Man O' War by McCarthy, Cory

A Stonewall Honor Book

An achingly honest and frequently hilarious coming-of-age novel about an Arab American trans teen fighting to keep their head above water in a landlocked Midwestern town.

Man o' wars are not jellyfish, and River McIntyre is not happy. River doesn't know why they're unhappy--though perhaps it has something to do with the way they relate more to captive marine life at the local aquarium than to the people around them. That is, until they have a run-in with Indigo "Indy" Waits on the annual class field trip. Face-to-face with an affirmed queer person, River leaps out of the closet and into the shark tank. Literally. What follows is a wrenching journey of self-discovery that spans years and winds through layers of coming out, transition, and top surgery, promising a free life for River with so much more than happiness: A life that's full of trans joy and true love.

"River is the most emotionally engaging character I've read in a long time, and this novel is a deep and comprehensive exploration of the journey transgender people trek through the confining world they're born into. Eye-opening, heartfelt, and real--with a massive payoff of true love." --A.S. King, author of Dig, winner of the Michael L. Printz Award

Author: Cory McCarthy
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Published: 05/31/2022
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.93lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.80w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9780593353707
Age Range: 14-17

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.1
Point Value: 14
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 521839 / Man O' War

Award: Stonewall Book Award - Honor Book

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2022
Publishers Weekly 04/11/2022
Booklist 05/15/2022 pg. 44
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2022
School Library Journal 02/03/2023 pg. 1
BookPage 06/01/2022

About the Author
Cory McCarthy (he/they) is the award-winning author of numerous bestselling and award winning books for young readers, including Hope Is an Arrow, about fellow Arab American Kahlil Gibran, and Man o' War, a Stonewall Honor Book. He also contributed to the Michael L. Printz Award winning anthology The Collectors: Stories. Cory studied poetry and screenwriting before falling in love with writing for young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts, where he now teaches.