John Bird has never fit in. He can’t be the all American boy his dad wants him to be, he’s bullied at school and he can’t bear to look at himself in the mirror. While most boys his age are playing sports and kissing girls, John can only find comfort in the secret he keeps hidden away in a box in his room…
When feisty Aureus crashes into his life, John starts the long process of realizing that it’s what is inside us that counts and that true friends love us, no matter what our secrets are.
It’s time John learns to embrace the school taunt, “Ladybird” and grow into the person he is meant to be.
Assessment:
Tor's YA novel is a sensitive but preachy story about a boy named John Bird -- called Ladybird by his classmates -- struggling with his sexuality and gender. While John is well developed and the author ably expresses his protagonist's feelings and thoughts, the reaction to John's transition is unrealistic and will take readers out of the story. The prose and story are workmanlike, but the pacing sometimes slows and some minor characters are underdeveloped.
Date Submitted: June 11, 2016
*****5 stars*****
"My Ladybird Story by Magus Tor was a fascinating read for me. While I cannot speak from experience, the story of how John slowly makes the transition from hating his body, to understanding the source of the hate, and then moving towards the solution (i.e. the transformation into a woman) was very realistic and very emotional, too. The writing was well done, and you could not help but feel for John. His fears and emotions were very well described, and I liked that the reactions of the people around him also seemed to be very realistic, i.e. not just "Oh yeah, it's all fine." I enjoyed reading this book very much. It had a nice flow, and shows that you don't need action and violence to make a story stand out."
"... An inspiring, empowering chronicle of self-discovery and fearless pride sure to entertain and inform both cisgender and transgender readers."
Incredible, is the only word that comes to mind after reading Magus Tor’s “My Ladybird Story.” This mind blowing and riveting tale, offers a peek into a heartwarming love that evolved from two souls that had experienced the hardships of life at an earlier age. Book lovers will sub-come to an emotional rollercoaster of feelings as they are whisked through the life of Tor’s main character, John.
Upon reading the first half of the book, readers are given the impression that this story is centered on the narrative of a young man that seeks desperately to journey along the path of self-discovery. Needing to be “normal,” John is plagued with the reality that the idea of normalcy has no room for him. He can never be himself, because society will not allow it. And quite frankly, he does not know who or what he is. Yet, this book offers so much more.
Tor opens the world of gender dysphoria, allowing readers to travel behind the scenes of a human being who whole-heartedly knows he is inside the wrong body. “My Ladybird Story” addresses the taunting, the restrictions of gender traits, the guidelines society places on what is deemed to be normal, and the internal as well as external struggle of John finding Joyce. This magnificent tale will have you empathizing and understanding that this unchosen road traveled down by some is not a one easy. And just maybe after reading John’s story, reader’s will have a better understanding that God is the only one with the rights to judge and convict.
Upon the completion of this book, it dawned on me…. This read was not just about John’s hardships or his inability to fit into such an enormous and judgmental world. No, the heart of this book has a message that is very simple…, it is about love. Love of self in order to love another.
I give “My Ladybird Story” 5 out of 5 stars, this is indeed a Publisher’s Read.
