Luna

Luna
Author: Julianne Peters
ISBN: 0-316-73369
Publisher: Little Brown and Company 2004

Plot summary: Regan's brother, Liam dislikes his body. He hates it because he feels he should have been born a girl. At night or when they are by themselves, Liam transforms into Luna. He wears the clothes he wants and stares at himself in the mirror for hours. Regan loves her brother, but is conflicted because Liam requires a lot of her attention. His struggle is often number one priority.

Ironically Regan's friends find Liam attractive, and charming. His dad wants him to play sports, and therefore Liam feels at war with himself. He tries to commit suicide, and he is depressed. Regan finds herself interested in a boy and wants to enjoy this, but feels Liam needs her too much.

Critical Analysis: Regan refers to her brother as "her," or "she," demonstrating that she considers Liam a girl, just as he does. Regan is supportive and caring even when at times she feels exhausted by Liam's emotional roller coaster. It is interesting that the parents fail to notice explaining why Regan feels so much pressure.

Annotation: Regan's brother longs to be a girl, he feels he was born into the wrong body. As he deals with his pain, can Regan be a support system or will it drain her?

Author: Julie Ann Peters was born January 16, 1952, in Jamestown, NY. She moved to Denver with her busy big family at age five. She was a fifth grade teacher for one year, then was fired. She then tried computer programming, and eventually became the amazing writer she is now. Please view her website: http://www.julieannpeters.com/

Genre: YA novel/ drama

Curriculum Ties: Psychology: Identity, English Lit.

Booktalking Ideas:
1.) Would you be able to support your brother if he wanted to have a sex change operation?
2.) Have you ever felt that you didn't belong, or that something in you was not how it should be?
3.) Gender expectations and gender performity are important themes in this book, how do you see Regan and Liam break and fit their gender expectations? Are their social rules you feel you must follow based on you gender?

Reading Level: 15 and up/ 9th grade and up

Challenge Issues: Transgender as misinterpreted for homosexuality

Defense: I would direct patron to sites like L0is Lowry's and Julie Ann Peters where they can read about how books help readers, and authors share their letters.

In addition, I would explain policies for selection for San Diego County Libraries:

http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
If after my working to convince the patron, they still were not satisfied and wanted to file a grievance, I would provide the needed paper work and then it would go to the “Challenged Materials” team for San Diego County and then onward until there is resolution: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf

Selection: This book was recommended to me by YA librarian Denise at La Mesa, and by many others! I believe it is invaluable.