Luna by Julie Anne Peters
Little, Brown and Company, New York: 2004
ISBN: 0-316-01127-4

Plot Summary:
Luna is narrated by the sophomore Regan, the sister of a transgender girl (her brother Liam). At the start of the novel, Liam has chosen a new female name for himself--Luna, and is on the verge of transitioning to living as a female. Their father has strict gender role expectations. He refuses to let Liam cook for the family, and expects Regan to help out more around the house. Their mother is completely absorbed with her job as an event planner and is usually hopped up on prescription pills to notice much of what is going on.

As Regan develops a relationship with the new boy at school, Chris, Liam gets more daring as Luna. He makes Regan go shopping with him dressed as Luna, and finally shows up to school as Luna. All the while, Regan is the only one who knows about him, and therefore his only support system. It is a lot of pressure for one person, and it starts to take its toll on her personal life. Regan fluctuates between wanting to support Luna, and wanting her out of her life. When Luna finally comes out to her parents, her father refuses to let her leave the house as Luna. Her mother completely ignores him and Regan slowly realizes that she has known about Luna all along. Finally, Luna sneaks out with Regan and boards a plane to Seattle to begin the process of transitioning to a female.

Critical Evaluation:
Luna is a very well-written, emotionally complex book. I have to say though, I think it might have been more interesting written from Luna's point of view. Regan is mostly a boring character, though she is written very honestly. The book is more about her reaction to Luna, than about Luna and what she's going through, which is infinitely more exciting that Regan's relationship with Chris.

Also, it ended very abruptly. Throughout the novel, Luna is taking baby steps toward living as a female, then all of a sudden she's on a plane to Seattle the day after she comes out to her parents and that's the end. I want to know what happened to her once she got to Seattle. What were her parents' reactions? How is Regan surviving without her? I even wanted to know what happens between Chris and Regan and everything was just left up in the air. Though I was disappointed with the ending, I guess it is a sign that I cared enough to want to know more about these characters. Luna will definitely stay with me for awhile.

Reader’s Annotation:
In a world obsessed with gender roles, transgender people have to make their own way. Regan helps her brother Liam transition to Luna.

Information about the Author:
Julie Anne Peters is a former fifth grade teacher and computer programmer. She is the author of several young adult book and lives in Colorado.

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
I would talk about the idea of gender roles and stereotypes, then introduce Liam/Luna. What makes a girl a girl and a boy a boy? I'd also talk about Regan and the pressure she feels to keep Liam's secret.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This book would be appropriate for ages 15 and up.

Challenge Issues:
Obviously the subject matter of a transsexual teenager would be the biggest issue. There a few curse words sprinkled throughout as well. I would explain the importance of a book like this, give the challenger a copy of the library's selection policy and a complaint form.

Why I chose this book:
This was a book to be read for our class book discussion.