North of Tomboy is an inviting novel that takes you on the journey of a young girl struggling to find her identity in an era where women aren’t seen as members of the public but members of the household only. Jess is stuck in a household that won’t accept her for who she is and in a society that is trying to force her to become girly. Girly is seen as someone who wears dresses, plays with dolls, and has friends who are girls. In the 1970s, it was common for women to be forced into stereotypical heteronormative roles and men the same. The mom is a housewife and a school teacher by day, and the dad works in construction. Jess just wants to be herself, and she wants everyone in her life to accept her for who she is without trying to force her into a role she does not want to be in. Will the people in Jess’s life finally accept her for who she is, or will she be met with more pushback?

 

Julie Swanson does a phenomenal job with the writing of this book by diving into the typical heteronormative roles displayed in the 1970s households. The typical mom who works part-time as a teacher to try to make ends meet, and the dad who is upset with the lack of money he is making. Jess is one of the main characters in a house with three other siblings, Matt, Lucy, and Chip. Lucy likes to play with dolls, and the boys enjoy outdoor sports like basketball and hockey. Unfortunately for Jess, she always gets paired up with Lucy instead of getting the chance to play with the boys like she wants to. Throughout the novel, we get to see each character start to develop and learn to step outside of their comfort zone in an era where that isn’t normal. Everyone struggles, especially Jess, with the roles she is being forced into. Jess just wants to play with the boys, wear pants, and cut her hair short. The author does a great job of diving into Jess’s head and explaining the feelings and emotions that she is struggling with. We also get to see her relationship with her parents and siblings change in a way that is conducive to the growth of her mental health. Her parents must either learn to accept Jess for who she is or lose her entirely.

 

Throughout this novel, I felt for Jess and the challenges she continued to face. Especially when Jess was given a female doll at the beginning of the novel, she immediately cut the doll’s hair and changed the doll into the boy she always wanted to be. Jess struggled with her identity so much so that she started projecting onto the doll, and the family started getting annoyed by how obsessed she was with the doll instead of trying to understand the why behind her changing the doll’s appearance. The whole doll itself was a great addition to the overall plot and theme of the story. Imagine spending your entire life feeling trapped in your body, telling others who you are, and no one believing you. Mickey, the doll, becomes a pivotal moment in the story and a major milestone in Jess’s life and development.

 

I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in a well-developed coming-of-age story about a young girl who truly develops into someone she can stand to look at in the mirror. This book is intended for middle grade aged youth and older.

Disclaimer: this review reflects my own opinions and not the opinions of the author or publisher. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.