Being Emily: Third person disguised as first

[Shana A]

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Being Emily: Third person disguised as first
Posted by Gina at 12:34 PM

http://skipthemakeup.blogspot.com/2012/07/being-emily-third-person-disguised-as.html

"Being Emily" is a new young adult (YA) novel by Rachel Gold which tells a year in the life of a mostly pre-transition trans girl living in small town white bread Minnesota. It joins such other recent YA titles as "I Am J" by Cris Beam, and "Almost Perfect" by Brian Katcher which also dealt with the experiences of trans teens. It's being marketed with the tagline how it's the first YA novel to be told from the specific perspective of a trans woman character and, compared with "Luna," the best known work in this niche (which is completely told from the trans girl's sister's viewpoint), it's somewhat true...  but more about that later.

Gold is a cis lesbian who has a unique connection to trans issues. She was the former girlfriend of a trans woman who was well known in 'the community' from the early 2000s... an academic named Emily Hobbie (her nom de plume) who was later briefly seen in the film "Beautiful Daughters" being interviewed by Eve Ensler. Together, Gold and Hobbie founded an online forum for younger trans women called "GenderPeace." To many trans women it was like a second home, albeit a wildly dysfunctional one which, along with the love and support, was often filled with screaming matches, hissy fits, heartbreak, sexual creepiness and middle school drama. It finally self-immolated back around 2006 and eventually morphed into a another site which was also geared towards younger trans people called "TrueSelves" (which Gold and Hobbie have no connection with). So, much like Cris Beam, she is an LGBT member, has a deep personal connection to trans issues and people and is someone who is highly motivated to help and understand trans teens... and 'get it right,' all wonderful characteristics for an ally and partner. The question being, how does this background translate into someone who can necessarily get into the first person perspective of a trans teen?

[Arch]

I tried to read Luna but gave it up after only a few chapters. At least it isn't marketed as being from the trans person's perspective. I won't be reading this one, either, I imagine.

[Shana A]

Minnesota writers continue to publish involving novels for young readers that can also interest adults
By Mary Ann Grossmann
Posted:   07/22/2012 12:01:00 AM CDT

http://www.twincities.com/entertainment/ci_21112806/minnesota-writers-continue-publish-involving-novels-young-readers

"Being Emily" by Rachel Gold (Bella Books, $15.95): It's rare to read a novel that's involving, tender, thought-provoking and informative.

Rachel Gold does all this in "Being Emily."

Chris is a 16-year-old male who has known since childhood that he is female.

Chris has never revealed his inner self as he strives to be one of the guys on the swim team, a sport he likes because swimmers keep their body hair shaved. But in the privacy of his bedroom, he wears women's clothes. Chris finally tells his secret to his kind, thoughtful girlfriend, Claire. She's supportive but wonders if dating a boy who's really a girl makes her a lesbian. She has to reach deep into her Christian faith to help her support Chris as he tries to figure out how to make the gender transition.

Chris' parents, who know he's unhappy, send him to a therapist he hates. When he meets a transwoman (male to female) online, he joins a support group and eventually finds a therapist he can open up to. He wants to be called Emily, and that name and gender are used throughout the rest of the book.