He hardly did anything positive to her life at all! It's unfair, don't you think?! She had comforted his mother, tricked his brother several times, scared off some eighth-grade boys, increased his fame, and got him into the A team while he did. He totally ruined her gymnastic test while she completely aced his. The uselessness of Tom while he was in Emma's body. It makes them think that it might be 'okay' to use those words, which it certainly isn't! And this is a children's book, for crying out loud! Such words should be omitted!!! The author can quickly undo parents' desperate attempts to keep their children's minds not as tainted as everyone else's with this book.Ģ. But it certainly doesn't mean one should just flaunt it.

A lot of children already know these words thanks to the wonderful world of media. The vulgar words constantly used in the book. This would have been four or maybe even five if it weren't for some things:ġ. I had finally decided to award this book with three stars because it got me reading to the end and it managed to amuse me at various points along the way. My expectations were off, I've been reading some of the most amazing children's literature of my life recently, and I am personally NOT a 6th grade boy or girl grappling with puberty. For me, the answer was no.ĭoes that mean you or your child shouldn't read it? Of course not! Every book has it's reader. I even skipped ahead to the end to see if it went somewhere I was excited about, somewhere worth journeying 150 more pages to get to. not a particularly gender-backwards city), it also had unrealistic and stilted dialogue and glaring inconsistencies within characters. Not only was it not what I expected, seemed to revive relatively outdated stereotypes to support its plot (it is set in SEATTLE, Wash. Personally, I got 30 pages in and couldn't continue. Then, they are assigned to spend time together to learn about gender differences. Each wishes they were still friends, but they sure don't show it in their interactions. The premise is that we have two sixth graders who are former friends - Emma and Tom - who have drifted apart because of their genders. While it was published in 2006, the approach to gender (which is completely linked to sex characteristics, to male or femaleness) it takes would have been more interesting if it was written in the 1950s. When you see the cover to Gender Blender you might, like me, except a YA or middle grade book that investigates gender non-conformance, perhaps through the story of one or more youth who is a 'gender blender.' In fact, it is NOT this kind of book.

Gender Blender by Blake Nelson