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A review by lilyrooke
If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla
4.0
read this if you enjoyed I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver; The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson.
rep: trans, questioning MC; gay LI; queer secondary cast; mother with depression and suicide ideation.
cw: suicide attempt by a parent; past suicide attempt by a parent; parent with depression and suicide ideation; hospitalisation following attempted suicide; dissociation; anxiety; parental separation; references to transphobia, deadnaming and misgendering; discussions of body dysphoria.
Deeply isolated and struggling with his mental health, trans teen Gael sees no option but to keep his head down and survive another day, especially with his father out of the picture and his mother struggling with severe depression. But when he is welcomed into an LGBTQIAP+ peer support group, Gael gradually begins to question whether he can trust others with his heart.
Quiet and understated, If I Can Give You That is an incredibly important book about self-acceptance, learning to trust others, and coping with the extreme stress of growing up with a parent with severe depression and suicide ideation. I'm so glad young readers who are trans or questioning their gender identity will have Gael. Essential reading for trans teens. For me personally, I related most to Ana (Gael's mum), and I thought her arc was handled with such care and respect. I love that time was taken for Gael to defend his mum, to separate love from mental illness, and to demonstrate how mental illness doesn't magically disappear at the end of the story, but there are ways to attempt recovery.
CAWPILE: 7.6 (4*)
favourite character: Gael. My inner teen needed Gael.
most relatable character: Gael's mum. Lots to unpack privately. Ana's story was written so well.
a wish: more authentic/age-appropriate dialogue
disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from HarperCollins via Edelweiss+ and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
rep: trans, questioning MC; gay LI; queer secondary cast; mother with depression and suicide ideation.
cw: suicide attempt by a parent; past suicide attempt by a parent; parent with depression and suicide ideation; hospitalisation following attempted suicide; dissociation; anxiety; parental separation; references to transphobia, deadnaming and misgendering; discussions of body dysphoria.
Deeply isolated and struggling with his mental health, trans teen Gael sees no option but to keep his head down and survive another day, especially with his father out of the picture and his mother struggling with severe depression. But when he is welcomed into an LGBTQIAP+ peer support group, Gael gradually begins to question whether he can trust others with his heart.
Quiet and understated, If I Can Give You That is an incredibly important book about self-acceptance, learning to trust others, and coping with the extreme stress of growing up with a parent with severe depression and suicide ideation. I'm so glad young readers who are trans or questioning their gender identity will have Gael. Essential reading for trans teens. For me personally, I related most to Ana (Gael's mum), and I thought her arc was handled with such care and respect. I love that time was taken for Gael to defend his mum, to separate love from mental illness, and to demonstrate how mental illness doesn't magically disappear at the end of the story, but there are ways to attempt recovery.
CAWPILE: 7.6 (4*)
favourite character: Gael. My inner teen needed Gael.
most relatable character: Gael's mum. Lots to unpack privately. Ana's story was written so well.
a wish: more authentic/age-appropriate dialogue
disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from HarperCollins via Edelweiss+ and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.