North of Tomboy - by Julie A Swanson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Kacen Callender, Lin Thompson, and Kyle Lukoff, comes a middle grade novel set in 1973 about a child who feels more boy than girl and is frustrated that people act blind to that when--except for her stupid hair and clothes--it should be obvious!

Shy fourth grader Jess Jezowski turns the tables on her mom when she's given yet another girly baby doll for Christmas. This time, instead of ignoring or destroying it, she transforms it into the boy she's always wanted to be--a brave, funny little guy named Mickey. Making him talk, Jess finally lets the boy in her express himself.

But when Mickey evolves to become something more like an alter ego whose voice drowns out her own and the secret of him escapes the safety of her family, Jess realizes Mickey's too limited and doesn't allow the boy part of her a big enough presence in the world. She must find a way to blend him into her--so she can be that side of herself anywhere, around anyone.

Jess tries to wean herself from the crutch of Mickey's loud, comical persona, and to get her family to forget about him, but she struggles to do both. What will it take for her to stop hiding behind Mickey and get people to see her for who she truly is? Based on the author's experience growing up on Michigan's rural Leelanau Peninsula in the '70s, North of Tomboy includes artwork throughout.

Review Quotes

"An adolescent's struggle with identity makes for a smart, fascinating read."--Kirkus Reviews

". . . an empowering narrative of resilience, creativity, and self-acceptance in which others will no doubt find parts of themselves, too."--Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

"North of Tomboy is an engaging novel that reveals the inner world of a creative child who explores and learns to express her nonconforming gender identity."--Foreword Reviews

"In a world that often tries to confine us, this story encourages us to imagine exploring new destinations where we can shed societal expectations and dance freely to the rhythm of our spirit."--Midwest Book Review

". . . Jess shows us the many facets of courage, perseverance and love, and how the road to embracing them is not linear, but one that each individual must create for themselves."--Kimberly Behre Kenna, author of Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade and Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm

"For anyone who has been told they can't do something or they can't be who they feel they are, North of Tomboy is a book that understands."--Kathryn Erskine, author of National Book Award winner, Mockingbird

"Julie Swanson offers a powerful voice that captures the uncontrived nature of a young girl faced with the dilemma of loving her family but also being unwilling to accept the life that they are offering her. Our heroine admirably captures our hearts as she makes her way with openness, honesty, and creativity in the face of hardship."--Kim Hudson, author of The Virgin's Promise and The Bridge

"Julie Swanson's prose simultaneously aches and sings in North of Tomboy. This is a book for any kid who has felt out of place in their own skin or misunderstood by adults, however well-meaning they may be. Jess is a character who is both compelling, complicated, and determined to make the world see her for who she really is. Reminiscent of Judy Blume's work, this coming-into-one's-own story is both universal and searingly specific."--Skyler Schrempp, author of Three Strike Summer

"Spot-on in the voice of a nine-year-old, this lively story both recreates an era when the 'battle of the sexes' was fought on a tennis court and plunges readers deep into the joy of Michigan's woods and lakes as it explores the distress of a girl who feels like a boy inside. Kids will love it!"--Dori Jones Yang, author of The Forbidden Temptation of Baseball

"This story taught me a lot about the importance of meeting people where they are. The main character creatively and yet realistically copes with what she's going through in her family and in her discomfort with her gender and the gender roles available to her."--Dr. Daniel Price, PsyD, clinical psychologist

About the Author

Julie A. Swanson grew up on Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula, the setting for this story. As a kid, she enjoyed exploring the great outdoors, building forts, playing pretend games, writing and illustrating poems and stories, woodworking, sports, art, and reading . . . but she could never find books about anyone who was as uncomfortable being a girl as she was, who loved a sport to the extent she did, or who had a Polish last name like hers (Polakowski). So she decided she would one day write those books. Now an author of middle grade and young adult novels, Julie lives in Virginia.