Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Starred Review Susan is thrilled when her baby sister, Jackie, is born, imagining all the fun they will have when Jackie gets bigger. But as Jackie grows, she begins to be, well, different. When the family goes shopping, she runs to the boy's department despite Susan shouting, "No, not there, Jackie!" But Jackie insists on picking out boy's clothes. Susan is upset, to put it mildly, but Mama wisely says, "We wear what feels right." "But it's wrong," Susan cries. "Not wrong," Mama says gently, "Just different." One day at the park, Jackie plays with a little boy who, to Susan's dismay, calls Jackie "Jack." Worse, when Mama cuts the girls' hair, a gender-nonconforming Jackie insists hers be cut short like a boy's. Soon she insists she is now Susan's brother. Gradually, and at first reluctantly, Susan begins to accept Jackie's new persona. Jack is fortunate to have an understanding mother (unfortunately, the father's reaction isn't shown) and a sister who loves him. This is one of the only male transgender stories for younger children and important accordingly. Silverman handles her sensitive material extremely well, with a light, nondidactic touch. The spirit of the story is nicely augmented by Hatam's sprightly cartoon illustrations. A helpful appended author's note offers context for the story, which belongs in every library.

Kirkus Reviews

A big sister learns a lesson about loving her transgender brother for who he is.Susan dreams of playing forest fairies and explorers with a little sister. She loves to hear her baby sibling giggle. However, as the baby grows up, Susan struggles to accept their differences in self-expression. Despite their mother's gentle admonition to let her sibling be, Susan thinks it's wrong that the person she sees as a sister wants to wear clothes from the boys' section. After her sibling asks for a short haircut, she feels betrayed when Jack (not Jackie) tells the family he's Susan's brother. Remembering how much she loved Jack as a baby helps Susan accept the new transition. Narrated in first person, the story focuses on the feelings of the cisgender sister of a transgender boy. For most of the text, Susan calls her brother "Jackie" and uses she/her pronouns to refer to him. While Susan struggles, their mother offers refreshing acceptance throughout the story with reassurances such as "We wear what feels right." The characters adhere to gender stereotypes, but the author's note offers a less binary discussion of gender identity. Illustrations that combine digital line drawing and realistic textures accompany the text and depict Susan, Jack, and their parents as white.Although this picture book provides a necessary message of acceptance and representation for transgender boys, the narrative remains rooted in a cisgender perspective. (further reading) (Picture book. 3-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Silverman offers a perspective on gender dysphoria through the eyes of an older sister. Susan, whose tastes tend toward fairy wings, tutus, and unicorns, is disappointed that sibling Jackie prefers mud puddles and pants over sparkles and dresses. Susan and Jackie-s mother supports Jackie from the get-go: -That-s okay. She can wear whatever feels right.- After getting a short haircut, Jackie announces, -I am a boy!- Susan mourns the sister she thought she had-and then realizes that whether Jack or Jackie, she can love her sibling for who they are. Hatam illustrates in warm collages filled with playfully mismatched, cheerful patterns. While the book seems to portray gender as binary, an author-s note provides a more inclusive perspective. An empathic depiction of how unconditional love sometimes means tweaking expectations. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

K-Gr 3 Susan thinks that her new little sister, Jackie, has the best giggle and such big, beautiful eyes! She can't wait until Jackie grows up and they can wear frilly dresses and play princesses together. As Jackie gets older, Susan notices that Jackie hates all things "girly" and wants to play in mud, wear boy clothes, and be called "Jack." As Susan struggles to accept these traits in her sister, she is afraid and upsetnatural reactions to what she doesn't understand. Susan's mom reminds her that Jackienow Jack'spreferences are not wrong but "different," and whether Jack is a sister or brother, boy or girl, Susan sees that Jack still has the best giggle and big, beautiful eyes. Told in clear prose with no hint of sentimentality, this timely picture book addresses gender identity in a way that allows children to understand the differences on the outside while remembering what is on the inside is what counts. Vividly illustrated pages with astute details will capture the audience's attention and invite closer appreciation of their wordless support of the narration. The author includes a note in the back as well as an appendix of further resources, including books, articles, online resources, and picture books on the subject of children's gender identity. VERDICT A can't-miss addition to any collection that is looking to offer more inclusive resources. Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston