Reconsideration Review #2 - The Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey
With short chapters, this book was written for young readers from 3rd-5th grade. Very young early elementary readers are browsing this section picking up books.
Note: Before we begin, we have learned more about the reconsideration rules. Please do not jump-the-gun and challenge additional books. Each book can only be reviewed ONE TIME A YEAR, so when you do that, you are not allowing others to have the opportunity to make their argument. By challenging TOGETHER, we can all make our unique arguments for the board to consider at once. This will strengthen our chances of getting changes made. Thank you so much.
The Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey
This week let’s challenge the book called, The Other Boy, by M.G. Hennessey. This book is in the children’s chapter book section. It was written for children ages 8-12, and it is in a section of our library where a 3rd grader (or younger) could pick it up at any time. Keep that in mind as you read through this review. I will include a sample reconsideration form.
(Note: I will use pronouns that match biological gender. If this bothers you, don’t read. This substack isn’t for you. Here is a helpful statement from Rosaria Champagne about why she no longer uses preferred pronouns.)
Synopsis: In this book Shane Woods is girl transitioning into a boy. Mom is supportive; dad is reluctant. Shane’s mom has moved them to a new town where nobody knows she was once a girl. Before puberty, this was an easy secret to keep, but as soon as Shane reaches the age of puberty, she becomes concerned that the other boys will figure her out. She changes in a privacy stall in the locker room.
Concerning the testosterone, dad is concerned that she will never have children if she changes her mind, but waiting is the “end of the world.” Shane is concerned she will be found out if she doesn’t change along with the boys. The book is honest in the very clear tension between Shane wanting to be just like the boys and knowing she will never be able to pass as exactly like them. Binding is never discussed, I assume because Shane has been on puberty blockers since before puberty.
As with a lot of these books, there is a lot of instruction about being trans, how to feel and how to be supportive. There is also lots of shaming for those who don’t fall in line. This book shows Shane confused about her gender at the very early age of three. It’s important to note that before gender picture books and pre-k gender programs, this didn’t happen with girls. It was rare in boys and had never been reported in girls at all.
There are some very deep and sometimes dark thoughts (including self-harm) in this book that belong in the Young Adult section at minimum.
If you didn’t see our previous posts about Reconsideration Forms, here is a recap:
You can go to any public library in Montgomery County and ask for a reconsideration form from any help desk. Fill it out and turn it in to the librarian there. If you would prefer to fill it out at home, you can download and print the form here.
We are not asking for the books to be completely removed from the library because literature reminds us of where we’ve been and where we never want to go again. For instance, Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler is in our libraries. You can see all of our suggestions (moving the book to the adult section, labeling the book, etc.) on the reconsideration form example below.
Each book can only be reviewed by the reconsideration board once a year. Therefore, we are asking everyone to reconsider books as a group, we are making recommendations, and see what the response is before moving forward. Hopefully, if we win, the libraries will begin to make changes on other books on their own.
As with the previous review, we have a little fun, so obviously, you might want to reword. The audio version of this book is on Hoopla, a library app. You can check the book out with your library card and listen on your device at your convenience.
The Reconsideration Form Example:
Author: M.G. Hennessey Title: The Other Boy
Type of Material: Children’s Chapter Book (Grades 3-7)
Specific objection(s) to Material including specific page(s) or instances:
1. Page 75: Shane has been crushing on a girl named Madeline who has no idea Shane is a girl. On this page Madeline invites Shane to her house for dinner to meet her parents and study. Madeline isn’t allowed to “date,” so this is a way for them to hang out under her parent’s rules. On page 171 Madeline learns that Shane is a girl and very kindly explains that she likes boys. Shane begs her to consider because she “is a boy.” Madeline insists that Shane isn’t a boy because that’s not how Shane was born.
This is EXTREMELY confusing and deep for an elementary aged child. Children this young are not ready to consider these issues until after puberty. Placing material like this within reach of children this young is grooming. Please reconsider this placement.
2. Page 107-110: Shane is outed as trans by Nico, an extremely troubled kid. The kids insist Shane change in front of them to prove she is a boy. Shane has put a sock in compression shorts to pass as a boy while changing. The incredible stress Shane is under to “pass as a boy” is described in detail throughout the book. At this point, Shane vomits in the toilet from the stress.
3. Page 124-125: Shane attends a support group for trans kids. In this group, a story is told about a trans kid’s boyfriend finding out and telling the whole school. There is no discussion for how traumatic this must have been for the boy, Allan. This is a lot for a child to process. The recommendation seems to be to keep the transition a secret from your boyfriend/girlfriend until you have been dating for a long time.
4. Page 188: Shane has been completely “outed” at school. In the shower, Shane contemplates self-harm to “carve off the parts that don’t belong.” Shane eye’s her mom’s razor, it looks tempting.
What was good about the material?
Shane has made friends who understand. When Shane has been outed and is extremely stressed, her mom invites Alejandra over to talk Shane. They talk about always having choices and they come up with a plan. This shows healthy co-regulation which is good for young people to seek out.
Are you considering the material as a whole?
Yes, I read the entire book and have considered it all. Unfortunately, the concerning parts can be very harmful for young children, and therefore this book cannot be available in the children’s section.
Have you read any reviews on this material?
Yes, Kirkus reviews wrote a bright, sunny review, where they do not consider the age group this material is written for at all, (or they just leave that out because they are groomers, not sure.) The same seems to be true of Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal Review. They should be ashamed of themselves.
How did this material come to your attention?
Two Moms and Some Book’s Substack of course!
What would you like the library to do about this material?
1. Move it to the adult section (preferred) or young adult section at the very least. This material is not for kids and should not be picked up by kids. (Children as young as 7 are independently picking up books in this section!) Parents can pick it up from the adult section if they want it.
2. Move it to a high shelf out of reach of children with a “controversial material” label.
3. Move behind the librarian’s desk for request.
4. Label with a “controversial material” label so parents know what they are getting into.
Requester Represents: Individual: yes Organization: _____ Other: ______
Request initiated by (please print): Your name goes here.
Again, the rest is self-explanatory. If you don’t have a library card, get one the day you turn it in and write it on the form. You can turn the form into any library, and it covers every single copy of the book you are asking the committee to reconsider.
Thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts for helping us with this initiative. We will be releasing another list of children’s alternative gender library books soon.