The Shapeshifter's Guide to Gym Class
226 pages · Released Sep 1, 2026 · Simon and Schuster
Content report card
The Shapeshifter's Guide to Gym Class parent’s guide: what’s inside
Language
Sexual content
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
Educational value
A note for parents
This middle-grade debut blends magical fantasy with realistic coming-of-age struggles in a diverse, inclusive setting. The story centers on self-acceptance, friendship, and standing up against prejudice when a town turns on shapeshifters, with some tension and peril but no graphic content. The whimsical premise and themes of belonging make it appealing for ages 9–13, though younger readers should be comfortable with themes of social rejection and mild conflict.
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From the publisher
For fans of Judy Blume and Lee Knox Ostertag, a heartfelt and hilarious middle grade debut from Kai Cheng Thom about learning to listen to that quiet, bold voice in your heart. In every generation, a special few of Nor Numinem are born shapeshifters. Unfortunately, being one of the “special few” does not get you out of... For fans of Judy Blume and Lee Knox Ostertag, a heartfelt and hilarious middle grade debut from Kai Cheng Thom about learning to listen to that quiet, bold voice in your heart. In every generation, a special few of Nor Numinem are born shapeshifters. Unfortunately, being one of the “special few” does not get you out of gym class. Nor Numinem. A town of hope and beauty. A place where freedom for all blooms as abundantly as the flowering vines that cover the buildings on every street. Yet even in this beautiful town, a kid like Maia’s got problems. Maia is a shapeshifter. And worse, she’s starting middle school. In every generation, a special few of Nor Numinem are born shapeshifters: children who develop the mysterious ability to transform into a part-animal shape. Unfortunately for Maia, her ability is merely this: to grow giant moth wings that grow uncontrollably out of her back whenever she’s excited, or upset, or for some reason, whenever her new classmate Luke looks at her in a particular way. Worse than worse? Maia’s wings are useless. Weak and fragile--unlike her talented friends. But Maia’s problems are about get much harder than even she knows. A strange illness is spreading through the gardens of Nor Numinem. The very gardens that feed and sustain this once-perfect town. Worse still, some of the adults think the shapeshifter children are to blame. As rumors turn into hate, life gets tougher for those who aren't seen as "normal". Maia and her friends will soon discover that there is a dark rift in Nor Numinem, one that will take all their talents, known and unknown, to heal.
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
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ISBN 9781668210895 · Simon and Schuster