Brian’s answer to “Hi Brian! Out of curiosity, did you know that most trans people find the word "transgendered" to be…” > Likes and Comments

Thank you so much for responding to me so quickly. I really appreciate it, and I do appreciate that you were writing about a largely untouched part of the world in literature at that point. I would love a list of what's out there now, and I appreciate your willingness to say that you wish you had done things differently. I'd love to see you write another book with a trans character now that you have more insight. Because I loved the story. The language just made me tense up a bit.

I'd love to write another trans character as well, but I'd have to put a new spin on things. ALMOST PERFECT was about the difficulties trans people face. I'd have to come up with some new theme...some kind of mystery or romance or something.

Here are some excellent YA books with transgender characters:

LILY AND DUNKIN, by Donna Gephart: A bipolar boy befriends a closeted transgender girl

I AM JAY, by Cris Beam: A transgender boy fights to be accepted

LOOK PAST, by Eric Devine: A transgender boy finds himself targeted by a murderer (this is a dark book)

IF I WAS YOUR GIRL, by Meredith Russo: the struggles of a transgender girl, written by a transgender author

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FOR UGLY CHILDREN, by Kirstin Cronn-Mills: A transgender boy uses his radio program to develop his male identity.

These are some of my favorites, I hope you enjoy them!

Thank you! I'm looking forward to reading these, and if you ever write another trans character, I'll definitely read it!

Thank you! Also check out:

THE ART OF BEING NORMAL, by Lisa Williamson (closeted trans girl befriended by new 'bad boy' in school)

FREAK BOY, by Kristin Elizabeth Clark (macho wrestler grapples with the fact he may not want to be a boy, awesome transgender counselor in this one)

GRACEFULLY GRAYSON, by Ami Polonsky: Closeted transgender girl tries out for the female role in a middle school play

Adding them to the list!!