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RADICAL BOOK REVIEWS BY REAL KIDS

Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope

Picture book | Recommended

Written by Jodie Patterson
Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Reviewed by Isabela, age 7

"(He also does karate.)"

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BOOK REVIEW

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About the reviewer:

My name is Isabela. I’m 7 years old.

My favorite sport is soccer and my favorite colors are purple and orange (right now – they change a lot). I am a transgender girl.

What's this book about?

The book is about a boy who is called a girl getting people to understand that he is a boy. (He also does karate.)

My thoughts:

vtoyccr6i7ucuic5c5v5uycx53867vrvytcuvkkjnkk,uvlityichjgfkneecbfewern3ndiby856irebrcnen rcboutbuybybsdcrxeyrytcuujrtrvffgctucf trcuytf
faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccddddddddddddddd
ddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeefffffffffffffffffffff
fffffggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjkkkkk
kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllmmmm
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooppppppppppp
ppppppppppppppqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqrrrrrrrrrrrr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssssssssssstttttttttttttttttttttttt
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
wwxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
11111111111111111111111111112222222222222222222222222223333333333333333333333334444444
44444444444444444555555555555555555555555555555666666666666666666667777777777777788888
88888888888889999999999990000000000000001000000000000000010101010101010110101010101

Who is this book for?

I recommend this story for…Age 6+ for boys, girls, and anybody who has not yet toad* anybody that they are _________________ (NOT a boy nor girl) (transgender is fine).                    

*told

Who is missing from this story?

All people with disabilities, nonbinary people and genderqueer or ze or per or fae.

What else do you want people to know about this book?

No more spoilers! Read it yourself!

Is this book #OwnVoices*?

Jodie Patterson is the mother of a transgender and a genderqueer kid, but I do not know about Charnelle Pinkney Barlow nor Jodie Patterson.

*Learn more about #OwnVoices, coined by autistic author Corinne Duyvis.

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anime style illustration of Isabela, a 7 year old trans girl with chin-length brown hair, bright blue eyes, and rainbow cat eats

Isabela (She/Her)

Isabela’s favorite sport is soccer and her favorite colors (at the moment) are purple and orange (they change a lot). She is a trans girl contributing #OwnVoices book reviews through Raising Luminaries since 2024, starting at at the age of 7.

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Raising Luminaries shares kid-centered social justice toolkits to save you time and stress. We provide step-by-step support for kyriarchy-smashing caregivers juggling parenting and advocacy without burning out.

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