Art of Being Normal, The

Transgender teens Leo and David are from very different backgrounds but end up at the same high school when Leo transfers in. Leo is the new kid and David is the frequent target of bullies and when Leo sees David being bullied he stands up to the culprit which starts a fight but also starts a friendship between the two teens, culminating in them going on a road trip to visit Leo’s father and David finding the courage to come out to his parents. This timely coming-of-age novel features rich, realistic characters and addresses themes of transgender acceptance, diversity, challenging gender roles, identity, and family and peer conflicts. Suitable for individual or small group study in grades 8-12. Social considerations noted.