Joy, to the World by Kai Shappley

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Joy, to the World by Kai Shappley

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Joy, to the World by Kai Shappley

A young Dumplin' meets Melissa in this joyful and energetic middle grade novel about a twelve-year-old girl living her life to the fullest, celebrating her love for sports and fighting for her right to cheer.

Joy, a twelve-year-old trans girl, just moved to Texas with her mother and older brother. Her family has accepted Joy as the girl she is early in her transition, with little fuss, leaving Joy to explore her love of sports, competition, teamwork, school spirit, and worship.

But when she is told she's off the cheerleading team, Joy wants to fight for her right to cheer. As her battle with the school board picks up momentum, Joy attracts support from kids all around the country . . . she even gets the attention of her hero, trans activist Kai Shappley.

Inspired by Kai's own life, Joy, to the World is a timely story of living life to the fullest, celebrating and centering trans joy, courage, and resilience. 


One girl. One team. One unfair rule that changes everything.


  • Inspired by a True Story: Based on the life of co-author and activist Kai Shappley, this novel shines a light on the real-life challenges and triumphs of trans kids in Texas.
  • Finding Your Voice: When the school board says no, Joy discovers that speaking up can inspire a movement, proving one kid can make a world of difference.
  • Cheerleading and Teamwork: From falling in love with the sport to forming the unstoppable Sparkle Squad, this story celebrates the power of spirit, stunts, and standing together.
  • Unforgettable Friendships: With her best friend Max by her side and a growing squad of allies, Joy learns that the strongest teams are built on loyalty and acceptance.
Lisa Bunker lives in Exeter, New Hampshire. Before taking up writing full time, she had a thirty-year career in public and community radio. In November of 2018, she was elected to represent her town in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. She is married and has two grown children. Her geekeries include chess, piano, gender, storycraft, and language.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780063242753
ISBN 10 0063242753
Title Joy, to the World
Author Kai Shappley
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Year published 2023-05-09
Number of pages 240
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.