BY KINSEY CLARKE
It isn't every day that a children's story centering and celebrating trans children is published, but that's exactly what Michigan-based children's author Jordan J. Scavone plans to do with his new book, "A Girl Named Adam."
A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Scavone began writing when he was around the same age as the protagonists in his book. He was inspired to write the story after a friend of his came out as trans, and said that he wants to show other people that they, too, can be happy in their own skin.
That's what the plot for "A Girl Named Adam" drives home for its readers. It follows the story of two fourth grade best friends named Adam and Annie as they get ready to go shopping for the new school year. Annie chooses a pretty purple dress to wear on the first day and Adam does, too.
"When Adam starts wearing dresses and changes his name to Addie as the story progresses, it puts his friendship with Annie to the test," Scavone said.
Many of us in the LGBTQ community have had a friend or a family member or a colleague like Annie. Scavone describes her as "that friend who just doesn't 'get it'" until you "sit down and talk to them."
Without spoiling the story, one of the most notable takeaways from "A Girl Named Adam" is how it's common for LGBTQ people to have to deal with not just the one person (or people) in their life who won't accept them in the new place in life that they're in, but also with the aggressively transphobic or homophobic bully that seeks out confrontation. While the story is children's fiction, it's definitely relatable to older members of the community.
Scavone says that while his story is intended for a younger audience, most well-made children's books have a lot of content that adults can benefit from.
Early feedback from both parents and young children has been positive and supportive of Scavone's message, with one parent saying, "Nice to see a story that normalizes a transgender child's journey, looking at how close friendship is tested, just like any friendship between two children, during the transition."
Find "A Girl Named Adam" and more of Scavone's work on his Facebook page.
Michigan-Based Children's Author to Publish Trans-Centred Children's Book
Jordan J. Scavone is the author of 'A Girl Named Adam"
Read More
How David Archuleta Left Behind the Mormon Church and Is Now Flourishing As An Openly Queer Person
When David Archuleta returned to the “American Idol” stage on Monday night, he knew that singing his latest single, “Hell Together,” [...]
Stand Up Against Book Banning, See the 'Reality Gays' Podcast Tour, Attend a Gender-Affirming Beauty Workshop
It's time for some spring cleaning. Whether that means weeding out the negative Nancys clogging up your social media feed, literally cleaning up your homestead [...]
Everything You Need to Know About the New Queer Bar Coming to Ann Arbor
The rumors are true — there’s a new queer bar coming to Ann Arbor later this year, and Pride Source sat down with co-founder Saharsh Hajela to [...]
Why a Local Academic Is Fostering Queer Discussion and Community Through an Old-Fashioned Book Club
Queer books on public library shelves have come under fire across the country in recent years, but you wouldn’t know it at the Ypsilanti District Library [...]
Kathy Griffin Keeps on Surviving: Comedian Talks Tour, Longtime LGBTQ+ Allyship and Support From 'Civilian Gays'
Kathy Griffin has been through even more than you probably know. She lost a lung to cancer, lost her mother and lost many of her close friends. In 2020, the [...]
‘Queer Drunk Punk’ Author Zehava Frieman on How Growing Up in Grosse Pointe Park Inspired Her Debut Novel
When Zehava Frieman finally sat down to write “Queer Drunk Punk” in 2021 on the tail end of decades of what she describes as “creative [...]
