This book features:
- A genderfluid protagonist
- A sweet and light romance
- Discussions around nonbinary and genderqueer identity
- All the cute doggos
- A safe haven for animals
- The most compassionate boy in existence
- The kind of magical friendship you want in your life
Review:
“None of those situations can be jammed into a neatly defined box. Really, nothing about how it feels to be alive is strictly a one-or-the-other game: happy or sad, scared or mad, hopeful or despairing. Introvert or extrovert. Boy or girl. Kid or teenager. There’s a little of each one in its opposite, and that’s what makes life so complex and interesting. More painful, yeah, but also . . . richer. More real.”
Me with tears streaming down my cheeks, and smiling like I’ve just seen a unicorn riding on a rainbow after finishing this book: No, it’s fine, I’m fine, I just have a twig in my eye or a branch or a freaking tree stump…
There is something so incredibly wholesome about a well-written, diverse and unforgettable middle grade novel. Don’t get me wrong, I adore YA novels with LGBTQIAP+ rep and will never stop reading them but to pick up a book geared toward middle grade children featuring a nonbinary protagonist? Colour me enamoured. Both Can Be True took my breath away multiple times. From the well fleshed-out characters to the themes of friendship, support, and identity that were handled so delicately in here, I could not put this book down even if I’d tried.
The protagonists of this book are just so damn lovable. Ash, in particular, has all my heart. Having transferred from their old school because they’ve been bullied for their gender fluidity, Ash wants to start over at their new school. Dressing and acting to let everyone believe they are a girl when that’s not the whole story, they make some new connections, find great allies and friends they can trust with their true self and even someone to crush on, Daniel. But Ash is scared to tell Daniel the truth about their past and their genderfluid identity, fearing that it will throw everything into chaos. But when Daniel asks for help to keep an adorable—and incontinent—dog safe, Ash agrees to do everything in their power to keep little Chewbarka alive and thus begins the friendship of a lifetime.
The plot of this story was so well-paced that I flew through the pages, wanting to know all the secrets the characters were keeping from each other and crossing all my fingers that Chewbarka would find a loving home with people who don’t just want a dog for the aesthetics. Watching Daniel care for the dog and find a good home for him will appeal to any animal lover out there for sure.
I also loved how Machias exposed the harmful impact parents can have on a young child by perpetuating stereotypes and telling them that they are just “going through a phase” or are indecisive and should just pick one gender to stick with. The passages between Ash’s dad and them were so hard to get through because he constantly berates them for not choosing a gender, for making other peoples’ lives harder because they cannot commit to being a boy or a girl. And even though Ash knows that that’s not the truth, that they have friends and family who love them and understand their shifting gender identity, their Dad’s words still land like a punch every single time. Because what if the one person who’s supposed to love you unconditionally will only love you if you commit to a gender you know won’t feel right some, or even most days? Machias takes such care to show the way this internal debate makes Ash feel and how it’s in stark contrast to the love they receive from their mother and I cannot stress enough how much I want this book to be in the hands of anyone who’s questioning their gender identity at any age. There’s so much support and empowerment within this story and if you ever thought to yourself “we need more diverse books” then this one has to be on your bookshelf, no doubt about it.
Daniel was such a caring and vulnerable character as well and I loved every minute I got to spend in his head. He has an incredibly big soft spot for animals and the things that lead him to hide and care for a dog who was about to be euthanised made my heart melt. We get to learn more about what makes Daniel tick, how he’s always ridiculed for showing emotions and how he landed in this position where his brother and his former best friend don’t talk to him anymore—spoiler alert: it’s because Daniel always has everyone else’s best interests at heart instead of his own, which was just all kinds of interesting to witness. Daniel was such a rare sight for me, a boy who isn’t ashamed of caring deeply and stands up for what he believes in even when it puts himself in hot water.
Lastly, the writing was just beautiful. Machias has this way with words that’s both easily approachable and beautiful in its descriptions and worldbuilding, perfect for middle graders who need that quick-paced wit and emotional connection to stories to stay engaged (or people like me who have the attention span of a goldfish). Together with its sensitive subject matter and the impeccable discussions around dysphoria, gender identity and found family, this is a book I won’t soon forget—and I cannot wait to see what Machias graces us with next.
Exploring gender fluidity, identity and what it means to be a good friend, Both Can Be True is an unputdownable, healing and not-to-be-missed debut, with big hearts and loads of adorable dog content.
Both Can Be True is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 8th 2021.
Will you be picking up Both Can Be True? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Debut author Jules Machias explores identity, gender fluidity, and the power of friendship and acceptance in this dual-narrative Own Voices story about two kids who join forces to save a dog . . . but wind up saving each other.
Ash is no stranger to feeling like an outcast. For someone who cycles through genders, it’s a daily struggle to feel in control of how people perceive you. Some days Ash is undoubtedly girl, but other times, 100 percent guy. Daniel lacks control too—of his emotions. He’s been told he’s overly sensitive more times than he can count. He can’t help the way he is, and he sure wishes someone would accept him for it.
So when Daniel’s big heart leads him to rescue a dog that’s about to be euthanized, he’s relieved to find Ash willing to help. The two bond over their four-legged secret. When they start catching feelings for each other, however, things go from cute to complicated. Daniel thinks Ash is all girl . . . what happens when he finds out there’s more to Ash’s story?
With so much on the line—truth, identity, acceptance, and the life of an adorable pup named Chewbarka—will Ash and Daniel forever feel at war with themselves because they don’t fit into the world’s binaries? Or will their friendship help them embrace the beauty of living in between?
