Luna by Julie Anne Peters

ISBN: 978-0-316-01127-3
Little, Brown & Co., NY
2004 (first paperback edition 2006)
248 pages

Plot Summary

Regan and Liam are brother and sister and students at the same high school. Liam is brilliant and a computer genius but harbors a deep secret. Regan is the only one who knows that "he" is actually a girl trapped in a boy's body. Her brother borrows her clothes and is secretly "Luna" until he finally decides to "shed his wings" and reveal himself as a girl.

Critical Evaluation

This is a sensitive portrayal of a transgendered teen told from his sister's point-of-view. This approach lets the reader empathize both with Liam/Luna and with Regan, his sister who loves him but worries about her own social status at school if Liam reveals himself as a girl.

Reader's Annotation

Life as a high school senior is hard enough but Liam is finding it harder and harder to maintain the lie that is his life as a boy.

Author Information

Julie Anne Peters has written several critically acclaimed YA novels including Define "Normal," and Keeping You a Secret. She lives in Colorado with her partner, Sherri Leggett.

Genre

LGBT YA novel

Curriculum Ties

This book could be used in a Life Skills class to help explain transgender issues.

Booktalking Ideas

1. Liam decides to tell his good friend Aly the truth.

2. Liam and Regan go shopping with Liam dressed as Luna.

3. Chris and Regan as lab partners.

Reading/Interest Level

15-18 year-olds for both

Challenge Issues

transgendered main character, underage drinking and drug use, talk about sex

National Book Award finalist

Why I Included This Book

This book was required reading for the class. I hadn't heard of the book before but I'm glad I read it because this was the first book I've read about a transgendered teen.