Almost Perfect

Obviously Almost Perfect talks about a topic that people (young and old) are insensitive to and don't like to talk about it. I will admit that as a youth I was not sensitive to it. My sister and I would see a girl that was trans and snickered calling them "Hebeshebe" as we were exiting the store. Not friendly, considerate, or kind. But this was coming from a two young catholic girls, from a very white town that rarely saw diversity. My dad, to this day, when I talk about a friend that is trans or was reading this book was similar to Sage's dad in calling her a boy, enunciating it for me. 20 year old me gets mad and irritated at him for being so inconsiderate. But then I remember that that would have been me three years ago and he lived in a household where his mom was the picture perfect Catholic woman--she would have probably done the same thing. If it wasn't for my classes at WSU and for working with someone who is trans would my perspective on it start to shift forever. This book although from the perspective a straight person still shows the struggles people that are trans face (I am not sure if I am using the word trans in the right tense or grammatically; I am trying to not be offensive though). If the book was written from Sage's point of view I think the book would have been better and better represented of the people that face the issues she faces. But because we are seeing it from Logan's perspective we see only what he sees and his struggles with thinking he is gay and falling for a man--we are forced into the selfish head of Logan and I really wished I could have seen what was happening from Sage's point of view.
I think adolescents who are struggling with their sexual identity need books like the choice books we read. They need to see that what they are facing is not wrong or bad or odd. They need to know they are not alone. What is shown on media is mainly straight men and women who were born that way. That is the only thing they see and because of this they feel what they are feeling is wrong. Especially if family is pushing the idea aside and making them feel ashamed. These books teach and help people feel more considerate and learn about a topic that is not talked about. But, since I do not have this issue I didn't want to read it. I won't lie, I honestly didn't want to read the book. I didn't think it was for me and that part of younger me is still in the back of my head. I am so glad I did though. It helped me feel more considerate and really showed me what a pompous white privileged girl I was being and I was irritated with myself alongside being irritated with Logan. It was a really great book and I wish there was more out there for people that are struggling with this issue of feeling ashamed for feeling different. It also helped that two boys in the middle school class I visited over the break are going by girl names and don't want to be identified by gender names. One of two I did not meet. The teacher said he only comes in to class when it is convenient to him and when he is in class doesn't do anything. . .  This may be true, but it also may be true that he is struggling with who he is and maybe having problems at home? It's the same age Sage officially knew she was a girl. I think adults often forget that middle school is when students are realizing who they are, they aren't stupid.
My rating: A-