Luna (National Book Award Finalist)
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4.5 • 2 Ratings
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- £5.49
Publisher Description
A groundbreaking novel about a transgender teen—selected as a National Book Award Finalist.
Regan's brother Liam can't stand the person he is during the day. Like the moon from whom Liam has chosen his female name, his true self, Luna, only reveals herself at night. In the secrecy of his basement bedroom, Liam transforms into the beautiful girl he longs to be, with help from his sister's clothes and makeup. Now, everything is about to change: Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. But are Liam's family and friends ready to welcome Luna into their lives?
Compelling and thought-provoking, this is an unforgettable novel about a transgender teen's struggle for self-identity and acceptance.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Peters's (Define "Normal") latest novel sensitively portrays the life of a transgender teen through the eyes of a sympathetic younger sister. Regan has always supported her brother and kept his secret, but when Liam decides to "transition" into Luna, the girl he knows he is inside, Regan faces new complications. Luna begins dressing like a girl in public, first at the mall, then at school and finally at home. Regan watches as strangers gawk, Luna's best friend runs out on her, and their father calls Luna "sick." Regan, too, gets angry with Luna, for "ruining my chances for any kind of ordinary existence," especially when Chris, a cute new student, begins asking her out. The tone is inconsistent some overly dramatic moments strain credibility (in one harrowing scene, Luna is caught in a negligee by the parents of the kids Regan baby-sits) as do too many silly dating disasters between Regan and Chris. But the author gradually reveals the issues facing a transgender teen, educating readers without feeling too instructional (Luna and Regan discuss lingo, hormones and even sex change operations). Flashbacks throughout help round out the story, explaining Liam/Luna's longtime struggle with a dual existence, and funny, sarcastic but strong Regan narrates with an authentic voice that will draw readers into this new territory. Ages 15-up.
