One of the Boys
Grace Woodhouse has left a lot behind.
She used to have a great friend group, an amazing girlfriend, and a right foot set to earn her a Division I football scholarship—before she came out as trans. As senior year begins, Grace is struggling to find her place in early transition, new social circles, and a life without football. But when her skills as the best kicker in the state prove to be vital, her old teammates beg her to come out of retirement, dragging her back into a sport—into a way of life—she thought had turned its back on her forever.
When a chance meeting cracks the door to college football back open, she has to decide how much of herself she’s willing to give up for the game she loves.
Reviews
"Through Grace’s internal monologue and developing relationships, Zeller artfully exposes the tender underbelly of locker room posturing, presenting a subversive, experience-informed interpretation of toxic masculinity... flashback interstitials written in second person contextualize Grace’s personal history and enrich her perceptive narration. An intersectionally diverse cast—which includes Grace’s taciturn yet supportive single father—helps the protagonist forge her own path and blaze a trail for others in this necessary debut."
"Grace’s journey through senior year is portrayed with nuance, noting the struggles of transition when one doesn’t “pass” and of old friends learning to accept a “new” version of herself. Grace grapples with the challenges and transphobia of rural proximity, but this experience is thoughtful and well balanced, with a variety of queer side characters realistically enduring the challenges of accepting one’s identity in high school... [D]ebut author Zeller speaks well to her roots as a native Western New Yorker, Bills fan, and trans woman. A standout first work, setting a high bar for the blooming subgenre of queer sports fiction."
"One of the Boys is a standout work of YA fiction, as inspiring and illuminating as it is funny and relatable."
"Flashback chapters written in the second-person present tense bring Grace’s past to life, which helps maintain momentum and makes her emotional journey feel more immersive. A heartfelt, goofy, and diverse cast of secondary characters surround Grace, who’s white, as she navigates self-doubt, friendship, complicated feelings for her ex-girlfriend, and what she wants to do after graduation. Overall, this coming-of-age sports narrative is honest, gentle, and hopeful. A winning game of feelingsball."
"Laced with humor and hope, One of the Boys is an exceptional coming-of-age novel about a trans girl forging her own identity while playing on her high school’s football team."
"This book was delightful to read, heartwarming yet with enough grit to make it more compelling than a fairytale version of this narrative."
"There are so many things to love about this book: Grace’s focused athleticism and her newly out trans high school experience; her ride-or-die band of rowdy male friends; the honest portrayal of football. One of the Boys is about the things we sacrifice to do what we love, and the things we must sacrifice to survive."
"I came into this book rooting for Grace, and I came away from it rooting for Grace even more."