This is the book you hand a kid when they ask about transgender people, or when you want to proactively build understanding and empathy. Alex Gino wrote something genuinely important here—a story that's both groundbreaking and remarkably gentle.

What makes it work is that it's not preachy or heavy-handed. It's just Melissa's story: a kid who wants to be seen, who loves Charlotte's Web, who has a best friend who gets it. The transgender aspect is central but not sensationalized. It's matter-of-fact in the best way.

The writing is straightforward and accessible—this won't win literary awards for prose, but that's not the point. It's clear, readable, and emotionally honest. Kids can fly through it in a day or two and come away with genuine understanding.

Parent reviews consistently praise how it opens up conversations and helps kids grasp a concept that might otherwise feel abstract or confusing. Whether your kid knows trans people or not, this builds the kind of empathy and acceptance that makes the world better.

The only caveat: if you're not ready to affirm transgender identity in your home, this book will clash with your values. But if you're raising kids to be kind, open, and accepting of people who are different from them, Melissa is a genuinely valuable tool.