes to be the new kid. All Amanda wants is to blend in and find friends. That plan fades away when she meets Grant and falls for him immediately. As they spend more time together, she feels herself opening up to Grant; but something is holding her back. Her name used to be Andrew; and she’s terrified that Grant won’t be able to accept her past.

This young adult novel allows for discussions all around gender identity and interpersonal relationships. Almost everyone can relate to feeling lonely and out of place at one point or another. Therefore, students can connect their own experiences to the story, hopefully leading to productive discussions about mental health and emotions.

Novel · United States · 2016