If I Was Your Girl, by Meredith Russo

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: If I Was Your Girl

Author: Meredith Russo

ISBN:  978-1250078407

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Copyright: 2016

Reader’s Annotation:

Sometimes, your very life and safety, depends on keeping who you are a secret.

Summary:

After having had a difficult time in her last school, Amanda now finds herself moving in with her father, a man who has not been around much lately, and starting a new school.  Part of the reason Amanda had such a hard time at her last school is she came out as trans, and began transitioning.  Now, at a new school, she has a fresh start, a chance to make new friends, and to be herself without her past overshadowing her.  Amanda meets a boy named Grant and they begin dating.  She tries to tell him about herself in the form of a letter, but he tears it up, saying it does not matter.  When jealous prompts one of Amanda’s friends to out her to the whole school at a dance, the peaceful sanctuary Amanda has built for herself in this new place is destroyed.

Critical Evaluation:

While this book contains aspects of various YA genres (contemporary realistic fiction, romance, drama), I am focusing on it as an LGBT title, simply because this book inhabits such a unique space within that genre.  Amanda is a trans female, who has transitioned in high school.  As a character, Amanda is very unique, and genuine.  She talks openly of her struggle to accept her gender identity, back when she was still known as Andrew, including a past suicide attempt.  It is so important for teens to see characters like Amanda in YA literature.  Her experience as a trans female is presented in a way that is honest, including the dark parts, without being fetishized.

The setting of the book is Texas, which certainly has an impact on the story.  In one scene, Amanda goes to church with one of her friends.  Amanda has to prove that she is a good Baptist by talking about her favorite Bible passages.  In such a religious environment, Amanda is even more at risk as a trans female.  The setting adds another layer of difficulty to Amanda’s situation.

An important aspect of the story is how people in Amanda’s life deal with her gender identity.  Some people, mostly the other females in the story, are fine with the situation, supportive even.  It is the males in the story, such as Amanda’s father or the boys at school, who have greater difficult with it.  I think this speaks to the underlying misogyny that accompanies transphobia. 

In short, Russo has created a work that occupies a unique, and important, place in YA LGBT literature.  Her experience as a trans woman shows through in her writing, especially in the authentic voice she has given to the character of Amanda.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Meredith Russo is a trans woman from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she currently lives. She is a mother to two wonderful children, an incorrigible geek, and kind of a basket case. You would think, given her interests, that she'd be writing fantasy door stoppers or hard sci-fi examinations of the nature of humanity, but for some reason stories about being queer in the South keep calling out to her. She is the author of If I Was Your Girl.

Genre(s):

LGBT fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K
Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on challenges that transgender teens face

A discussion on how transgender rights are not at the national forefront

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 770

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based on scenes involving teen substance use, violence, and teen sexuality.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

While YA LGBT literature has vastly improved over the past 10-15 years, there are still disparities over who is represented in the literature.  Trans people continue to be underrepresented in YA literature, which is what prompted me to include this in my collection.  Additionally, it was written by a trans woman, which means not only is an authentic voice presented in the work, but trans teens see themselves represented not only in the work but in its creator (additionally, a trans model was used for the cover!). I got a chance to see Meredith speak at the 2016 YALSA symposium, and after that, I knew I had to include this book in my collection for this class.