[How it Works](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/how-it-works/) [Bookshop](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/books/bindery/) [Publishing](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/publishing/) [Team](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/team/) [Contact](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/contact/) Log in or Sign up Joy, to the World: A Middle Grade Novel About Trans Joy and Fighting to Cheer for Kids (Ages 8-12) Kai Shappley Lisa Bunker Save to Your Books [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/3647/9780063242753) [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063242753?tag=pucksandpaperbacks-20) 100% of affiliate revenue supports Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks) 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. Show more Get the Bindery app * * * Posts about this title from Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks) [Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks)\\ \\ Alex (he/him/his)\\ \\ • Jul 7](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/) [Poll:\\ \\ Will you be joining us??\\ \\ Hi everyone! This weekend is our seasonal readathon to celebrate summer! **It goes from Friday, July 10th to Tuesday, July 14th starting at midnight in your time zone and going until 11:59PM to Tuesday, July 14th (in your time zone).** Join us in Discord! \\ \\ **The Rules:** This is a laid-back readathon. Read as much or as little as possible, mood read or use the bingo card linked below. **My only ask is that the books you're reading have queer rep and/or are written by a BIPOC author. I'm cultivating a space where we diversify our reading.**\\ \\ **I'll be hosting sprints for free and paid members on Sunday, July 12th from 12pm to 3pm EST.** **CLICK HERE** **to access the stream.** I'll make an official post leading up to the sprints for an extra reminder. The stream will be available to access afterward. \\ \\ For anyone who wants it, I created a bingo card. CLICK HERE to access the bingo card. \\ \\ \\ \\ **BINGO CARD PROMPTS**\\ \\ 01. Read a book set at the beach\\ \\ 02. Read a book where the character completes a bucket list \\ \\ 03. Read a novella \\ \\ 04. Read a book that starts with 'J' \\ \\ 05. Attend reading sprints\\ \\ 06. Read a book featuring ice cream \\ \\ 07. Read a book published in July \\ \\ 08. Read a book with disability/neurodivergent rep (It's Disability Pride Month!) \\ \\ 09. Read a book on your summer TBR\\ \\ 10. Read a book with your favorite color on the cover \\ \\ 11. Read a graphic novel, comic, or manga \\ \\ 12. Read a book set during the summer\\ \\ 13. Read a romance book \\ \\ 14. Read a middle grade book \\ \\ 15. Have a summer treat \\ \\ 16. Write a book review \\ \\ \\ **RECOMMENDATIONS** \\ \\ **Disability & Neurodivergent Rep**\\ \\ - _Here We Go Again_ by Alison Cochrun _(ADHD)_\\ \\ - _Hell Followed with Us_ by Andrew Joseph White (Autism)\\ \\ - How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby (anxiety & depression)\\ \\ - Someone to Daydream About by Sydney Langford (deaf FMC, MMC w/ ADHD, dysgraphia & dyslexia)\\ \\ \\ **Graphic Novels**\\ \\ - _Magical Boy_ by The Kao\\ \\ - _The Chromatic Fantasy_ by H.A.\\ \\ - _Homebody_ by Theo Parish\\ \\ - _This One Summer_ by Mariko & Jillian Tamaki \\ \\ \\ **Manga**\\ \\ - _Blue Flag_ by KAITO\\ \\ - _Dinosaur Sanctuary_ by Itaru Kinoshita\\ \\ - _Confessions of a Shy Baker_ by Masaomi Ito (CW: Dieting, calorie counting)\\ \\ - _Cat + Gamer_ by Wataru Nadatani\\ \\ \\ **Summer (Beach) Reads**\\ \\ - _Melt My Heart_ by Bethany Rutter\\ \\ - _The House of Now and Then_ by Edward Underhill \\ \\ - _The Summer of Everything_ by Julian Winters\\ \\ - _If You Change Your Mind_ by Robby Weber \\ \\ - _Our Way Back to Always_ by Nina Moreno \\ \\ \\ **Books starting with 'J'**\\ \\ - _Just As You Are_ by Cameron Kellogg \\ \\ - _Jonny Appleseed_ by Joshua Whitehead\\ \\ - _Just Between Us_ by Adeline Kon\\ \\ - _Joy, to the World_ by Lisa Bunker, Kai Shappley\\ \\ - _Junior High_ by Tegan & Sara\\ \\ \\ **Books Published in July**\\ \\ - Buried Feelings by Kit Rosewater (July 7, 2026)\\ \\ - Heartstopper: Volume Six by Alice Oseman (July 2026)\\ \\ - Melt My Heart by Bethany Rutter (July 23, 2020)\\ \\ \\ **Middle Grade books**\\ \\ - _The Beautiful Something Else_ by Alder Van Otterloo\\ \\ - _The House of Sunrise Lagoon series_ by Nicole Melleby\\ \\ - _Glitch Girl!_ by Rainie Oet\\ \\ - _Dear Mothman_ by Robin Gow\\ \\ \\ **Novellas**\\ \\ - _Finna_ by Nino Cipri\\ \\ - _Peter Darling_ by Austin Chant\\ \\ - _Read Between the Lines_ by Bee Medina\\ \\ - _Loading...The Machine Child_ by T.T. Wadden\\ \\ \\ **Romance Books**\\ \\ - _The Next Chapter_ by Cameron Kellogg \\ \\ - _And They Were Roommates by_ Page Powars\\ \\ - _Xeni_ by Rebekah Weatherspoon\\ \\ - _The Broposal_ by Sonido Reyes](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/item/B1nc8GruxQPomxEEQ3bt/) [Summer Seasonal Readathon This Weekend (July 10th - July 14th) \| Bingo Card, Recommendations, & More!](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/item/B1nc8GruxQPomxEEQ3bt/) Join us for our readathon this weekend! * * * 36 books [Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks)\\ \\ Alex (he/him/his)\\ \\ • Jun 28](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/) [50+ trans book recommendations 🏳️‍⚧️](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/item/rX4As1PWOvuVhHN7Gsus/) Over 50 trans book recommendations for the Trans Rights Readathon and Trans Reading Challenge ranging from memoirs, nonfiction, romance, contemporary, YA and middle grade, and some SFF. * * * 69 books 1 Posts about this book from across Bindery [Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks)\\ \\ Alex (he/him/his)\\ \\ • Jul 7](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/) Join us for our readathon this weekend! * * * 36 books [Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks)\\ \\ Alex (he/him/his)\\ \\ • Jun 28](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/) [50+ trans book recommendations 🏳️‍⚧️](https://pucksandpaperbacks.binderybooks.com/item/rX4As1PWOvuVhHN7Gsus/) * * * 69 books 1