Presenting as her true self—a girl—is both liberating and challenging for Zenobia July. The rules of girl world are baffling, and her transition is not the only change to which she’s adjusting. After her father’s sudden death she moved in with her lesbian aunts, who regularly entertain an eccentric group of friends that includes Uncle Sprink, a drag queen who takes Zen under his wing. Not ready to come out as trans at school, Zen befriends a group of “orphan misfits”—particularly genderqueer Arli—but faces bullying by girls who deride her appearance. Zen’s primary refuge is her computer. With her outstanding tech skills, she investigates an elusive hacker who has begun posting Islamophobic and transphobic memes on the school website. Zen, white, is utterly believable as a middle schooler dealing with complex emotions, growing into herself, and finding her community. Although the story’s tech subplot is less credible, having a sharp, tech-savvy, game-loving heroine is nonetheless refreshing. (Ages 8–13)