WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL

A Toronto teen questioning their gender finds friendship and support among other queer students at their new school in this feel-good, #ownvoices debut.

At Logan Osborne’s old school, their slight frame and feminine appearance made them a target for bullies. But when Logan, who is Chinese and white, transfers to Rosedale School for the Arts at the start of grade 11, they meet a group of friends who are openly queer and embrace Logan for who they are. There is Robin, who is white, bisexual, and trans; Micah, Robin’s Jewish boyfriend; Drew, who is asexual homoromantic; and Jennifer, who is Chinese/white/Afro-Guyanese, fat, and queer. With their friends’ encouragement, Logan begins to ponder the reasons behind their discomfort with being one of “the guys”—are they trans? At the same time, they find themselves developing a crush on Kyle, an attractive tenor of Japanese descent who tells Logan about his two dads but is less forthcoming about his own sexual orientation. The book’s present-tense narration brings readers up close and personal with Logan as they process their thoughts about gender identity and gender presentation. Dialogue between the teen characters is authentically earnest, awkward, and funny, minus the occasional use of slang that may feel dated. Short chapters and simple, direct prose keep the pages turning and make the book accessible to reluctant readers.

Thoughtful and affirming.