Alex Gino

Alex Gino (born October 1, 1977)[1] is a genderqueer, American children's book writer. Gino's debut book, Melissa, was the winner of the 2016 Stonewall Book Award[2][3][4] as well as the 2016 Lambda Literary Award in the category of LGBT Children's/Young Adult.[5]

Alex Gino
Gino at the 2016 Berlin International Literature Festival
Born (1977-10-01) October 1, 1977
Staten Island, New York, U.S.
OccupationAuthor
Notable workMelissa
Awards
Websitealexgino.com

Works

Melissa (2015)
Main article: Melissa (novel)

Gino is best known for their 2015 debut novel Melissa, a middle grade novel featuring a young transgender girl,[6] which they first began work on in 2003.[7] The working title of the novel was Girl George (a reference to Boy George), but Scholastic changed it to George during the editing process.[8] Gino expressed some regrets about deadnaming their character with this title, and in 2021 announced that they were renaming the novel Melissa's Story.[9] With regards to requests for a sequel to Melissa, Gino stated in 2016 that "they will NOT be writing a transition story for a largely cis audience more interested in trans bodies than trans people."[10]

The novel received starred reviews from Booklist,[11] Kirkus Reviews,[12] Publishers Weekly,[13] and Shelf Awareness.[14]

However, it has remained controversial to some parents and teachers, leading it to be listed on the American Library Association's list of the 10 Most Challenged Books of 2016, 2017,[15][16] 2018,[17] 2019,[18][19] and 2020[20][21] (topping the list in 2018, 2019, and 2020).[22] It ultimately became the fifth-most banned book between 2010 and 2020.[23][24][25] Common reasons for challenging the book include its sexual references and conflict with "traditional family structure," with some saying schools and libraries should not "put books in a child's hand that require discussion."[26]

You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! (2018)

In 2018, Gino released another middle grade novel, You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! It covers Deaf culture and the Black Lives Matter movement and received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews,[27] Publishers Weekly,[28] and the School Library Journal.[29]

Rick (2020)

Their 2020 novel Rick is a standalone follow-up to George and is about a student coming to terms with his asexuality. The book received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews,[30] Booklist,[31] and School Library Journal.[32]

Awards and honors

In 2015, Publishers Weekly named Gino a "Flying Start" author.[33] That year, Kirkus Reviews included Melissa on their list of the year's best children's books.[12] Booklist included it on their "Top 10 First Novels for Youth" list.[34]

Awards for Gino's writing
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2015 Melissa Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade & Children's Nominee [35]
2016 ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [36]
California Book Award for Juvenile Winner [37]
Children's Choice Book Award for Debut Author Winner [38][39]
The E.B. White Read Aloud Award for Middle Reader Honor [40]
Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature Winner [5]
Stonewall Book Award for Children & Young Adults Winner [2][12][41]
2016–17 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee [42]
Georgia Children's Book (Gr. 4-8) Awards: Other Worthwhile Books for Grades 4-8 Finalist [43]

Publications

Anthology contributions
  • "Essay" in How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation, edited by Maureen Johnson (2018)
  • "Body Sovereignty: This Fat Trans Flesh Is Mine" in The (Other) F Word: A Celebration of the Fat and Fierce, edited by Angie Manfredi (2019)
  • "The Purr-cle of Life" in This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us, edited by Katherine Locke and Nicole Melleby (2021)
  • "Fat Out Loud" in Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy, edited by Kelly Jensen (2020)

Novels
  • Melissa, originally published as George (2015)
  • You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! (2018)
  • Rick (2020)
  • Alice Austen Lived Here (2022)
  • Green (2023)

Personal life

Gino identifies as genderqueer.[44] Additionally, Gino uses singular they pronouns[7] and the gender neutral honorific Mx.[45]

Biography

Gino was born and raised in Staten Island, New York, but over the years they have lived in such locations as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Brooklyn, New York; Astoria, Queens; Northampton, Massachusetts; and Oakland, California. They have also spent time living in an RV and driving around the country.[7][46]

References
  1. "Alex Gino: 'It's my 43rd birthday!!!'". Twitter. October 1, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  2. Amundsen, John L. (January 12, 2016). "2016 Stonewall Book Awards Announced". American Library Association. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  3. Federle, Tim (September 11, 2015). "'George,' by Alex Gino". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  4. Alter, Alexandra (June 6, 2015). "Transgender Children's Books Fill a Void and Break a Taboo". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  5. "The 2016 Lambda Literary Award Winners". Lambda Literary Foundation. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  6. Gino, Alex. "GEORGE". Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  7. Gino, Alex. "About Alex". Archived from the original on July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  8. Parrott, Kiera. "Alex Gino on Debut Novel". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  9. "Alex Gino Renames "George"; Obamas Bringing "Blackout" to Netflix". School Library Journal. July 19, 2021. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  10. Alex Gino [@lxgino] (April 10, 2016). "Re GEORGE sequel: They will NOT be writing a transition story for a largely cis audience more interested in trans bodies than trans people" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. Cart, Michael (August 2015). "Melissa". Booklist. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  12. "George". Kirkus Reviews. May 5, 2015. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  13. "George by Alex Gino". Publishers Weekly. May 11, 2015. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  14. Brown, Jennifer M. (August 28, 2015). "George". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  15. Kantor, Emma (September 25, 2018). "Top 10 Challenged Books of 2017". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  16. "ALA's 'Most Challenged Books' List". Shelf Awareness. April 12, 2017. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  17. "ALA's 'Most Challenged Books' List". Shelf Awareness. April 11, 2018. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  18. "ALA's 'Most Challenged Books' List". Shelf Awareness. April 9, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  19. Yung, Sarah (April 20, 2020). "Top 10 Challenged Books of 2019". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  20. "ALA's 'Most Challenged Books' List". Shelf Awareness. April 24, 2020. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  21. Albanese, Andrew (April 6, 2021). "ALA Releases 2020 Most Challenged Books List". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  22. "Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists". American Library Association. March 26, 2013. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  23. "Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019". American Library Association. September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  24. Albanese, Andrew (September 28, 2020). "ALA Releases List of Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  25. "'Top 100 Most Banned & Challenged Books of the Past Decade'". Shelf Awareness. September 29, 2020. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  26. Flood, Alison (April 21, 2020). "LGBTQ children's books face record calls for bans in US libraries". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  27. "You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! review". KirkusReviews.com. June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  28. "You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! review". PublishersWeekly.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  29. Parrott, Kiera (September 1, 2018). "You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! review". SLJ.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  30. "Rick review". KirkusReviews.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  31. Rick review. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020 – via Booklist.com.
  32. Gafkowitz, Jess (February 1, 2020). "Rick review". SLJ.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  33. Gilmore, Natasha (December 11, 2015). "Fall 2015 Flying Starts: Alex Gino". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  34. Smith, Julia (October 15, 2015). "Top 10 First Novels for Youth: 2015". Booklist. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  35. "Best Middle Grade & Children's". Goodreads. Archived from the original on August 2, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  36. "Notable Children's Books: 2016". Booklist. March 1, 2016. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  37. "California Book Awards". Commonwealth Club of California. Archived from the original on July 18, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  38. "CBC Past Winners". Archived from the original on June 6, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  39. "for Monday, May 9, 2016aAwards: Children's Choice". Shelf Awareness. May 9, 2016. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  40. Hawkins, Rosemary (March 16, 2016). "ABA Announces 2016 Indies Choice/E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Finalists". Association of Booksellers for Children. Archived from the original on July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  41. "Stonewall Award Winners: Kyle Lukoff, Kaylani Juanita: When Aidan Became a Brother". Shelf Awareness. January 31, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  42. "Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Master List 2016 – 2017" (PDF). Vermont Department of Libraries. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  43. "2016-2017 Georgia Children's Book (Gr. 4-8) Award Finalists" (PDF). University of Georgia. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  44. Hansen, John (September 9, 2015). "Alex Gino: 'I knew I was different as a kid'". Guardian US (interview). Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  45. "Alex Gino Bio". Yallfest.org. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  46. Alex Gino [@lxgino] (April 3, 2016). "OK, today's the day I get everything else done so I can hit the road for my new RV lifestyle in the morning. From here, it looks manageable" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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