TOMBOY by Liz Prince
Liz is a tomboy. Not the kind of tomboy that you see on TV with braided pigtails and overalls, but the kind of girl who gets mistaken for a boy due to the way she dresses and acts and the activities that she enjoys. In fact, Liz wishes she were a boy because then she wouldn’t have to deal with all of the double standards applied to her because she is a girl. She is secretly pleased when people mistake her for a boy. Unfortunately, being a tomboy seems to have doomed her romantic life. By recounting the story of her childhood, Liz Prince explorers the idea of what it means to be a girl in a world of conflicting gender expectations.
Although brief sections of this graphic memoir read a little bit like a sociology text, the sense of humor of the author and her relatable story about growing up, trying to fit in, facing bullying, and discovering her identity is an engaging read. I recommend it to teens who enjoy graphic novels, memoirs, or realistic fiction.
Susan the Librarian 