I’m struggling to find a modern middle grade novel with a gender nonconforming girl that isn’t transgender. I know there are classics like Pippi Longstocking, but I want my daughter to see herself in a character. Not every tomboy is transgender, but it seems that truth has been lost in today’s world. I have found so many books featuring a girl who knows she’s really a boy, but can’t locate one that features a character like I was as a girl: short hair, prefers “boy” clothes and interests. I don’t love the term “tomboy,” but am using it since most people will know what I mean.
by AnimalDelicious2890
12 Comments
The beacon street girls?? (Although only one’s a tomboy)
Not modern, but To Kill a Mockingbird would be great for this.
Bridge to Tarabithia’s character Leslie is a tomboy, but that’s a pretty sad one and came out in the 70s.
Golden Compass?
If you like scifi Robert Heinlein’s Podkayne of Mars is excellent. It’s now classified as YA but I read it in middle school and loved it.
okay so u didn’t have to make that little comment about “it seems that truth has been lost in today’s world.” that was unnecessary. but here are some suggestions because your daughter didn’t do anything wrong:
dealing with dragons by patricia c wrede
alanna by tamora pierce
percy jackson and the olympians by rick riordan
ramona and beezus by beverly cleary
Augie and the green knight.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23656369-augie-and-the-green-knight
The author wrote this book after having a daughter for very similar reasons to what you outlined.
There’s an Alan Gratz book set in the Middle East, during one of the Iraq wars that has a strong, tomboy type girl, if I remember correctly. I can’t think of any of his books that have girly girls. He’s definitely an author to check out
Have you heard of our lord and savior Tamora Pierce? She has several female characters who are on the “tomboy” side, but my personal recommendation to start with would be the Protector of the Small quartet. The Song of the Lioness quartet technically comes first and might also fit what you’re asking, but it has some bits that haven’t aged quite as well so I’d vote to start with PotS.
George from The famous Five fits this I think.
(Side note: what world are you living in that there’s a billion books with trans boys in them? I remember actively looking for them as a kid in the 2010s, and I could varely find any).
Harriet the Spy!
Is the ample selection of middle grade books about trans boys with us in the room right now