George

The female pronoun “she” is a central motif in George. From the outset, the book’s male-presenting protagonist is referred to with female pronouns (1). Even when other characters think George is a boy, the narrator makes sure that the reader sees George as she sees herself, a girl. This writing choice makes the world that insists she is a boy abnormal, rather than making George abnormal herself.

The effect of George’s pronoun is heightened when others in her world refer to her as a boy. The first person to do this is George’s brother Scott, who says, “That’s my little bro! Growing up and looking at dirty magazines,” attributing typically masculine behavior to a girl-identifying person (8). In this case, George initially finds the misidentification funny and “almost laughed” because she was looking at more wholesome images of clothed girls (8). However, hiding who she really is deeply upsets George. It is hurtful for people such as Ms. Udell to see the more sensitive elements of her character as forming “a fine young man,” rather than the girl she is (15).

It is a special moment for George when her best friend