I really really liked this book when I read the actual text, but PLEASE, PLEASE do not try to make me listen to another robo-version like this! It was awful! I beg the publishers out there to not bother to submit audiobooks for review when they are read by AI voices. It is awful and painful and I could not stand more than the first chapter. In the future, please wait to submit it to reviewers until after you get a human to narrate. Thanks!

This audiobook was really interesting and it made me want to switch to the physical copy of the book as I prefer reading over listening most of the time. I would definitely recommend this audiobook, especially to those who prefer audiobooks and enjoy listening to stories. The narrator was great and did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to listen to and review this book.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. It was a great insight into the life of a trans teen, but it was lacking in plot depth and character development.

Tara's greatest goal in life is to be a Sibyl. And now you know as much as I do about why she wanted to be a Sibyl, but that was the whole focus of the book. It was never explained very well, other than like a little kid she just really, really, really wanted it.

There was a lot of exposition about trans teens, legal issues, medical issues, family issues, etc., that was very informative and valuable. This felt like an afterschool special that was trying to impart critical information with a light plot to tie it together. So I think it was very relevant, but I never felt immersed in the story or characters.

I have been anticipating the release of this book since I saw the cover of it. Idk what it is, but I LOVE this cover. I didn’t know anything about it but I needed to read it as soon as I could. When I finally did end up reading the synopsis, it made me more excited to read it. What I didn’t know is, that would be my downfall.

Ok, so what do i mean by that was my downfall? Well if you read the synopsis, you’ve basically read the book. There’s nothing that happens in this book that’s not in the synopsis. And that upset me. Whether you’re a character driven reader or a plot driven reader is what will make the difference of this book for you. I’m a little of both, so I was still into the story and I was invested because of Tara. (Yes, JUST Tara because everyone else in this book was terrible. Including the principal or who ever she was.) As a plot driven reader I was mad because why in the world did the publisher decide to let them tell the entire story in the synopsis? The only thing that’s not answered is the last question. And that’s because that would be giving away the ending. As a reader it annoyed me because there were no surprises, nothing to keep me in the book. But at the same time, I knew it was a coming of age novel and I knew there wasn’t going to be anything like random dragons flying in, but at the same time, I didn’t want to be able to say I read the book when all I read was the synopsis. Does that make sense?

Anyway, the characters in this were what interested me the most. And when I say interested I mean got annoyed at lol I disliked everyone in this book except Tara. Every single one of them was a tr*nsphobe and all of them were more interested in trying to save their own behind instead of looking out for her. I hated that she had nobody in this time where she was trying to figure everything out and trying to find herself. It just didn’t seem fair. I think the part that took me from thinking it was unfair to being outright pissed off was the person from the govt office coming to her house. Likeeeee really? I couldn’t imagine having to deal with them in my own home. And Tara is still a child. Like bffr. I was fuming so hard I had to go vent to my husband lol Like the Sybils were not that great at all. I was so confused on what it was about them that Tara didn’t think she had within herself already. But I knew she would have to find it. Nothing could have changed her mind.

But Tara herself was strong and independent. It was hard watching her not wanting to advocate for herself in the beginning. But I had to understand that she had to do things on her own time, when she was ready. It gave me a good lesson to remember not to jump to things in real life. We don’t always know what’s going on in the heads of those teens, maybe they’re just actually not sure yet. And I have to trust them to know what’s best for them but still let them know I’m in the background ready to help if need be.

I guess it wasn’t all bad because it taught me some things and brought so much emotion out of me. I liked it so much I also listened to the author’s note. I learned some things from Naomi also. Like after all the YA books I’ve ever read that had a had a trans MC, I never realized that they’re all trans masc. I’m glad this book now exists to be that trans fem representation. AND I cannot talk about this book without mentioning the dedication. It was something like, “To the librarians who bought this anyway.” or something like that. And I’m sure she meant that she knew it was going to be an issue in some places and wanted to thank those of us that decided to buy it anyway with the risk of getting in trouble. And to that I say, we’re ready for the good, necessary trouble.

Though I wanted more from this book, I thought it was still very good. It taught me things and brought out some emotions I wasn’t expecting to get from it. May all who read this get more than just a story out of it and learn something new too. (Also, shout out to Naomi for knowing that we have a gap in collections for trans femme and writing this story!)

First, thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the Synthesized Audio ARC of this title. This was a book where the voice actually worked--or maybe the synthesized female voices are somehow more realistic than the male voices. If I come across the final audiobook, I will definitely check it out!

There's a lot going on here. Tara is a trans girl attending an all girls school while officially still enrolled in the all boys school on the same grounds. She is trying to join a society called the Sybils--but there is a question about whether she is even eligible, due to her enrollment status. Will being trans help or hurt her? She is unable to start on hormones, living in a state where trans people are experiencing discrimination, and parents of trans teens face possible charges. That her parents are also dealing with immigration issues does not help the situation.

No spoilers, but this is not a typical happily ever after situation. Tara is struggling with her situation and with how she feels. Is she really trans? Is she gay? Will people ever really accept her as a girl? Not all stories can be wrapped up neatly.

I was delighted to learn that the author is a trans woman. In the afterward, she gives advice to both trans girls and those who want to be allies. Reading this gave the story an additional level of authenticity that led me to give it 5 stars.