Gender Blender
-
- $7.99
-
- $7.99
Publisher Description
Perfect for fans of classic teen comedies like She’s All That and Freaky Friday, this is the story of two tweens who can’t imagine problems bigger than their own until they wake up one morning…and realize they’ve switched bodies.
All Emma wants is for Jeff Matthews to notice her, to avoid sexist boys, and to finally get her period. All Tom wants is to not look like a wuss at school, to figure out his new blended family, and to get a chance with Kelly A. Neither thinks about much else. That is until something freaky happens. Emma and Tom wake up one morning in each other’s bodies. Now all Emma can think about is how to dodge the mean girls who torment her and all Tom can think about is how to avoid being alone with Jeff Matthews.
This hilarious and thought-provoking read will have tweens wondering what high school is really like for the classmates they consider their opposites--and have them second-guessing the pre-conceived notions they may have about each other.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When two sixth graders magically change bodies after bumping their heads together, the results are traumatic for them but hilarious for readers especially those who have wondered what it would feel like to be a member of the opposite sex. After Tom and Emma realize they've undergone a gender switch, it takes them awhile to get used to their new skins. Besides having to adjust to the smaller, lighter frame of a female gymnast, Tom has to learn how to eat a civilized dinner with Emma's straight-laced family, juggle endless activities, deal with backbiting girlfriends, and put on and take off a bra. Emma, now a gangly, big-footed boy, must also conform to a new way of life, pitching baseballs instead of doing flips, coping with a pesky younger brother and rough-housing with guys whose idea of fun is throwing dirt clods and racing downhill in a shopping cart. Throughout the novel, Nelson (Rock Star, Superstar) demonstrates his keen understanding of peer pressure and gender stereotyping. In one exchange, Tom (in Emma's body) says, "If I can't get dirty, then you can't cry," to which Emma (as Tom) replies, "I'll cry if I have to. This isn't exactly easy, you know." Showing equal sensitivity to both sexes, the author provides honest, humorous answers to questions youngsters are often too embarrassed to ask: What does it mean to get a boner? What is it like to get your period? Can boys and girls really be friends? Ages 10-up.
