Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Empathetic, empowering story of gender-fluid teen.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 19 kid reviews
Kids say the story is deeply engaging and relatable, especially for those grappling with identity and gender fluidity, although it contains some mature themes and language that may not be suitable for younger readers. Overall, the book offers valuable insight into the experiences of gender fluid individuals but has been criticized for primarily depicting the struggles and negative experiences faced by trans characters, potentially skewing perceptions in a negative way.
- relatable experience
- educational value
- mature themes
- empowerment message
- negative representation
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : February 2, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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