dogoodwithbooks's review
4.5
The Passing Playbook is definitely a great book to be reading. Fitzsimmons eases readers into the plot and is able to keep me engage. I really liked Spencer's character development throughout the book. Even though he does have several supportive friends and family, it's interesting to read about how Spencer ultimately finds himself and to stand up for his right to exist. I definitely think that helps add a crucial element to the plot, especially when it comes to the relationship between Spencer and Justice.
If you like sport romances featuring a trans MC or are looking for a book about being able to advocate for yourself, you will enjoy reading The Passing Playbook.
If you like sport romances featuring a trans MC or are looking for a book about being able to advocate for yourself, you will enjoy reading The Passing Playbook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Drug abuse and Child death
my_weird_bookish_heart's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Outing, Bullying, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
literarylocd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
this was cute for the most part. there were some very VERY uncomfortable bits (re: religious bigotry) but yeah easy-ish read and i enjoyed it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Drug abuse
bookswithbront's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia
Moderate: Dysphoria, Deadnaming, Outing, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Bullying
kj468's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
rep: mlm; trans man mc; gay LI; LI from religious family; enby sc; trans sc
----
tags: sports; soccer; religious bigotry; fighting transphobia; coming out
----
ratings: funny: 2 // ease: 4 // plot: 5 // romance: 4 // representation: 5 // total: 5
----
This book is a gem; I'm so glad it exists for trans youth to read and feel inspired by. It would also be a great read for anyone who doesn't quite *get* the human-level emotional harm done by transphobia and transphobic legislation policing where trans people are allowed to exist. This book does an outstanding job of making readers feel the tangible daily harm of banning trans kids from playing sports, and it highlights how it's not just trans kids who suffer -- it's cis kids, it's coaches, it's parents. It's everyone.
Despite so clearly communicating that harm, this book manages to be happy and joyful and full of wonderful characters who support each other even when their identities differ. Justice, the love interest, comes from a religious family and it was so comforting to read about him getting to explore safe queer spaces. The team's and coach's reactions to Spencer coming out as trans, and to queerness in general, was like a warm hug. Transphobia definitely exists in this book, but the author did such a great job of making that transphobia shrink in comparison to the outpouring of love for queer folks.
-----
TW explanations:
religious bigotry: the love interests family is religious and homophobic. We see his struggles living in this type of home as a young gay kid & hear some of the shitty things his family says and believes. Of note, there is a particularly visual scene of religious bigotry where Spencer and his friends
bullying: Spencer was bullied at his previous school and it's why he's now at a new school, but we don't see any on page bullying.
----
tags: sports; soccer; religious bigotry; fighting transphobia; coming out
----
ratings: funny: 2 // ease: 4 // plot: 5 // romance: 4 // representation: 5 // total: 5
----
This book is a gem; I'm so glad it exists for trans youth to read and feel inspired by. It would also be a great read for anyone who doesn't quite *get* the human-level emotional harm done by transphobia and transphobic legislation policing where trans people are allowed to exist. This book does an outstanding job of making readers feel the tangible daily harm of banning trans kids from playing sports, and it highlights how it's not just trans kids who suffer -- it's cis kids, it's coaches, it's parents. It's everyone.
Despite so clearly communicating that harm, this book manages to be happy and joyful and full of wonderful characters who support each other even when their identities differ. Justice, the love interest, comes from a religious family and it was so comforting to read about him getting to explore safe queer spaces. The team's and coach's reactions to Spencer coming out as trans, and to queerness in general, was like a warm hug. Transphobia definitely exists in this book, but the author did such a great job of making that transphobia shrink in comparison to the outpouring of love for queer folks.
-----
TW explanations:
religious bigotry: the love interests family is religious and homophobic. We see his struggles living in this type of home as a young gay kid & hear some of the shitty things his family says and believes. Of note, there is a particularly visual scene of religious bigotry where Spencer and his friends
Spoiler
go to the church's haunted house for Halloween & the horror is very Christain "values" inspired -- graphic antiabortion sentiments, gay folks going to hell, etcbullying: Spencer was bullied at his previous school and it's why he's now at a new school, but we don't see any on page bullying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Transphobia
Minor: Bullying
ana_the_frog's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Outing
mxbluet18's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Trigger warnings for The Passing Playbook include: transphobia, bullying, religious propaganda, homophobia and misgendering.
☆
☆
This book has so many important elements to it. It had both open and stealth trans characters, as well as a non-binary character, and gay and bisexual characters.
~
It also showed the importanance of acceptance from a community, as well as how shit passive acceptance actually is for a community. The QSA as well as the principal of the school were accepting until it was inconvenient for them, and it would take more work to make a change. Acceptance shouldn't be conditional, or until it makes problems or makes it challenging.
~
I loved that it showed more than one perspective to the trans experience. How being open can be a benefit, not just for that person but for all the trans people who might come after them. And I liked that it openly said that non-binary people deserve to be able to use the bathroom, and that gender neutral bathrooms benefit lots of people, not just non-binary people.
~
The scene for Transgender Day of Remembrance was really touching for me. The idea of one person saying their names and it echoing around until everyone was saying it felt really special. And it also felt fitting that it started pouring rain as the names were being read out, and it stopping when they were done.
☆
☆
This book has so many important elements to it. It had both open and stealth trans characters, as well as a non-binary character, and gay and bisexual characters.
~
It also showed the importanance of acceptance from a community, as well as how shit passive acceptance actually is for a community. The QSA as well as the principal of the school were accepting until it was inconvenient for them, and it would take more work to make a change. Acceptance shouldn't be conditional, or until it makes problems or makes it challenging.
~
I loved that it showed more than one perspective to the trans experience. How being open can be a benefit, not just for that person but for all the trans people who might come after them. And I liked that it openly said that non-binary people deserve to be able to use the bathroom, and that gender neutral bathrooms benefit lots of people, not just non-binary people.
~
The scene for Transgender Day of Remembrance was really touching for me. The idea of one person saying their names and it echoing around until everyone was saying it felt really special. And it also felt fitting that it started pouring rain as the names were being read out, and it stopping when they were done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deadnaming, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use and Death
sisters26's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
this is so an heartwarming story. 🥺❤️🩹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying and Outing
Minor: Death
deadgirlwalking23's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Deadnaming and Drug use
smasson13's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I didn't hate this book. I also didn't love it.
Technically, there was nothing wrong with it. A little cliche and as though it was filling up with as many tropes and plot devices as possible. Yet, it was so boring. The characters and writing lacked so much depth and detail.
I was expecting a YA novel and instead got a middle grade or lower reading level. As a result, the pace was slow, detail non existent, and characters were empty and unrelatable.
This might be a great option for a teen who has a lower reading level, like a high interest/low level book, but that might be it's niche.
Technically, there was nothing wrong with it. A little cliche and as though it was filling up with as many tropes and plot devices as possible. Yet, it was so boring. The characters and writing lacked so much depth and detail.
I was expecting a YA novel and instead got a middle grade or lower reading level. As a result, the pace was slow, detail non existent, and characters were empty and unrelatable.
This might be a great option for a teen who has a lower reading level, like a high interest/low level book, but that might be it's niche.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Blood, Bullying, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Medical trauma, and Outing