Why read Too Bright to See?

Book cover of Too Bright to See

Book description

It's the summer and eleven-year-old Bug's best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. For Moira, this means figuring out the right clothes to wear, learning how to put on makeup, and deciding which boys are cuter in their yearbook…

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Coming of age

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Too Bright to See as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Jules Machias

Author

This middle-grade book is a beautiful and sensitive portrayal of a child (Bug) who has never felt quite at home with their assigned gender. Bug’s mom, one of the most loving, caring, and supportive parents I’ve seen in fiction about transgender kids, provides a wonderful example of how to handle a trans child’s gender exploration in a nonjudgmental way. I saw a lot of myself in Bug, and I learned even better ways to support my own transgender child. This book is great for anyone who wants to understand the experience of a transgender kid, and for adults looking for…

From Jules' list on The best YA and MG transgender books.

Lisa Bunker

Author

Pitfalls in writing a story about a particular identity can include a preachy centering of the identity issue, and overwrought, often tragic storylines. This lovely tale about a young trans boy figuring out who he is avoids both of these common errors, with a nuanced, gentle story of ghosts, family, and friendship...and, gender dysphoria, described with the subtlety and accuracy of someone who has experienced it first hand.

From Lisa's list on The best novels for young readers by and about gender non-conforming humans.