Between Perfect and Real Book

Between Perfect and Real is a young adult novel by Ray Stoeve, published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams, in 2021. Dean Foster is certain he is a trans boy; he has done the questioning and knows who he is. At school, though, everyone, including his girlfriend Zoe, assumes he is a lesbian, and his theatre director has just cast him as a 'nontraditional' Romeo.

Dean wonders whether it would be simpler to stay quiet until college. But as rehearsals go on, playing Romeo day after day makes him realise he wants to be seen as himself now, not only on stage but everywhere else too. A tender, honest coming-of-age story about identity and courage, for readers aged 12 and up.