The Big Problem with 'the Art of Being Normal' by Lisa Williamson

To start, lets give you the basic context you need.

The Art Of Being Normal is a book that centres around two main characters, David and Leo. David is a trans girl coming to grips with his gender identity. At the beginning of the book we find out that he plans to tell his parents very soon. He’s a very stereotypically feminine and weak character. He occasionally gets teased but the worst happens when a kid from school finds his "inspection" book. It’s basically a notebook in which he notes down signs of puberty, like Adam’s apple growth, pubic hair details, height, and more personal things. Leo, the other main character, then steps into and punches the bully, stopping him from reading aloud the details from the book.

Leo is the new kid at school, the mysterious one. On his very first day, rumours have already started spreading about him having attacked a teacher at his old school or some other ridiculous story like that. He’s a very typical tough, mysterious guy. He’s deliberately shown as closed off from the world, purposefully trying to avoid others and not growing close to anyone. We end up finding out later in the book that Leo is also trans. He is a trans boy who’s already transitioning and taking hormone blockers. He’s had his name changed and everything. This gives us our major link between the two characters.

So, further on in the book, David finds out about Leo being trans and also admits his own identity. They spend a weekend together, trying to find Leo’s long-lost dad, and David decides that he’s going to wear a wig, makeup, dresses and be called Kate during the search. Leo accepts but doesn’t show much effort in trying to call David his real name and use the right pronouns.

When I first read this book, I loved it. I couldn’t see a single problem with it. It was one of my favourite books for a while and I even have a signed copy. So, you wonder, what could be the huge problem with this book then?

The pronouns and name.

When I asked friends of mine to tell me their thoughts on the book and briefly explain the plot, they all made the same mistake. "David" was the main character and "he" was a trans girl. That sentence completely contradicts itself. That's not how pronouns and names work.

My problem with the book isn’t necessarily the story, but the way the author wrote it. Readers spend the whole book getting attached to "David" and Kate seems completely new. When you spend a whole book using that character's deadname (old name before they change it) and the wrong pronouns, that’s what people get used to. It causes a separation between the two parts of the character. It's confusing for readers. They learn to know and love one carter and then when the name change happens, its done in a way that makes it seem like they’re taking away David entirely and replacing him.

It’s a sweet story and was a nice idea but I just feel like it was executed badly. It adds to the idea that when someone comes out as X gender and fully accepts themselves, they’re a different person. If someone used this as a way of acting in real life, it could be horrible and really insensitive to trans people. All they’re trying to do is live as a different gender. They’re not brand new people. They’re happier people. This book fuels the idea that you can continue to refer to them in ways that will make them uncomfortable. The excuse that that’s what you’ve always known them as is stupid. They’re trying to be happy, and, sure, it’s hard to get used to it, but if people just try and correct themselves when they get it wrong then it’ll all be fine. No trans person would be angry at you for simply making a mistake.

The whole book is focused around "David" realising his gender and accepting himself and yet the book never really does show him as a girl properly. Near the very end, in a chapter from Leo’s point of view, Leo continues to refer to him as David. Leo, the other trans character in the book. Leo, the only other one who we’d expect to understand. Leo, the only one I’d 100% expect to help make "David" comfortable... but he doesen’t.

To be honest, most people probably won’t have realised this. I hope that if you did read this then you might think about it more in the future.

(The reason I called Kate "David" throughout this whole thing, is because I didn’t want people to see her being called Kate and be turned away, not used to it and not understanding it yet.)