Reviewed by Morgan
Title: Spy Stuff
Author: Matthew J. Metzger
Heroes: Anton/Jude
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 226 Pages
Publisher: JMS Books
Release Date: April 30, 2016
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Anton never thought anyone would ever want to date him. Everyone knows nobody wants a transgender boyfriend, right? So he’s as shocked as anyone when seemingly-straight Jude Kalinowski asks him out, and doesn’t appear to be joking.
The only problem is … well, Jude doesn’t actually know.
Anton can see how this will play out: Jude is a nice guy, and nice guys finish last. And Anton is transgender, and transgender people don’t get happy endings. If he tells Jude, it might destroy everything.
And if Jude tells anyone else … it will.
Review: Anton is new to school. He’s 16 and his first assignment is to work with a partner about “labels”. One of his labels is “transgender”. But there is a lot more to Anton than that.
Jude is a 16 year old in his class, paired up with Anton. At first, he’s confused by his attraction – for the first time to a male – then he’s confused by some of Anton’s “secret” actions (which he adorably calls spy stuff to make Anton feel okay with it!)
Eventually, Anton comes clean with Jude, and fortunately, Jude accepts all that Anton is and is becoming. Together they navigate being mid-transition, 16 and in love for the first time.
**
What a great story this is! I think it’s best suited to teen-agers, but as an adult, I learned so much!
I can’t help but think that Jude was a little too good to be true, but what a lovely idea. That these two teens could find one another and find love even with all the changes going on in Anton’s life.
I loved that there were essentially no real villains (well, maybe Anton’s dad), but by and large, there were just normal teen angst and secrecy and tender moments. There were appropriate smexy times – no penetration or anything – but let’s face it – teens have “sex” and to deny it seems unrealistic.
I think any person interested in the transgender issue would find something in this story, but especially young adults.
Highly recommended.
Overall Impression: I loved it
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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