Ciel is excited to start high school. A gender non-conforming trans kid, Ciel has a YouTube channel and dreams of getting a better camera to really make their mark. Ciel can always rely on their best friend, Stephie, a trans girl who also happens to be a huge nerd. But their friendship begins to feel distant when Stephie makes it clear she wants the fact that she’s trans to be less visible now that they’re in high school. While navigating this new dynamic with Stephie, Ciel is also trying to make a long-distance relationship work with their boyfriend Eiríkur, who just moved back to Iceland. Add to the mix a cute swim star named Liam, and Ciel’s life is becoming more complicated by the minute!
Tinlids: Maria Recommends - Fall 2020 Children's | 2020 | Commended
OLA Best Bets | 2021 | Long-listed
"This charming novel depicts a realistic slice of life as a nonbinary teen."
"Ciel is such a charming character you want to spend time in their world, learning about their friends, family, and even their favourite brand of chips."
"In Ciel, Labelle has written something that cis kids can relate to and learn from, and that trans kids can also see themselves in without being demoralized. Ciel feels simultaneously like a mirror and an instant friend."
"Ciel’s experience is both very specific and fairly universal, giving readers a glimpse into the head and heart of a young nonbinary person living their life and trying to make the world just a little bit better along the way."