Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve
My favourite thing about Between Perfect and Real, and of all my favourite queer coming-of-age stories was the idea of a 'chosen family'. Along with his (fabulous) friends from school, Dean finds a sense of belonging with a group of transgender folks in his town. Dean learns from all of the vibrant, unique people in this group that being transgender looks different and means something different for everyone there, and that's awesome! This powerful alliance of trans youth gives Dean the hope, comfort and support he needs to accept and be who he is.
It took me a good few chapters to adjust to the writing style, but once I did I found it really effective. The short sentences, lack of flowery language and the fact that this book is very dialogue-heavy definitely propel the book forward, and give you a great sense of Dean's way of thinking.
Dean's tone changes throughout the book to reflect his mental state, his voice and perspective shifting and warping ever so slightly. It makes reading heartbreaking at times as Dean is clearly suppressing his naturally enigmatic and colourful character, in favour of switching off and letting 'Robot Dean' take the wheel. These subtle changes in tone throughout the novel make Dean's character all the more relatable and tangible.
The pace of this book definitely reflects the sense of urgency Dean feels in discovering/coming to terms with his gender identity. Thoughts are racing in Dean's head from the get-go as he is cast as Romeo and we never lose momentum from there. This sense of urgency makes the book impossible to put down. It also makes the emotional blows Dean experiences all the more impactful. As Dean occasionally slows down and allows his grief and sadness to settle, it is nothing short of heartbreaking to know there's nothing he can do but wait it out.
I think Dean's story would be perfect for slightly younger teens as an introduction to some of the LGBTQIA+ terms and ideas that they may not yet fully understand. Between Perfect and Real tackles the ideas of identity and belonging in such an accessible and sensitive way, and I hope it will encourage more conversations around the transgender experience in younger folks. While not shying away from the darker aspects of Dean's story, this book commits to leaving the reader with a sense of hope and determination.
Thank you so so much to Amulet Books for the e-arc of this wonderful book!
PLEASE seek out and read reviews of this book written by transgender folks and people who can speak from experience on the topics explored in Dean's story like gender dysphoria, transphobia and the trans experience in general.
TWs: transphobia, bullying (including physical intimidation, name calling and one scene of physical attack on MC), brief mention of suicide (character not explored in book, suicide not on-page or in any way explicit), some slurs aimed at queer side characters, in-depth discussions on gender dysphoria.
