Parents' Guide to

Symptoms of Being Human

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Empathetic, empowering story of gender-fluid teen.

Book Jeff Garvin Coming of Age 2016
Symptoms of Being Human Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Kim P.
Kim P. Parent of 15 and 18-year-old
April 7, 2023
age 10+

This is an important, fabulous book for teens.

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin is a fabulous book, well-written, and relatable for any teen, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Riley starts at a new school and makes two new friends. It's about what every kid struggles with - can they find their people and are they lovable, no matter what? The main character, Riley, is grappling with their gender identity and starts a blog about being gender fluid. Riley is a compassionate, kind, funny person, who struggles to find a place where they belong and feel loved, like every teen. This book is appropriate for all teens. There's no drinking or drugs or sex. There is a sexual assault, but there are no details on the page. This is a really important book, building compassion and acceptance for all people. Anybody who reads this book will gain an understanding for what it's like to be trans or gender fluid. I think it should be in every school, available to all kids.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Clc7117
Clc7117 Parent of 13-year-old
February 10, 2021
age 12+

Great book

If you are unfamiliar with the term ‘gender fluid,’ this is a great book to learn about it. You will love the characters.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It's hard enough to find where you fit in high school, but Riley has it harder than many: Riley feels like a girl some days, a boy on others, and often somewhere in between. Riley doesn't know how to explain this to family, much less classmates, so most days Riley strives to be neutral. But it doesn't work: Bullies soon target Riley, and new friendships are hamstrung by unasked questions and Riley's uncertainty. Starting an anonymous blog seems a safe outlet for Riley's pent-up feelings, but even that gets painfully complicated when well-intentioned advice to another non-gender-conforming teen becomes a news story. Even worse, someone at school knows Riley's secret, and the pressure may be too much to bear.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (18):

Like its hero, this keenly observed portrait of a gender-fluid teen desperate to live authentically defies easy categorization. It has obvious appeal for LGBTQ teens and allies, but it's also a moving depiction of anxiety anyone can relate to. SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN is a tenderly written and empathetic debut from Jeff Garvin, who remarkably avoids using any gender-specific pronouns in describing Riley and never reveals which gender Riley was assigned at birth.

The general plot line feels stale for this generation -- teen with nonconforming gender identity stays closeted, is sexually attacked, and decides to come out. But getting to know Riley could be a breathtaking experience for gender-fluid teens, who see so little of their reality reflected in mainstream media. And for friends, family, and anyone else trying to better understand gender dysphoria, Garvin writes with heartfelt compassion.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about blogging and the line between private and public. Do you feel like the words or pictures you share online are private or public? How does that perception affect what you choose to share? What privacy precautions do you take?

  • Do you notice how much gender affects the way you interact with new people? Do you know anyone like Riley?

  • Riley chooses to engage with some trolls who respond to the blog but ignores others. How do you handle haters and trolls?

Book Details

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