Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Summary

     Symptoms of Being Human tells the story of Riley, who transfer from a private Catholic school to a public school.  Riley hopes that the students at the new school will be more openminded and accepting compared to those in the old school.  Sadly, both school’s acceptance level is the same.  Riley is able to make close friends.  One such friend is Solo, an overweight Star Wars loving boy who is is also being bullied.  He informs Riley; that Riley’s dress and behavior might be a reason for the constant harassment.  Another person that Riley connects with is Bec ; whose sister was transgender.  She, who Riley first thought was a he, invites Riley to a support group of members of the LGBTQ community.  While attending this meeting, Riley fins a place where to fit in. 

     Riley had already started a blog as a form of therapy and was able to help others in need.  Riley’s blog becomes popular after a transgender girl, Andie, publicly thanks Riley’s blog alter ego, Alix, for encouraging her to keep on living.  This was done over News Outlets when Andie was interviewed after she was badly beaten by her father.

     Those in the LGBTQ support group are able to decipher that Riley is Alix and encourage Riley to become a speaker on a discussion panel.  Someone from Riley’s school hacks the blog and discovers Alix’s true identity and informs those at the school and the media.  Riley is forced to come out to his family, including his father who is U.S. congressman running for re-election.  Which ends in ruins.  After coming-out; Riley leaves home and is assaulted by three boys who are attempting to determine if Riley is male or female.  Bec and Solo are able to stop the attack and help Riley out.  The attack motivates Riley and the strength needed to come out publicly and to participate in the panel.  

Commentary on the Strengths

Symptoms of Being Fluid is the debut novel by Jeff Garvin.  The book is a Young Adult, contemporary realistic fiction novel.  The story is a GLBT work of art; where the main protagonists are gender fluid.  The main character is Riley; who we never know Riley’s gender.  At first, you are trying to find clues as to Riley’s sexual orientation but as the book progresses it does not matter at all to the storyline.   This book does a good job of explaining what is meant by being gender fluid, and lets the reader know that there are many ways one can be gender fluid.  This is a great book for teens that are gender fluid to live vicariously through the main character’s lives.  

Readers also enjoyed Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz, Georgia Peachers and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown, Frannie and Tru by Karen Hattrup, Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley, and  Beast by Brie Spangler

Symptoms of Being Human was Jeff Garvin's debut novel.  It is also his only published work of art.

Teachers can find ideas as to how to incorporate this book into their lesson plans by visiting the following website: http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-symptoms-of-being-human/#gsc.tab=0

Garvin, J. (2016). Symptoms of being human. New York: Balzer Bray.

A Book review