Nicht so das Bilderbuchmädchen
(Not the picturebook-girl) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Teenager Zara doesn’t think of herself as picture-perfect. There’s not a lot she can do with her best friend’s dating tips, and when she finally has a date at the cinema with Josef from her class, she wears jeans and a T-shirt. Zara is one of the two main characters in the hit first novel by Young Adult author Agnes Ofner, which is told through both perspectives. The other protagonist is Sam, who moves into a flat just opposite Zara with his parents. Across the street, the girl notices how desperate and sad he seems, and becomes determined to find out how she can help him. They start talking, with handwritten banners at their bedroom windows. Only towards the end does Zara realise what’s troubling Sam: as a trans boy, he’s uncomfortable with the changes his body is going through during puberty. [Source: https://buuu.ch – This review was first published in Missy Magazin 1/20]
Edited by: Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
Comment:
Until now, Agnes Ofner was known as illustrator for children’s books, but with this multi-faceted novel she has demonstrated a great flair for telling complex stories in a tactful and light-hearted way. Fortunately, she steers away from clichés – on all fronts. A great book to recommend about puberty (both cis and trans), first love and friendship, that drew me in even as a not-so-young reader. [Source: https://buuu.ch – This review was first published in Missy Magazin 1/20]