Review: Symptoms of Being Human
Title: Symptoms of Being Human
Author: Jeff Garvin
ISBN: 978-0062382863
LGBTQ+ category: Gender fluid
Triggers/Content Notes: Gender Dysphoria, assault, rape, bullying, being outed
This book first hit my radar when it came up in a webinar I was attending (as an aside, you’ll probably get some insight from this blog about how library stuff works, things like ordering books and cataloging. I’ll try not to bore you.). I wrote down the title to look for it later.
The first time I found it in my hands was when I was editing the subject terms for the collection. (That’s like tagging, only a little more regimented.) I read the first chapter, and I was hooked, so I immediately checked the book out.
Symptoms of Being Human tells the story of a gender fluid teen named Riley, starting with the first day at a new school. Riley’s father is a congressman, so keeping their gender identity secret is incredibly important.
Note that this book is written in the first person, so you never find out what gender Riley was assigned at birth, and in fact it goes out of its way to avoid telling you this. This does leave Riley truly gender neutral.
(For this purposes of this blog I will be using they/them pronouns to refer to Riley merely because Riley does not specify their own in the book, or I’d use those.)
What I found so compelling about this book is how I felt and understood how Riley felt. I think, (as a cis person here), that the description of Riley’s dysphoria really helped me understand how it might actually feel. Like Riley, I grew frustrated that everyone kept trying to put them in a box.
One of the conceits of the book is Riley’s blog, which is on ‘blogstr’ which is a tumblr/blogger mashup. It allows Riley an outlet, and creates a plot point that leads to Riley’s unwilling outing later on.
Overall, this book sucked me in, had me enthralled by Riley’s world, and reading up way past my bedtime. I thrilled at Riley’s friendships and romance, and I cried at the depiction of what hate often results in. I liked how Riley’s parents were uncertain, and didn’t necessarily understand what gender fluidity was, but were willing to learn for the sake of their child.
This is the book I’d share with someone who didn’t understand what it means to be gender fluid, and how difficult high school can be for someone who doesn’t fit in a gender box.
I did wonder if the book would have the same impact on a teen. I admit to being on the wrong side of thirty. (Teens, feel free to chime in!)
I think this is an important book and I highly recommend it.
Rating: 5 Library Cards