Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories
Children’s, Teenage & Educational
Weblink
www.mghennessey.com

THE OTHER BOY

Sfe R. Monster M. G. Hennessey

A heartfelt middle grade story in the spirit of George and Gracefully Grayson about one transgender boy’s journey to find acceptance.

Shane is just a regular kid. He likes making comics, spending time with his best friend, Josh, and being star pitcher for his baseball team. But ever since he moved to Los Angeles with his mom, Shane has been keeping something from his friends: he was born a girl.

When Shane’s secret is revealed by a school bully, Shane must look within himself and decide who he really is. And with the help of a few great friends and supportive parents, Shane realizes he really is just a regular kid with a few extraordinary qualities.

With books like George and Gracefully Grayson and television shows like I am Jazz and I am Cait paving the way, the children’s book community is ready and eager to embrace books that speak to the transgender experience. While Shane is grappling specifically with being transgender, all kids will recognize the feeling of being different and wanting their community to love them for who they are.

Sfé M, a transgender graphic artist, will illustrate 8-10 panels, graphic elements of Shane’s story.

M.G. Hennessey loves Star Wars, the San Francisco Giants, strawberry ice cream, and dancing (not necessarily in that order). If she could choose one superpower, it would be flying. A supporter of the Transgender Law Center, Gender Spectrum, and the Human Rights Campaign, she lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Available products
Book Published 2016-09-01 by HarperCollins
Book Published 2016-09-01 by HarperCollins

Comments

This is the story with a triumphant-but-realistic ending. It's challenging but not tragic, and it ends with bright, beautiful hope.

Hennessey sensitively portrays typical sixth-grade trials (first crushes, embarrassing parents, etc.), compounded by the confusion and prejudice that can accompany transitioning. An honest, encouraging addition to the growing ranks of transgender lit for the middle grades.

THE OTHER BOY is a Maine State Book Award Nominee

Shane's voice rings true, and the writing is straightforward and accessible. It's refreshing to read a story with a young trans character already living life as his true gender and never questioning his identity. A worthwhile addition to middle grade collections.

The Other Boy is a gorgeous book, beautifully written and filled with characters who will make you laugh, cry, and cheer. A terrific read for all ages.

With equal doses of hopefulness and realism, The Other Boy portrays the ups and downs of a transgender boy's life as he navigates the delicate interplay of public openness and private self-awareness. M. G. Hennessey has gifted us with an emotionally complex and achingly real read about a lovable boy's journey as he carves his path in a sometimes cruel, sometimes beautiful world.

Debut author Hennessey effectively depicts Shane's life as both ordinary and very particular... A warm, realistic book.