Obie

Obie is the main character and first person narrator of the novel. When Obie is in the fifth grade, he comes out to his parents as transgender. For years, Obie has felt alone, trapped, and depressed. When he realizes that he is transgender and starts communicating with his parents, brother, and grandparents about his identity, he finds the help and support he needs.

However, coming out to his school, classmates, and swim team does not grant Obie immediate acceptance or belonging. When Obie is in middle school, he is shocked when his coach, Coach Bolton, assures him he is “never going to be a real man” and is kidding himself if he thinks he is “going to compete against the boys” (1). He then kicks Obie out of the Barracudas swim group, instead of letting him shift from the girls' to the boys' team. Obie is devastated, in that...