• Melissa

  • By: Alex Gino
  • Narrated by: Jamie Clayton
  • Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (707 ratings)

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Melissa  By  cover art

Melissa

By: Alex Gino
Narrated by: Jamie Clayton
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Publisher's summary

BE WHO YOU ARE.

When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. Melissa thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. Melissa really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part... because she's a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte—but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

©2015 Alex Gino (P)2015 Scholastic Inc.

Featured Article: The Best Trans and Nonbinary Listens


As our society becomes more inclusive, some of our most underrepresented communities are getting a much-needed opportunity to tell their stories. For this list, we’ve come up with some of the best trans and nonbinary listens, across all genres and age categories. And because we know that authenticity is important to listeners, our selections are almost exclusively written by queer, trans, and nonbinary authors.

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What listeners say about Melissa

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Marvelous Story!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! Jamie Clayton is the right voice for GEORGE. She provides a narration filled with the right emotions and an accurate tone of voice. Jamie does a great job of bringing this story to life!

What other book might you compare George to and why?

Gracefully Grayson, because it is also a great Middle Grade story about a trans kid.

What about Jamie Clayton’s performance did you like?

Her voice fit. The right combination of story + narration is a tough one to find, and listening to an audiobook when you don't like how the voice of the narrator sounds and/or when it feels like it's not a good match for the book can be disheartening. But this was not the case, the minute I started listening I didn't want it to stop and I wanted to know how things would end.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me cry in some scenes. It made super happy in others. And there was one particular scene when I felt super tense just waiting for the outcome!

Any additional comments?

This is a wonderful and very important story. I'm so happy GEORGE exists for the kids (and adults) who need it (and even for the ones who "don't"). Alex Gino knocked it out of the park with this one.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Must Read!

Would you consider the audio edition of George to be better than the print version?

I dont do print versions- but the answer is always yes.

Who was your favorite character and why?

George of course!

Which scene was your favorite?

When George was looking for girl clothes to wear for the first time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes and i did

Any additional comments?

This is a great book that really transcends all age groups. George is a transgender little girl who is struggling with finding herself and hoping others accept her as well. I love that the book starts off using the feminine pronouns for George and keeps them throughout the book. I loved that it shows struggles on transgender youth without being a completely sad book and it ends on a happy note. I read the entire book in one setting and was glad I did.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Book For Anyone Transitioning or Not

I had this book recommended to me and it did not disappoint. I'm always afraid to read LGBT novels because they usually end sadly and it's really refreshing to have one end happily!

This is a great novel for anyone to read whether they're going through transition or whether they're cis. It's also really important to address a lot of the issues that come up in the novel in regards to LGBT youth and providing a safe space for everyone especially in the bathrooms.

Also, Jamie Clayton reading it just makes it even better. She has such a captivating narrative and after watching Sense8 I can just picture her character, Nomi, reading this aloud.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

I like this book because it have a great message to it and showed how being different is also being special I love how Alex Tino showed showed the story in this book because it shows that even if you aren't born the gender you want to me you can be anything you want to view put your mind to it I think this is a great book for kids wanting to know more about transgender people read short it was actually one of my favorite books overall

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The best book ever

Hi I’m Ella and I am nine years old I gave it this big of a ratting because It is such a good book to describe the feeling of that kind of person! And it is such a good bedtime story for me and every night I ask no I request for my mom to play GORGE or should I say Melissa and I usually fall asleep right away... thank you

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bravo!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It presents a true to life experience that shows the emotional and physical hard ships of a transgender child yet manages to stay an enjoyable read.

What did you like best about this story?

The issues that Melissa (George) faced were true to life and having it be "out there" is one more step in spreading the understanding and acceptance of transgender children everywhere.
How alone these children feel and to have a reading resource that touches their life is unimaginably important.

Have you listened to any of Jamie Clayton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and no

Any additional comments?

Loved this book, wish it was around a few years ago.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So beautiful

This book is amazing i have a best friend who is like this but wants to be a male this book shows me what trans people are going through and how to help my friend this boom just make me so happy.😁

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Honest depiction of a transgender child's feelings

I am the parent of a transgender child, and I appreciate the honest depiction of a transgender child's thoughts and feelings. George, the main character, is a transgender female (born male, identifies as female) who has yet to "come out" to family or friends. The consistent use of "she" and "her" pronouns when George is still navigating life as a boy is a bit jarring at first. Parents should be aware that the narration includes frank talk ie. George taking a bath and "trying not to look at what was between her legs". This is called gender dysphoria and is true to how a transgender child on the cusp of adolescence really feels. The author is able to keep the story real while striking a hopeful tone, which is such a feat. I believe it is an important story which will help both trans and cis kids understand each other. But parents should be aware, it doesn't pull punches.

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7 people found this helpful

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love love love

this book is my life, but expressed. my favorite bit is when Melissa and Kelly go to the zoo as girlfriends. and Melissa gets to let herself out, with all the beautiful girl accoutrements - makeup, hair, skirts. being shoved into a gay closet at 10, I completely understand Melissa. transkids need to be heard and understood and this book does a beautiful job of breathing that acceptance. I've listened twice this week to this book from cover to cover and I'm on my third time through, 😭 ing my way. i also love that Melissa doesn't know how she feels about boys or girls except she knows she's a girl.

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7 people found this helpful

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Perfect <3

I loved this book so much!! It was absolutely sweet and wholesome and showed the experience of a young trans girl in a relatable and touching way. I wish there were more children's books like this, and I wish I'd read this as a kid. It would have helped me accept myself.
The narration here was also highly enjoyable and generally I recommend this to everyone, no matter what age!

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