There wasn't the concentration on hair and clothing (although those were mentioned) that I've seen in other books, which was a nice change. Strengths: I really liked how Zen's identity was described- she had just always felt like a girl, her mother and father struggled with it, and her aunts were supportive. It does change, as well, so what is correct today may not be later. Nota Bene: I have tried to get all of my gender language correct, but it is something that I struggle with. In the end, though, Zen is able to solve the hacker mystery, keep her good friends, and even trusts Arli with her identity. Her aunts are supportive of her ups and downs with fitting in, and there are a lot of upsets. When it turns out that another classmate, Elijah, is a trans boy, Melissa is not very understanding, and others in the school are negative enough that Zen really wants to keep her secret.

She is invited to Melissa's house for family games, and her mother is very comforting, but Melissa's family is very religious. In the meantime, one of her aunts' friends takes her shopping and gets her clothes that make her more comfortable, and she makes friends with Melissa. Eager to find the hackers, Zenobia offers to investigate. (The pronouns Arli uses are vo, ven, veir) Zenobia helps her teacher out with some computer problems, but before long there is a really big computer issue- Chantal (who is Muslim and whom Arli calls Dyna), is the subject of racist threats on the school web site. Arli is gender queer, and does not identify as any gender, which has caused troubles at home. She does manage to make a friend, Arli, who has a lunch table full of friends who all have some trouble fitting in. She wants to keep it that way, so is rather quiet. She is starting a new school, and rather nervous about it, especially since she is a trans girl and no one at the new school knows her background.

Zenobia has moved from Arizona, where she lived with her dysfunctional father after the death of her mother, and is now living in Maine with her Aunt Lucy and her wife Phil. May 21st 2019 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker