Reading this book as the summer Olympics is going on is a whole different experience. As an ex-swimmer, swimming is always the event I pay the most attention to, and this year has been a fantastic year for it. Although with the mess of the world I don't wholly agree with the Olympics happening, so many firsts have taken place this round, including the first womens 1500m.

Reading Obie's story in the middle of something so historic just made me feel so...happy. Not only that, this book made me tear up more than once. Obie is a middle grade book about a transgender tween named Obie, who has to switch teams due to his transition. This already has hit home. While I have not been on a team for a long time, I was so scared of transitioning while being in a sport. Of leaving the team and the coach who knew me as much as I knew them, for a team that might not even accept me. Even if Obie didn't leave his coach on the best of terms, it is a daunting experience for someone so young.

This book does a really good job of both being empowering towards trans tweens and educating cis people. As a middle grade, it grapples the line of education and entertainment really well. I also follow the author on Instagram, and I look up to him so much for being so open about trans issues and his experiences. Reading about Obie really felt like reading the book I would have wanted as a trans kid, and bringing transness to attention to a younger audience, something that I didn't get, is so wonderful.

However, this book does deal with several topics so I suggest looking up trigger warnings before going in. It may be hard for trans readers to read in particular.

I received an advanced copy of this book for review and let me say that it was so good. This is the kind of book I think everyone should read (if the content won't trigger them) because it allows for better understanding of being a kid not comfortable with being in the body they were born in. Obie was a great kid and I am so glad that he was able to do what he needed to do. There were definitely things that I wish were handled or executed differently, in general and in resolution, but this book was still a great one.

4.5 stars

Trigger warnings: bullying, transphobia, outing

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for an advanced copy of this to review! I saw it on NetGalley and it definitely caught my eye. One of my goals is to read more middle grade LGBTQ books, and this fit that bill. And I’m happy to say I really enjoyed this one!

At the start, the writing feels a little rocky, since it’s a debut. But Bailar hits his stride about halfway through the book and Obie’s voice really shines through. In fact, Bailar nails Obie’s voice in this book. Part of this story is Obie finding his voice, gaining confidence and learning that he truly does have an amazing support system in place. It was great seeing a school that takes such swift action against bullying, becuase you don’t always see that in fiction.

While there is a lot of transphobia and bullying in this book (which is noted with a content warning in the beginning), it’s balanced well with Obie’s friends, parents, and teachers. They want to do what’s best for Obie, and I loved seeing that. His new friends on his new swim team absolutely have his back. There are so many of these great relationships in this book, and I would absolutely read this just for those. Plus, Obie learns to find his voice in writing, and this balances out the swimming really well in this book.

Obie is also part Korean, and his scenes with his grandma are so heartwarming. They make kimchi and talk about Korea, and these scenes are beautiful. There’s so much to love about this book, honestly!

The only reason this isn’t getting a full five stars is because the writing is shaky in a few places. But you can definitely see potential! I can’t wait to see what else Bailar comes out with, because this is a voice that needs to be heard in middle grade books.

"You're never going to be a real man, Sarah."

That is the very first line of the book and it is said by Obie's swim coach. For anyone who is unaware, using a trans person's dead name is like a slap in the face and shows immediate unacceptance of who they really are. For Obie, not only does he face this insult, but is kicked off of the team at the same time by a coach who cares more about winning than his students. Swimming is Obie's life and his connection with others, so this is a devastating blow. Fortunately, he does manage to join another team and life goes on.

Obie is Man Enough is the coming of age story of a 7th grade transgender boy, particularly his experiences with transphobia. For a cis-gendered person, it is a valuable look into one person's real experiences being trans (based on the experiences of author Schuyler Bailar who is also trans and was on his school's swim team). For someone who is trans or non-binary, I could easily see this book being an incredibly painful read at times, and yet at other times it can be truly empowering. As an ally and mother, I just wanted to give Obie a big hug. Bailar also puts an interesting author's note in the back acknowledging that Obie is coming from a place of privilege with a supportive family and some supportive friends. Obie had support even when some around him were cruel. He had allies when many trans kids are not so fortunate.

This book is a coming of age story. Obie navigates losing friends and finding new ones. He has his first crush. He learns how to stand tall and walk proud. The bullying that he faced was sadly not surprising, and was written such that the transphobia was palpable. Fortunately for Obie, the support he does manage to have gave him the strength to live his true life. In addition to his new friends who stand up for him, Obie has an incredibly supportive family, even his Korean grandmother.

Obie is Man Enough is officially on my best books of 2021 list. This book was incredibly powerful, impactful, and important while also being very unique and current. Thank you to NetGalley and RHC's Crown Books for Young Readers for a digital ARC. This book is appropriate for kids 10+

The first line almost scared me away from this book, but I'm very happy I kept reading. Yes, there were times when Obie was treated horrible by his former coach and a bully, but there was also so much joy and support. So many good examples of allyship. I loved how this book modeled how cis people should treat trans people, without shying away from showing the trauma and discrimination many of us have to deal with.

I think this is a great book that will make trans kids feel seen and validated. It will help cis kids understand their trans peers and be better allies. It teaches how to deal with bullies. Balance school, sports and social life. At times, I felt like there wasn't a clear plot, and the mc was reacting to things more than doing things, but that is countered by the fantastic representation and all the valuable lessons this book holds.

It also brought back so many memories from when I was a middle school swimmer, and made me realize just how much I'd forgotten about the sport.

I'm happy to have read this and highly recommend it for both children and adults.

OMG I FRICKING LOVE OBIE IS MAN ENOUGH! This is so fricking cute and adorable, and I really wish I had had this book when I was a kid. I am so glad that it exists now!

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Obie's swim coach is a horrible man who refuses to let him stay on the team unless he can finish first in all of his races, just because he is a trans boy. Obie's supportive family help him find a team that is accepting of him, because he is an excellent swimmer. He also has some good friends, like Mikey and Pooch, who frequently defends him against like Clyde, who is constantly sniping at Obie and saying terrible things to him. Most people accept Obie for who he is, including his Korean grandparents and his teachers. There is also another trans swimmer, Tommy, who is older and whom he will occasionally text with questions or concerns. He also starts to date a girl new to his school, Charlie, and when he tells her about his identity, she is unbothered by it. His former best friend, Lucy, struggles with the change, however, and is not nice to Obie. When his language arts teacher asks Obie to write an essay for a NCTE competition, he puts together a moving account of his varied cultural and personal identities.
Strengths: While I understand why so many middle grade books about sexual identity are coming out stories, it's good to have one that is not. Obie has already made the transition, and is getting to the point where most people don't ask questions and just accept him for who he is, with those who don't understand, like Clyde and the coach, causing occasional problems. The romance with Charlie is sweet and a bit reminiscent of Stu Truly. There are plenty of swimming details for fans of Binns' Courage or Morrison's Up For Air, and it's hard to find books with swimming as a competitive sport.
Weaknesses: This is why middle schoolers aren't usually allowed to name themselves. Obadiah seems like a very strange choice! Also, from a coaching perspective, I would have liked to know more about rules that were in place for Obie competing, but that would have slowed down the story.
What I really think: A good title to have along with Gino's Melissa's Story (formerly George), Polonsky's Gracefully Grayson, and Bunker's Zenobia July.

Obie is a trans boy in the seventh grade and is having to get used to swimming on a new team after his old coach kicked him off because he didn’t accept him as a boy. He’s also dealing with some very intense bullying from a former friend at school. The story isn’t all grim, he has the support of friends and family, a new crush, and a goal to become one of the fastest boys on the swim team.

I think this might be one of the most intense Middle Grade books I’ve ever read. I knew going in that Obie was going to encounter transphobia, but I had no idea of how explicit it would be. Transphobic and homophobic slurs are used against him multiple times throughout the book. He is supported by his family, friends, and the administration at school but it was still tough to read at times.

It was really rewarding to watch Obie excel in swimming, stand up to his bullies and friends who haven’t been there for him, and start a relationship. Also, I enjoyed seeing how Obie’s Korean heritage played into the story and how he thought of the intersections of his identity. I do think that the writing felt a bit stilted at times or like these young kids were making references that didn’t totally seem relevant for modern kids. But overall this was a great, hard-hitting Middle Grade story.

CW: Deadnaming, transphobia, transphobic slurs, homophobic slurs, outing, bullying

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy.

This is a beautiful story about Obie, a trans athlete, learning how to be himself as he has to switch swim teams and confront those from his old team who do not accept him for who he is.
It is lovely to see how Obie continues to view the world with optimism, and works his way through training, family that seems accepting but might not be, and relationships (platonic and romantic). I genuinely loved Obie as a character and liked his perspective throughout the book.
Additionally—I love the author’s note and the guide for cis and trans readers. This is an important book, and overall I am glad it exists.
However, there were just a few items that kept me from fully enjoying this book.
First, there were the “mean girls”. Literally though—one character compares these girls to the ones from the movie. One of my biggest bookish pet peeves is authors borrowing Regina George and her cronies and popping them into a MG or YA book as the antagonist. While these mean girls are side characters (they bully Obie’s friend more than they bully him), they have absolutely no character development. Mean Girls is a satire. The characters are over exaggerated for a reason. We should not be seeing them in fiction books that seek to replicate reality.
Second, I did not like the writing. Yes--its supposed to be from the perspective of a middle schooler. However, I still live by the C. S. Lewis quote where he said “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”
Finally—I have very mixed feelings about the slurs used in this novel. I don’t think I’m well versed enough to know when they are okay to use in a piece of writing, so all I want to say is that it was mostly just jarring to me and made me uncomfortable thinking about how kids would be reading this.
Overall though—this is a book worth picking up.

REPRESENTATION MATTERS and this book brings it. Written by an author who not only transitioned, but was also on the swim team...this book is full of true emotion and accurate descriptions!

Obie is a FtoM transgender student athlete who glides through the water just as well as anyone else, because why shouldn't he? I will suggest providing trigger warnings to teens about bullying and more specifically trans-focused bullying, but this book is powerful and well done. MORE OF THIS, more representation written by folks who truly understand.

Obie Is Man Enough introduces us to Obadiah "Obie", a seventh grader and a competitive swimmer, he has a supportive family that loves him no matter what; That's a good thing, because Obie happens to be Transgendered, a topic that isn't always easily talked about, or readily accepted but his family has been wonderful since he told them and so has some of the faculty at his middle school. The only problem; The students and his e swim coach are anything but supportive.

We follow Obie as he tries to survive school, swim practice/meets, and being a pre-teen who happens to be a bit different than his classmates. Obie Is Man Enough is a wonderful story of strength, courage, survival and love, while also being informative to everyone by showing what life is like for many and also educating Cis gendered people. There's a great balance between positive and negative and Schuyler Bailar writes with clarity and conviction.

This book does have a warning at the beginning but it is important to highlight it now as well there IS a trigger warning on this story. Please make sure you are safe and in a solid mental place with people to reach out to in case the story hits home a little too closely. This is a book that I highly recommend to everyone, but please take care of yourself and your health while reading.

Thank you to netgalley, Schuyler Bailar and publisher for providing an advance e-copy to me in exchange for my honest review. I loved this story and am grateful that these books exist for the first time in history, its about time! Schuyler Bailar makes a wonderful must read contribution to the community.

Obie is Korean-American, in seventh grade, and a competitive swimmer working hard to qualify for the Junior Olympics. He’s also transgender. A perfect classroom read, Obie Is Man Enough follows Obie as he faces transphobia at school and from his old swim team and learns to stand up for himself with the support of his community.

The transphobia in this book is very present and violent - deadnaming happens, the t and f slurs are used, and it gets kinda dark, although Obie is very well supported by most of the adults in his life and the violence is handled promptly and fully when called to adult attention. I'm not sure I would give this book to a young trans kid, but I do think it's an important book for cis kids (and adults) to read, and may be an important book for trans kids to read but with adult guidance. It may be triggering and upsetting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC of Obie is Man Enough. This book provides amazing insight into the life of a transgender Korean boy athlete for any cisgender wishing to understand and be an ally. At the start of the book, Obie is being kicked off his swim team, because his coach doesn't believe he will be able to compete and win against the boys. The book follows Obie's struggles with starting a new swim team, navigating old and new friendships, being bullied by a former best friend, meeting a girl, and basically the complexities of being transgender. It was a great read, but very emotional and raw in parts so be prepared.

This was a fairly hard book to read as a trans person and I would urge you to look up the trigger warnings and make sure you're in the right mindset before you go in. But because the book is so full of support - Obie deals with transphobic bullying, but he's surrounded from all sides by supportive family and teachers - I found it a really well-balanced book regardless.

I feel like this book achieves a commendably good balance between being empowering for trans readers and being educational for cis readers. Cis kids reading this will learn a lot from Obie's experiences and his feelings about them, but the book never prioritizes that over the well being and empowerment of trans readers (like books with trans main characters from cis authors tend to do).

CWs: transphobia, bullying, outing (bully outs the MC to someone), transphobic and homophobic slurs, deadnaming, misgendering, death of a grandparent, discussions of traumatic war experiences from a Korean grandparent, slutshaming.

The beautiful cover first drew me to this book and the description intrigued me. While I can think of a handful of middle grade books that deal with transgender, I'm hard-pressed to think of another fiction book for tweens that specifically features a transgender man. This is a fictional account of a middle school student, Obie, adjusting to a new school and swim team living as a transgender male, Based on the author's own experience as a champion mixed-race swimmer (and the first recorded transgender NCAA athlete to compete as a man)., the book heartbreakingly explores the obstacles facing trans folks, from bullying to body image to emotional adjustments, on top of the other challenges of growing up. (Trigger warning for intense bullying and anti-trans discrimination and violence). I devoured this story, simultaneously feeling deeply moved and reaching new understandings. I wish the characters had been more nuanced, though I realize some of this was a conscious choice. While the author is quick to note that Obie's experience of receiving loving support from family, friends, coaches, and classmates is not the reality for most, by depicting supportive characters the novel offers models for caring and helpful behavior for allies. The story provides a window for understanding the intersections of race, culture, and gender identity, and offers numerous resources for further reading. Obie's deeply moving story has stayed with me in the weeks since I've read it, and I'm excited to recommend this important read to parents, educators, and kids.

This is the first book I have ever read with a Transgender main character and I am so grateful for the perspective I have gained from reading this book, even as an adult reading a story for middle grade audiences. It started a little slow for me, but I quickly became so invested in Obie’s journey and his over all well-being. The Author’s Note at the end had me in tears. The story, based on the author’s lived experiences, is such compelling evidence for the need to empathize and support members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and especially youth who rely on that support for survival. Please read this book, read it with your middle grade kids, and talk about how you can become allies for the Trans and LGBTQIA+ community.

Obie is...
1. a swimmer
2. Half Korean, half white
3. a writer
4. transgender
5. alive

This middle-grade novel is just excellent. Obie is in seventh grade and on top of all of the usual middle school drama, he also has to deal with his former best friend turned bully, Clyde, who is making his life miserable. Clyde's father was also Obie's swimming coach until Obie was kicked off the team because he is trans.

Despite the many instances of transphobia in this book, Obie's life is filled with loving allies and advocates. His parents, brother, grandparents, new teammates, and English teacher are all in his corner. Despite all of this support, Obie does attend therapy and is able to connect with a college-age transgender swimmer through his new coach. Obie occasionally alludes to "That Year" when he first came out to his parents. While it is never stated outright, it's assumed that Obie had suicidal thoughts during that time period.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Obie's relationship with the adults in his life. So often in MG and YA books, so many issues could be avoided just by talking to adults. Obie maintains open and honest lines of communication even when he worries about being a "snitch." I also love when authors include books within their novels. Obie is reading Jason's Reynold's All American Boys, which is one of my favorites!

This book caught my attention because I follow Schyler Bailar on Instagram. His account is such a wonderfully inclusive corner of the internet. His advocacy and willingness to share his journey are truly commendable and life-saving for many folx. Be sure to grab a copy of this book when it releases on September 7.

Favorite Quotes:
-"Anger is lie holding hot coals with the intent to throw them at someone, You never throw them, so you're the only one who gets burned.
-"If anyone makes you feel like you are less-than because of who you are, that is on them That is about their character. And you don't need them. Don't ever let anyone trick you into believing there is something wrong with you."

A timely fiction middle grade novel that addresses, among many topics, the intersection of transgender identities and competitive sports. While competitive swimming (both school and club teams) provides a backdrop for the story a number of other topics are addressed including harassment, biracial identities, homophobia, culture, family, friendship, ex-friends, and even dating. I found the writing style itself a little choppy/abrupt and thought most of the characterizations seemed a bit aged up -- Obie and his friends seemed like high schoolers rather than middle school students. The work starts with a well written and warranted warning about triggering content. Could be enjoyed simply as a work of fiction or as the basis for discussion in a classroom or book group.

I enjoyed this book, it really is a great ownvoices representation especially for a middle-grade book.

I had an issue with the large amounts of transphobia and hatred that Obie had to face. At points, it was so upsetting that I had to put the book down. This may just be my own thing, I don't love books that center around violence and hardships that queer people go through. The author did give adequate warnings before the beginning of the story but it was very intense.

I loved all of the characters, and it felt very realistic of the age group. None of the characters behaved perfectly, even the good characters made little mistakes here and there because they're human. I loved that Obie's parents and the rest of his family were supportive of his transition, that's something that I adore in queer books.

Obie's romance with his gf and their dates are so cute to read through. I was rooting for them the whole time, I wish there had been a couple more scenes of them together because I just couldn't get enough of them.

Overall, it's a pretty cute book but there are a lot of dark and dreary moments that made me want to quit reading. I just kept waiting for things to get better for Obie, and it was upsetting that it took so long.

Bailar's debut is a compelling story of middle school student athlete Obie, who is a transgender boy facing hatred and discrimination at his school and at the pool. Despite dealing with tough situations, this coming of age story is very sweet, and often highlights supportive friendships and family relationships in Obie's life, including his brother, parents, a ~love~ interest, and teammates at a new pool. It doesn't shy away from demonstrating how people can create harm with their actions and words -- but also is clear about where there is nuance, learning, and growth that can occur with different people in Obie's life.

I love the semi-autobiographical nature of this book -- Schuyler Bailar is a transgender man who was a NCAA Division I swimmer, and although the transition came later in his life, he clearly models one example of what this could look like for a teenager. I was a competitive swimmer and I loved all of the nerdy talk around different races and meets, while also appreciating the way in which this book made me rethink the way that our locker rooms, races, and swimsuits are all gendered and how hard it would be to navigate a change while being an athlete.

There are some very sweet moments, which balances out some of the darker moments, and Bailar is careful to frame this as just one story of one transgender kid -- it's not meant to be fully representative of all experiences. However, it's a wonderful addition, filling a lot of gaps in terms of literature written for kids by and about a transgender youth, and the integration of sports. I really recommend this one to middle grade readers, but with someone willing to discuss it with them -- it's definitely going to bring up several emotions, regardless of identity. Thanks to NetGalley for an early review copy, all opinions are my own.