ZENOBIA JULY

With heartrending earnestness, narrator Taylor Meskimen draws listeners into the emotional life of Zenobia July, a tech-savvy trans girl who's facing a new year at a new middle school. Fresh from the loss of her father, Zen moved in with her married aunts, and now she's living openly as a girl for the first time. Navigating middle school friendships is tough, even among the quirky, inclusive crowd led by genderqueer Arli. But Zen finds solace in coding and gaming, and when the school's website is hacked by a hateful troll, Zen turns her own impressive hacker skills to finding the culprit. Meskimen's sincere narration immerses listeners in Zen's experiences, giving weight to her anxiety and vulnerability without sacrificing her youthful humor and joy. R.A.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2019]