Obie Is Man Enough

Written by Schuyler Bailar

Narrated by Schuyler Bailar

A coming-of-age story about transgender tween Obie, who didn't think being himself would cause such a splash. For fans of Alex Gino's George and Lisa Bunker's Felix Yz.

Obie knew his transition would have ripple effects. He has to leave his swim coach, his pool, and his best friends. But it’s time for Obie to find where he truly belongs.
 
As Obie dives into a new team, though, things are strange. Obie always felt at home in the water, but now he can’t get his old coach out of his head. Even worse are the bullies that wait in the locker room and on the pool deck. Luckily, Obie has family behind him. And maybe some new friends too, including Charlie, his first crush. Obie is ready to prove he can be one of the fastest boys in the water—to his coach, his critics, and his biggest competition: himself.

*Includes a downloadable PDF of the Glossary, Resources, and Further Reading from the end of the book

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9780593415535

Reviews for Obie Is Man Enough

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I kind of hate the title, but the book is great. See other reviews for trigger warnings -- there are a lot of hard and hateful things that happen to Obie in this book. I personally think that's part of the book's strengths -- because Obie does have a solid support system as well as attackers, and it's important to see those refutations in print. Also this stuff happens every day -- and part of the point of this book is to let kids see their own experiences. I hope this book makes a difference in kids' lives and helps them to survive and thrive. I also loved the Korean representation, the beautiful family dynamics, and Obie's own strength of character that leads him through.

[fromthecomfychair · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Although the message is uplifting and positive, this is a thinly veiled autobiography of the transgender swimmer turned motivational speaker Skylar Bailar. I learned a few things from this fictionalized story about the mixed race Bailar, whose mother is Korean--I learned how kimchi is made, for one.

The problem for me is in the dialog, which does in no way sound the way thirteen year olds talk. It's all written in adult-speak, which makes it kind of unbelievably sappy, like a Hallmark drama. The parents and the teacher are so perfect as to be unbelievable. Honestly, it reminds me of Wonder, another book I couldn't take seriously.

Had Skylar written a memoir, I think it would have been more effective, at least for adults. Maybe this works for tweens, and will help someone who is coming to terms with their sexuality.