Booklists prepared by our staff about teen fiction and graphic novels.

In addition, Alex Gino has a resource page, too! If your school doesn't have a resource like the Rainbow Spectrum Club, you can learn about resources online at our site.

Organizations Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community: Rick sought help at his school's Rainbow Spectrum Club.

If you are like Rick and you want to learn more about LGBTQ+ and/or its history, you can start your learning with the Library's LGBTQ+ Resources page: Of course, Rick learns that there is nothing wrong with him when he starts attending his school's Rainbow Spectrum Club. He doesn't understand why he isn't attracted to anyone and feels that there is something wrong with him, especially after listening to his 'friend' Jeff. Rick, who is not attracted to anyone, is confused about his feelings. One of the lesser known initials of QUILTBAGP+ is the initial A. When I saw that Gino had published other books, I was eager to read the other titles! I really enjoyed Melissa (aka George) by Alex Gino. This book fits into the genre called Transgender Fiction. I want to be clear-it isn’t.Let's celebrate LGBTQ+ or QUILTBAGP+ month this June! Our book club title this month is called Rick by Alex Gino. Said Gino on their website, “ is not real, so I can’t hurt her feelings, but the title of my book makes it seem as though it is ever okay to use an old name for a person when they have provided you with a different name that works better for them. This more closely aligned with how Melissa, the main character, sees herself and what she’d like to be called.

I was too swept up and grateful to recognize my responsibility.”īut this summer, Gino finally decided to take action, informally, crossing out the original title and replacing it with Melissa’s Story at book signings and encouraging readers to do the same on their website. According to Publishers Weekly, David Levithan, who acquired and edited George, removed Girl from the title because, in his words, “I know Boy George, but I didn’t think kids would get that.” Said Gino, “I didn’t really think about it much after that. The text of the novel will remain the same.Īccording to Gino, the book was originally called Girl George (as a joke on Boy George) when Scholastic purchased the book they advised removing the word girl from the cover because the word could prevent adults from giving that book to boys. Now, six years after its original publication, the novel is being renamed Melissa, in order to spotlight the name the main character has chosen for herself. Alex Gino’s children’s novel George, about a transgender girl who wants to play Charlotte in her fourth grade production of Charlotte’s Web, has won a Stonewall Book Award, a Children’s Choice book award, and a Lambda Literary Award, and is also one of the decade’s most challenged books.

Books by alex gino