The Passing Playbook

A feel-good contemporary young adult romance about a trans athlete who must decide between fighting for his right to play as himself or staying stealth.

“Sharply observant and vividly drawn . . . I loved every minute I spent in this story, and I’ve never rooted harder for a jock in my life.”—Becky Albertalli New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

“A gentle and wholesome depiction of the struggles of passing to fit in.”—The Nerd Daily

Spencer Harris is a proud nerd, an awesome big brother, and a verifiable David Beckham in training. (Well, if David Beckham were five foot two and Black.) He’s also about to start tenth grade at a new high school, the most liberal one in Ohio, where he can safely be out as queer but where no one will know he’s trans.

At first, life at Oakley is almost too good to be true. Spencer has more accepting classmates, a decent shot at a starting position on the boys’ soccer team, great new friends, and maybe even something more than friendship with one of his teammates.

But staying stealth comes at a cost when a discriminatory law forces Spencer to choose between spending the season on the bench or publicly fighting for his right to play, even though it would mean coming out to everyone—including the guy he’s falling for.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs