When Aidan Became a Brother
A Review by Amanda Kendall
Bibliography:
Lukoff, Kyle. 2019. When Aidan Became a Brother. Ill. by Kaylani Juanita. New York: Lee & Low Books. ISBN 1620148374
Plot Summary:
As a young child, Aiden hated the sound of his name and the clothes that he wore. It was more than being a different kind of girl, Aiden didn't feel like a girl at all. He was a boy. Aiden shared his truth with his parents and together they learned, adjusted, and fixed the parts of Aiden's life that didn't feel true to him. When Aiden's mother becomes pregnant, Aiden wants to be the best big brother but worries that, like him, the baby might feel misunderstood. He sets out to find a name that will "fit this new person no matter who they grew up to be" (Lukoff 2019). He practices reading to the baby. He paints the baby's room with his father. But no matter what he does, he can't shake his worry. Aiden finally talks to his mother. She reassures him that mistakes might be made, but mistakes can be fixed and that the best way to be a big brother is "to love someone for exactly who they are" (Lukoff, 2019).
Critical Analysis:
When Aiden Became a Brother is a beautiful story of acceptance, love, and family. Lukoff writes with care and love, as he tells Aiden's story and explores Aiden's worries about becoming a big brother. The text is straightforward and clear from the beginning, explaining how Aiden did not feel like a girl, but rather "another kind of boy" (Lukoff 2019) and how his family "learned a lot from other families with transgender kids" (Lukoff 2019). As the story continues, Lukoff shows how Aiden's anxiety about the upcoming baby is heavily impacted by the gender stereotypes in the world. The reader sees how gender assumptions and questions make him uncomfortable and how his parents navigate this situations to make Aiden feel at ease. Lukoff uses Aiden's parents as a positive example of how to change the narrative of the dominant culture an counter gender bias. When asked if she is having a boy or a girl, Aiden's mother responds that she is "having a baby" (Lukoff 2019). Aiden and his family show how focusing on the person, rather than a gender, and loving someone for who they are is the most important thing we can do.
Kaylani Juanita's busy and vibrant illustrations pair perfectly with the text. Each double page spread captures Aiden's emotional journey. Juanita's facial expressions of the characters convey a range of strong emotions from anger, pride, and worry to unconditional love and acceptance. The details on each page show impeccable attention to detail and expand on the text. This is particularly true on the pages that show Aiden's first room and his second room. The first room has broken princess items on the floor and drawings of nature on the easel and notebook paper. The second room is filled with plants and nods to nature and the dress Aiden's mother was holding on the first page is now being used as a flag on a walking stick. Several items remain the same, like the fluffy chair and white rabbit, but many items have been replaced or repurposed to belong in Aiden's new space. Nature continues as a theme throughout the illustrations. For example on the page where Aiden is trying to find possible baby names, he is looking for something to "fit the new person no matter who they grow up to be" (Lukoff 2019), so he looks to nature for inspiration coming up with names like moss, rain, river, forest, and sky. Many pages are filled with text and art blending the words perfectly in the background or within the images leaving very little white space throughout the book. This format weaves the text with the pictures, using both mediums and the complete page to tell Aiden's story. Each digitally rendered illustration beautifully captures the mood and message of Lukoff's words and Aiden's journey.
Lukoff and Juanita have created a book that celebrates families, love, and the beautify of being true to yourself. Lukoff's note to readers at the back of the book explains how Aiden's story connects with everyone whether it's through the anxiety of becoming an older sibling or feeling like you don't belong. Void of stereotypes and gender assumptions, When Aiden Becomes a Big Brother proves how important and necessary books that represent the LGBTQ+ community are for ALL readers.
Review Excerpts & Awards:
HORN BOOK GUIDE (Fall 2019) "Brown-skinned (possibly biracial) Aidan, who's transgender, knows how it
feels to be misunderstood, so he wants to get things right for his new
sibling. Lukoff's straightforward approach to Aidan's gender transition
rings with authenticity, and he puts the child-centered story ahead of
message. Celebrating the family's close, affirming relationship,
Juanita's vibrant digital illustrations take cues from the text, which
models how to avoid the male/female binary."
KIRKUS REVIEWS (April 1, 2019) "Lukoff breaks away from binary language
and stereotypical gender roles, highlighting within the text and in an
author’s note that there is more than one way to be a person of any
gender. The hopeful message at the end emphasizes love and the
importance of staying open to learning. Joyful and affirming, Aidan’s
story is the first of its kind among books for welcoming a new baby."
- Stonewall Book Award, 2020
Curricular Connections/Books for Further Reading:
- Brown, Peter. Fred Gets Dressed. 0316200646
- Herthel, Jessica. I Am Jazz. 0803741073
- Love, Jessica. Julian is a Mermaid. 0763690457
- Lukoff, Kyle. Call Me Max. 147886897X
- Pearlman, Robb. Pink is for Boys. 0762462477
- Thorn, Theresa. It Feels Good to be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity. 1250302951
