Luna

Peters, J.A. (2005). Luna. New York, NY: Little Brown. 

ISBN: 978-0316011273

Regan lives her life keeping her brother Liam's true identity a secret. Liam is a transsexual who goes by the name Luna. Keeping her transsexual brother's identity a secret becomes harder and harder for Regan. She first lets him try on clothes and put make-up on in her room after dark, but Liam soon announces his need to be Luna day and night. 

Regan and Luna have to consider the reactions of not only the public, but of their parents. Mom is a career driven woman who does not appear to have time for her family and Dad is constantly pushing Liam into sports. 

A boy in Regan's chemistry class sparks an attraction she never allowed herself to have and as Regan struggles to accept her brothers identity she soon starts to develop one of her own; one she always discarded in order to better aid her brother. While grappling with identity and the reactions of family and friends Liam makes a choice to not only free himself, but Regan too. 

This is a story to introduces young adults to transgender identity and in Liam/Luna's case transsexualism. Rather than speak from the point of view of Luna, Julie Anne Peters does something more authentic and has the narrator be Luna's sister Regan. 

By doing this Peters allows readers to experience the process of being transgender by the mouthpiece of a non-transgender; in other words a narrator who most readers can identify with. Regan is confused, but protective. She loves Luna, but in the end she discovers the adverse affects of compromise and starts recognizing the exciting possibilities in her own life.

Not only do readers develop a sense of what being transgender is, but also the difficult process of finding and openly acknowledging your true self.

Cover art link: bullies 
Girl image link: MaRYI