This is exactly what you want in a middle-grade book tackling Big Topics: it's warm, funny, and empowering without being preachy. Liv is a kid you want to root for, and his mission—wearing pants to school—is both simple and revolutionary.

The book teaches advocacy in concrete terms (petitions! meetings with the principal!) rather than vague 'be yourself' platitudes. It's gotten solid praise from educators and librarians, and the 4.6 Amazon rating suggests kids and parents alike find it meaningful.

The main caveat: this is explicitly about a transgender kid, so if you're not ready to discuss gender identity with your 9-year-old, this isn't the book to hand them without context. But if you are ready—or if your kid is asking questions—this is a great, age-appropriate entry point.

One reviewer noted the characters don't fully sparkle compared to similar books, so temper expectations: it's solid and important, but maybe not a future classic. Still, for the right kid at the right time, it's empowering and validating in ways that matter more than literary fireworks.