George (children's book)
George (Original title: George ) is a children's novel written by Alex Gino . Gino lives in the USA and works as a writer there. Gino is genderqueer and doesn't want to be called male or female. The book George tells the story of the transgender girl Melissa, who was assigned to the male gender at birth, which is why her parents gave her the eponymous name George. Those around her do not yet know that Melissa is a transgender girl, which is why she wants to communicate this to her fellow human beings by participating as a female character in a school play.
George was published on August 25, 2015 by the American publisher Scholastic Press in English and has a length of 240 pages. The German translation was published in August 2016 by S. Fischer Verlag with a length of 208 pages, translated by Alexandra Ernst . George has appeared in England , Sweden and Italy , among others . George is Gino's literary debut.
The book was among others in 2016 with a Lambda Literary Award and the Stonewall Book Award of the American Library Association Award (2016). In the features section it was referred to as “profound, moving, and […] radiant” (Jennifer Laughran, Publishers Weekly of May 11, 2015).
content
Melissa is a transgender girl who is perceived as a boy by those around her and is called George. She has never told anyone that she is a girl and struggles with the perception of those around her. At home, she hides girls' magazines from her mother and imagines that the girls in them are her friends. When a play based on the book " Wilbur and Charlotte " is to be staged in Melissa's school , Melissa knows that she wants to play the role of the female spider Charlotte. Her best friend Kelly supports her in the preparation and encourages her, but when Melissa auditions for the role, she is disappointed by her teacher Miss Udell, who tells her that as a boy she cannot play a female role. Melissa is very sad about it because she had hoped to show everyone through the theater appearance that she is a girl. A few days later, Melissa gets into a situation in the schoolyard in which Jeff and Rick call her a stupid girl. When the two are gone, Kelly tries to comfort Melissa by telling her that Jeff and Rick are Deppen and that she is not a girl at all. Melissa bursts out and asks what if it were so. Kelly is confused at first, but it doesn't take long to accept Melissa as a girl. Shortly thereafter, Melissa experiences a nasty surprise when she comes home and her mother confronts her with the magazines she found in Melissa's closet. Melissa's mother doesn't let her explain the situation and only says that she doesn't want to see Melissa in girls clothes. In a later conversation, she explains that it is okay to be gay, but that this is something completely different and that Melissa is too young to know who she is. To prove to her mother that she is a girl, Melissa secretly forges a plan with Kelly and appears as Charlotte at the theater performance. Her mother is not enthusiastic about it at first, but the next evening she apologizes to Melissa for her behavior and begins to accept her as a girl. Melissa is very happy and overjoyed when she goes to the zoo with Kelly and dresses as a girl for the first time in her life.
Chapter 1 - Secrets
Melissa comes home from school and locks herself up in the bathroom with some girls' magazines. Fascinated, she flips through the magazines that write about swimwear and make-up. Melissa pauses at the pictures of the girls in bikinis and imagines that the girls are her friends and that they call her Melissa, as she secretly calls herself when she looks at herself in the mirror. Everyone else calls her George and sees her as a boy. Melissa hears her brother is coming home. She hides the magazines in the bathtub and hopes her brother Scott doesn't find them. When he asks why it took her so long in the bathroom and Melissa hesitates, he only suspects "pig magazines" behind it.
Chapter 2 - Charlotte dies
Miss Udell reads to Melissa and the rest of the class at school the ending of “Wilbur and Charlotte,” in which the spider Charlotte dies. Melissa is very sad about Charlotte's death and starts crying in the classroom. Jeff and Rick, two of Melissa's classmates, make fun of a girl crying somewhere and when they realize that it's Melissa who is crying, they say it doesn't make a difference either. When Miss Udell has finished reading, she comes to Melissa's table and says that the first few times she read the book she had to cry too and that crying over a book expresses compassion and imagination. But when she adds that Melissa will become a special young man, Melissa cries even more and leaves the classroom. At the end of the class, Miss Udell announces that they will be doing a play for "Wilbur and Charlotte" and Melissa makes an appointment with her best friend Kelly to practice for the weekend auditions. Then she confesses to Kelly that she doesn't want to play the role of Wilbur, but rather the role of the female spider Charlotte. Kelly sees no problem in this and says that nobody cares that Melissa isn't a real girl. At night Melissa dreams of her performance as Charlotte.
Chapter 3 - Acting Is Just Pretend
Melissa drives to Kelly to practice auditioning with her. Kelly reiterates that she thinks it would be a good idea for Melissa to want to play Charlotte and suspects Miss Udell will be delighted too. Melissa and her mother have dinner at home. She wants to ask her mother what if she were a girl, but doesn't dare to speak out.
Chapter 4 - Anticipation
On the day of the audition, Kelly and Melissa secretly practice again in the schoolyard. Melissa is nervous and Kelly says blankly that Melissa only wants to play a girl and not be one. Melissa doesn't dare to tell Kelly the truth and is sad that Kelly doesn't notice what's going on on her own.
Chapter 5 - Audition
Melissa reads Charlotte's text at the audition and hopes that she will get the role, but Miss Udell reacts blankly. She thinks Melissa's audition is a bad joke and says there is no way she can't give her the role because too many girls want to play Charlotte and because people would react weird if Melissa played Charlotte. Melissa is disappointed, and when Kelly asks her how it went, she gets angry. At home, Melissa tells her mom that she didn't go to the audition because she doesn't want to play.
Chapter 6 - Taken
At school, Miss Udell offers Melissa one of the boy roles in the play, but Melissa refuses. Kelly finds out that she will play the role of Charlotte herself. In the schoolyard, Jeff and Rick make fun of Melissa, calling her a stupid girl. Kelly calls them both idiots and tells Melissa that of course she is not a girl. Melissa then asks what if it did. Kelly is surprised and confused. When Melissa is silent, Kelly understands and promises not to tell anyone about it. Melissa's mother is waiting for her at home and confronts her with the girls' magazines she found in the closet. She doesn't let Melissa explain the situation and says she doesn't want to see her in girls clothes.
Chapter 7 - Time Drags When You're Miserable
The following days neither Kelly, Melissa, nor Melissa's mother bring up the subject. Melissa plays Mario Kart with her brother Scott, but clashes with him when he describes Kelly as her "cutie".
Chapter 8 - SOME JERK
Kelly approaches Melissa in the school yard and tells her that if Melissa thinks she is a girl, she does too. They hug and Kelly shares what she read about transgender people on the internet. She asks if Melissa's mother agrees and Melissa shakes her head. At lunchtime, Melissa and the other students are in the schoolyard to make the sets. Melissa overhears Jeff rubbing about the play and calling Charlotte insulted several times. Melissa gets angry and provokes Jeff. Jeff punched her in the stomach and Melissa vomited. As Melissa waits for her mother in the headmistress Mrs. Maldonado's office, she sees a sign on the wall advising to create safe spaces for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. She wonders if there is a safe room where she can meet girls who are like her.
Chapter 9 - Dinner at Arnie's
At home, Melissa's mom says she's worried and that it's okay to be gay, but that being a transvestite is completely different. Melissa tries to explain that she's not gay, but a girl. Her mother replies that she was there at the birth and knows that Melissa is a boy and that she is still too young to know who she is. Melissa is sad that her mother doesn't see who she is. Kelly calls after school and forges a plan with Melissa that Melissa should secretly play Charlotte in the play so that her mother can finally realize that she is a girl. Melissa later goes to a restaurant with Scott and her mother. When her mother is not there, Melissa reveals to her brother what is wrong with her. Scott responds positively and looks at Melissa as if he can understand her for the first time.
Chapter 10 - Transformations
Kelly plays Charlotte in the afternoon screening of Wilbur and Charlotte. At the evening performance, Melissa and Kelly swap roles and Melissa goes on stage as Charlotte. After the first scene, Miss Udell comes backstage with a stern face, but Mrs Maldonado decides that Melissa can continue playing. After the performance everyone is enthusiastic and Melissa gets a lot of applause. However, her mother only looks at her with a petrified face. When Melissa reiterates that she is a girl, her mother doesn't want to talk about it. Mrs. Maldonado congratulates Melissa on her success and whispers that her door is always open to her.
Chapter 11 - Invitations
The next day at school, Kelly suggests that Melissa take her and her uncle Bob to the New York Zoo. She adds that they could go out and dress up as best friends because her uncle Bob didn't know Melissa as a boy and the zoo is two hours away. Melissa is speechless at the idea of wearing a skirt for the first time and being with Kelly as a girl. She reveals to Kelly that she would like to be called Melissa and is happy when Kelly starts singing her name. When Melissa comes home, her mother is waiting for her. Her mother starts crying and apologizes to Melissa. She finally understands that Melissa is a girl and suggests that the two of them find someone to talk to about it.
Chapter 12 - Melissa Goes to the Zoo
Melissa can hardly wait to visit the zoo and goes to see Kelly early. Kelly gives her different skirts and tops to try on and also lends her shoes and underwear. Melissa's heart is pounding wildly because the first time she looks the way she wants it to be. The two put on make-up and when Uncle Bob comes to pick them up, he greets two beautiful girls. Melissa and Kelly are having a great day at the zoo and Melissa thinks this has been one of the best days of their lives so far.
characters
main characters
Melissa or George
Melissa is a ten year old girl in fourth grade. She lives with her older brother Scott and with her mother in a semi-detached house. Her father lives a few hours' drive away with his new wife. Melissa and Scott see him for two weeks each summer. Melissa is slim, has bright green eyes and short hair. Your best friend is Kelly. Melissa was born a boy and is perceived as a boy by those around her and is called "George". However, she has known for a long time that she is a girl and struggles to trust her family and friends with it. Melissa gets teased a lot by the boys at her school and she's not sure what to think of boys. Melissa enjoys looking at girls' magazines and imagining that the girls in the magazine are her friends. She dreams of wearing dresses and bikinis, putting on make-up and people calling her "Melissa", her self-chosen name. When Kelly takes her to the zoo at the end of the story, and Melissa can dress as a girl for the first time in her life so that people perceive her as a girl, she is very happy.
Kelly
Kelly is Melissa's best friend. Kelly is a funny, very self-confident, imaginative girl who likes to wear funny T-shirts, takes a lot of photos and likes to braid her hair. She lives with her father in a two-room apartment. While Kelly's dad is very messy, Kelly is a very neat person. Kelly doesn't talk much about her mother, but she has a photo of her hanging in her room with her mother standing on a stage in high heels and singing into the microphone. Kelly fully supports Melissa when she learns that Melissa is a girl. She helps her play Charlotte in the play and lends Melissa her clothes when they go to the zoo together.
Minor characters
Scott
Scott is Melissa's older brother who just started high school. Scott has long, dark brown curls, likes to wear ripped jeans and seldom washes. He likes computer games, zombies, and wrestling, and hates doing his homework. Scott and Melissa used to play video games together a lot, but recently Scott has been out and about all day. Scott annoys his sister a lot and often calls Kelly Melissa's "sweetie", but never really means it. When Melissa tells him that she is a girl, he is understanding and seems to understand his sister for the first time in a long time.
Melissa's mother
Melissa's mother is a tall, slim woman who prefers to wear jeans and a polo shirt and does not use make-up. She has a big, warm smile and the same bright green eyes as Melissa. She has a good relationship with her daughter, whom she affectionately calls "Gi-gi," and often tells her that she can trust her with anything and that she will always love her. At first she struggles with Melissa being a girl, but in the end she apologizes to Melissa for her reaction and offers her support.
Miss Udell
Miss Udell is Melissa's class teacher. She has shiny black hair, wears earrings and always looks very beautiful. When Melissa wants to apply for the female role in the play, Kelly is for it. Contrary to Kelly's expectation, Miss Udell reacts negatively to Melissa's request.
Jeff
Jeff joined Melissa's class in third year. He moved from California, which he didn't like. He fights a lot and threatens most guys except Rick, who is his best friend. He especially likes to make fun of Melissa, whom he insults.
Rick
In the second grade, Rick was good friends with Melissa. They both played chess and in the final, Rick narrowly beat Melissa. Then they called themselves chess champions. However, in third grade, Rick became friends with Jeff and has not been friends with Melissa since. On the contrary: he makes fun of Melissa with Jeff, teases her and helps Jeff when he hits Melissa. When painting the scenery in the schoolyard, however, Rick also clashes with Jeff because he enjoys making the set and Jeff insults him.
Paul Arden (Kelly's father)
Kelly's father, Paul Arden, is a musician who composes songs for other artists, but rarely appears on stage himself. It's very messy and the apartment he lives in with Kelly mostly looks very messy. He likes to listen to loud music and rarely cooks, but seems like a caring father.
Mrs Maldonado (Headmistress)
Mrs. Maldonado is the headmaster of Melissa's school. She is a corpulent woman with short gray hair who exudes a lot of self-confidence. She offers Melissa support and seems to be the only one who immediately understands that Melissa is a girl.
Uncle Bill (Kelly's Uncle)
Bill Arden is Kelly's uncle and looks a lot like his brother Paul. He works as a painter and has a friendly personality. He drives Kelly and Melissa to the zoo, compliments the two girls and sings along with the songs on the radio.
Literary criticism
The reactions to Alex Gino's “George” are mostly positive. So wrote the Kirkus Review and Publishers Weekly :
"A code to the Charlotte's Web story, in which George presents herself as a girl for the first time, is deeply moving in its simplicity and joy. Warm, funny, and inspiring. ”(Kirkus Review, May 6, 2015).
“Profound, moving, and — as Charlotte would say — radiant, this book will stay with anyone lucky enough to find it. "(Jennifer Laughran, Publishers Weekly, May 11, 2015)
The Booklist starred review added: "Gino's debut novel is a sensitive, insightful portrayal of a transgender child coming to terms with gender identity." (Michael Cart, Booklist Online, 2015) and the New York Times described "George" as "timely." , touching novel… with refreshingly little fanfare. "(Tim Federle, New York Times, September 11, 2015)
Prior to the publication of “George”, Scholastic Verlag sent 10,000 copies of the book to teachers around the country for feedback. The reactions have been mostly positive, but there have also been critical voices questioning whether third and fourth graders are old enough to be transgender.
Scholastic increased the first edition of "George" from 35,000 to 50,000 copies due to the high demand.
Nominations and Awards
George received the 2016 Stonewall Book Award in the Children's Books category, which is part of the ALA Youth Media Awards, and the Lambda Literary Award in the LGBT Children's / Young Adult category.
| 2016 | Stonewall Book Award |
Audio book
In 2015, Scholastic Corporation Audiobooks published an audio book version of the English version of the book, which was read by trans woman Jamie Clayton.
expenditure
- German: George . From the American by Alexandra Ernst. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2016, ISBN 978-3-7373-4032-8
Public book presentations
The book was presented as an international premiere at the children's and youth program at the 16th Berlin International Literature Festival in September 2016 in the presence of Alex Gino.
Web links
- Original language and German language publisher website for the book
- Website of the author and the translator of the book
Individual evidence
- ↑ Scholastic Press
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ World Cat
- ^ Stonewall Book Award
- ^ Publishers Weekly
- ↑ Kirkus Review
- ^ Publishers Weekly
- ↑ Booklist Online
- ^ New York Times
- ^ New York Times
- ^ New York Times
- ^ Stonewall Book Award
- ↑ The 2016 Lambda Literary Award Winners , accessed September 1, 2016
- ^ Stonewall Book Award
- ↑ Soundcloud Scholastic Audiobooks
- ↑ http://www.literaturfestival.com/kjl