Book Description
for The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Spencer, who is Black/biracial, has decided not to come out as trans at his new private high school, since coming out the year before at his old school didn’t go well. Spencer’s parents want him to take things slowly, including sticking to clubs like AV rather than sports like soccer that involve locker rooms and changing clothes. But Spencer misses soccer and tries out without his parents’ permission, making the team. One of his new teammates is Justice, who is white and from a conservative religious family. Justice is gay but isn’t out at home. The two boys are attracted to each other and have the full support of their soccer teammates when they begin exploring a relationship. Deciding if and when to come out as trans becomes a bigger and bigger issue for Spencer as he and Justice grow closer, and as Spencer seeks to support genderqueer classmate Riley’s quest for a gender neutral bathroom. Things get even more complicated when a discriminatory league rule threatens Spencer’s place on the team. Characters that are wonderfully and fully drawn, from Spencer and Justice to their families, including Spencer’s autistic brother, Theo; their classmates; and others, distinguish this novel that also offers plenty of soccer action. (Ages 11-15)
CCBC Choices 2022. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2022. Used with permission.