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A review by viselik
The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson, Angelika Eisold-Viebig
1.25
I found some useful parts in this book but it does kind of reek of a non-trans author writing a story of transgender folk. Looking back on it without the rose-tinted glasses (and only being newly out and not knowing the transphobic tropes) there were some transphobic parts in this with how Leo and Kate spoke to each other and were treated. I feel wronged as I did enjoy the story till I thought back on it and all of these things that had gone over my head I noticed. I also read this book fully thinking Leo was 15 and Kate was 12-14 as uhh we don't do years in Scotland so now realising their actual ages, Kate being 15-16 and Leo being like 17 (the comment about going off the hormone blockers soon now make to sense to me), I think the characters are quite immature at times. I know Kate is supposed to 'get Leo to lower his walls' but geez if I knew this kid in person I would have told them to f off.
Kate is a girl who uses she/her pronouns, not longs to be one. I don't like how she is still called David by everyone who knows that she is transgender even more by Leo who is also transgender (which was an annoying plot twist)? Why is she only called her chosen name and she/her pronouns at the end? Why was Leo only calling Kate her chosen name and pronouns when she was wearing the dress? Why was it needed to have all the outings (both characters were outed against their wills) and the transphobia?
"How do you fit in, when you were born to stand out?" Can you shut up? I hate this saying, I just want to be accepted for who I am.
She claims in the forward she has worked with the GIDS (Gender Identity Development Service) for the NHS for two years acting as the team's admin and seen hundreds of cases so this shouldn't have been as bad as it was. I understand this may have helped some (it helped me a slight bit) but still. This is not good enough. I picked this up wanting to find a story that I could resonate with and find helpful in my own journey and instead, I feel icky. I ended up finding the 'Help & Support' section more useful even though it excludes to point out that one of the places it points out is exclusive to Sussex.
Kate is a girl who uses she/her pronouns, not longs to be one. I don't like how she is still called David by everyone who knows that she is transgender even more by Leo who is also transgender (which was an annoying plot twist)? Why is she only called her chosen name and she/her pronouns at the end? Why was Leo only calling Kate her chosen name and pronouns when she was wearing the dress? Why was it needed to have all the outings (both characters were outed against their wills) and the transphobia?
"How do you fit in, when you were born to stand out?" Can you shut up? I hate this saying, I just want to be accepted for who I am.
She claims in the forward she has worked with the GIDS (Gender Identity Development Service) for the NHS for two years acting as the team's admin and seen hundreds of cases so this shouldn't have been as bad as it was. I understand this may have helped some (it helped me a slight bit) but still. This is not good enough. I picked this up wanting to find a story that I could resonate with and find helpful in my own journey and instead, I feel icky. I ended up finding the 'Help & Support' section more useful even though it excludes to point out that one of the places it points out is exclusive to Sussex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, and Outing