The Cooper Boy

Jonathan Cooper always knew that, if he ever managed to come out as transgender in his small New Hampshire hometown, there would be trouble. But he never imagined being made the poster child for a national anti-trans campaign by a presidential candidate.

Partly a coming-out story, this book never loses track of the outsized and often cynical roles that politics and religion play in our lives. It is also partly a story about the importance of family and friends (and a sense of humor) when your whole world is imploding, partly a journey through the often bizarre and insular world of small towns and high school, and much more.

Can the famous transgender teen make it through the outcry and violence that follow his public announcement? Is it even possible, especially in such a spotlight, to lead a normal life?

This wonderful and uplifting story can be enjoyed by the whole family. While it doesn't pull punches about the ugliness that can often attach itself to LGBT issues, its main focus is on the myriad ways that humanity and decency can overpower it.