THE BOY WHO WAS A SCHOOLGIRL Paperback – October 23, 2018

There was much of this story that was upsetting me. This is clearly a story of a transgender girl who gets much needed support from a loving mother and finds happiness and love by living life as a girl.Yet the author seemed to avoid the term transgender, assumed that just because Dan/Daisy didn't want GRS, that she was a he and only a gay cross-dresser. Many transgender women are quite happy not having a vagina. He even got the medications wrong - Progesterone not Spironolactone helps breasts grow.The author insists on referring to Daisy as Dan, using male pronouns, and referring to Daisy as gay, even though most real transgender girls attracted to guys consider themselves straight.The author also keeps trying to make Sarah, Daisy's mother, the villian of the story. The first chapter of the story makes it clear that by the time Dan was finally discovered by his mother, he clearly knew he wanted to be a girl. It's also clear tha Dan had hated being a boy, and had no desire to be one.Mr Frank also kept referring to transgender kids as "Choosing their gender", which displays bigotry and bias AGAINST Transgender children. Being transgender is not a choice, being gay is not a choice, and being forced into cisgender heterosexual conformity invariably leads to the tragic consequences. 45% of transgender teens attempt suicide because they are rejected by family and/or loved ones. 1/3 of transgender kids who attempt suicide eventually do end their lives at a young age, in obvious suicides, accidental overdoses, or accidents.When the two homophobic misogynistic fathers got involved, there was no possible happy ending, but the actual ending was a surprise. It was about the only part of the book that made sense.

This story was well thought out; why the crossdressing started, the Mom's reaction, bad experiences with typical boys, finding the right boy, their adventures and romance. Older readers will remember how, in order to get past the censors and be published as a 'cautionary tale', the characters in 1950s ans 60s non-hetero erotica always had something very bad happen at the end. That's what happens in this story even though it is 50 years later. Maybe the author was in a hurry to finish and decided to end the story that way. Considering that fathers are the most ignored and insignificant parents today, it is not credible that two strong young characters like the story describes would be so strongly affected by their reactionary fathers.

Overall, I found it to be well done. About one third of the way through I almost gave it up but kept reading and ended up liking it.I didn't read any of the reviews before purchasing and, from the blurb, I expected that there would be a reasonable chance of a happy ending, but when Daisy's mom began to exhibit downright criminal activity, I realized a tragedy was coming although I wasn't certain of what sort. I do consider her the villain of the story. At least the homophobic fathers are straightforward in their hatred. The supposedly supportive mom feeds Dan/Daisy hormonal pills (Spironolactone is an androgen blocker and does indeed result in breast enlargement in women as well as gynecomastia in men), LYING to him by telling him they are vitamins. How does she obtain these medications? I am uncertain about England but in the US they would require a prescription. Who could know how much of his subsequent behavior might have been due to hormonal changes brought about by these medications?She conceals her actions from her husband who, as other characters point out has a right to know. She then FORGES his signature on a school document, allowing Daisy to wear a dress. Had she been truthful from the beginning, tragedy might have been avoided.James' father is also a despicable homophobic bastard but, again, at least you know where he stands. He doesn't even pretend any sort of tolerance. James' mother facilitates disaster by also concealing information from her husband and encouraging activities that, if know by him, will result in violence.Eve and Charlie are also less than helpful, while the officers from Child Protective Services utterly failed at their jobs.What Sarah should have done when she found Dan wearing a dress was take him to someone specializing in gender issues where the could have found proper support. I found her behavior to be very disturbing.

The story was really nice up until the end but unfortunately, true life can't always be all roses, rainbows, sunshine & kittens. All the same, I would rather have all that bundled up in a happy ending than the shocking end to this story.

The story was well written. I had thoroughly enjoyed it so much that I had to buy it. I will say that this is realistic fiction book, and it’s scary how this represents so many people. The struggle is real. I know because I struggle with it every day. Thank You kindly for writing this amazing book!

I was enthralled with the characters of daisy and james for 3/4 of the book. there was pending danger I could tell. I was half expecting a part 2 of the story and then the storyline died. I presume members of the LGBTQ plus community as well a gender fluid, non-binary people would like to read books of this genre. I believe it is a HUGE mistake to not warn the reader of a suicide pact ending. Too many people are fragile these days.

La historia es buena y el final inesperado. De verdad los personajes son excelentes y creíbles, pero la forma en que lo narra es muy mala.

A lovely if very sad story. I enjoyed it, but the ending shocked me.

A good story, nice characters. Like Romeo snd Juliet, a love story for the modern era and an interesting study of different attitudes to gender culminating in a believable ending.

Very true to life in2020What a shame such homophobia still exists and leads young people to such desperate measures.

The concept of Dan being curious about wearing girl's clothes is probably not as unusual among teenage boys as one would think. As he gives in to temptation and his mother discovers his secret, the selfishness of the adult characters leads ultimately to tragedy. The mother should have approached the situation with a more open ended solution. To push Dan into becoming Daisy to replace Alice was unwise. The headmaster agreeing to Dan becoming Daisy for his own career was selfish and stupid. The two fathers finally driving both their sons to suicide was very sad. The whole scenario could have been handled much better. The ending was a surprise and a disappointment.