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Nancy Keane's | Booktalks -- Quick and Simple | |
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Russo, Meredith. BIRTHDAY New York: Flatiron Books, 2019 IL YA ISBN 9781250129833 |
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Morgan and Eric were born in the same hospital, on the same day, at the same time during a once in a lifetime September snowstorm. Since that day, their lives have been intertwined and their friendship set. Each birthday, the two families come together to celebrate. Starting at their 13th birthday, a series of vignettes covers six years of birthdays to reveal how Morgan and Eric’s friendship evolves into a romance. Morgan’s biggest secret is that he is not the boy everyone knows, but actually a she. And, she isn’t sure how to tell those closest to her. Since her mom died of cancer, she and her dad have a strained relationship. He has focused all his attention on being a football coach rather than noticing Morgan is unhappy. She fears telling her dad will ruin what little relationship is left. Eric is her best friend, but will it scare him away to know Morgan is a girl and may have feelings for him? Morgan isn’t sure she wants to find out what will happen. But letters left by her mom are helping Morgan to heal and find the courage to live as her true self. Telling her dad, Eric, and the world may not be so bad. Eric is a star football player, but he doesn’t really enjoy it. His true passion is music: writing songs, playing the guitar, and singing. Eric is afraid of letting everyone down if he doesn’t play football in college. His dad especially wouldn’t understand. Life at home is rough with his parents always fighting and his dad bullying everyone who dares to question him. Eric is also trying to work out his relationship with Morgan. He knows something is different with Morgan and there may be some romantic feelings between them. But, Eric isn’t sure he is gay. Eric must get the courage to leave his abusive home and make a new path that is true to himself. Meredith Russo writes carefully crafted snippets of story to reveal the journey of a transgender girl and a cisgender boy tied together by fate. Through grief, heartbreak, and self-discovery, Morgan and Eric will find happiness. (Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Awards, 2021) |
| SUBJECTS: Transgender women -- Fiction. Love -- Fiction. Identity -- Fiction. Friendship -- Fiction. Adolescence -- Fiction. Tennessee -- Fiction. |
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