For Classrooms and Book Groups

Whether you want to teach from one of the novels or bring it into your book group, the information below can help create a lively, well-rounded discussion. And if you don’t see what you’re looking for here, please email me at beingemily [at] gmail.com and let me know what you need.

 

Being Emily

The character of Jess Tucker in Just Girls is one of very few butch lesbians to appear on a young adult book cover.

The character of Jess Tucker in Just Girls is one of very few butch lesbians to appear on a young adult book cover.

The first young adult novel to tell the story of a trans girl from her perspective. Issues and highlights include:

  • A positive trans coming out story
  • A strong ally whose Christian faith causes her to be more loving
  • A look at how virtual worlds in gaming can support gender identity

For discussion questions and background, click here.

 

Just Girls

Go far beyond Trans 101 with a novel that explores what trans feminism has to offer everyone. Issues and highlights include:

  • A trans girl main character being an active hero in someone else’s life
  • A game played in the real world that galvanizes a community
  • Realistic portrayals of consent in sex and sexual violence

For discussion questions and background, click here.

 

My Year Zero

When a girl who feels crazy meets a girl with bipolar disorder, she begins to realize how much she has to learn about emotions, dating, and her own life.

  • A character with bipolar disorder is neither the problem nor a convenient plot point
  • Group storytelling, Kabbalah and the mathematics of infinity (likely the sexiest math conversations you’ll ever read in a YA novel)
  • Emotional abuse/neglect plus the stigmatization of mental illness

Discussion questions will be posted soon!