We're so excited to share that George by Alex Gino will now be titled Melissa. Learn more about the meaning behind this monumental change from the author themselves below!
I’m delighted to share that Scholastic and I are officially changing the title of my first book to Melissa, with a new cover available in spring 2022. It was published as George in 2015, but that’s a name the main character does not like or want to use for herself. No matter how many people have come to know it as George, we felt it was important to fix the title. What we call people matters and we all deserve to be referred to in ways that feel good to us. Calling the book Melissa is a way to respect her, as well as all transgender people. The text inside won’t change, so the name George will still appear to reflect the character’s growth within the novel, but Melissa will be the first name readers will know her by. I hope you’ll make the change with us. If you already own a copy of the book, you can make the change yourself, or you will be able to find new covers to print out on my website or on Scholastic’s website; we will share the link once the art is up. New copies of Melissa will be printed soon and available in stores in April 2022. I appreciate all the kind words people have shared about Melissa (and Melissa), and look forward to her living on with this new, right title.
