Cycler (Cycler, #1) in Queereaders

Oct 02, 2008 Jennifer Wardrip rated it really liked it

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, read-by-other-reviewers

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

CYCLER is one of those rare storiess that can transcend one genre of book. Touted as a science fiction story, it can easily pass for a contemporary teen novel, with a little bit of mystery and even horror (if the concept of the story creeps you out!) thrown in.

Jill McTeague is a normal high school girl. She's got good friends who are helping her to snag a date to the prom. Not any date, though. She's been asked by her science lab partner but brushed him of Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

CYCLER is one of those rare storiess that can transcend one genre of book. Touted as a science fiction story, it can easily pass for a contemporary teen novel, with a little bit of mystery and even horror (if the concept of the story creeps you out!) thrown in.

Jill McTeague is a normal high school girl. She's got good friends who are helping her to snag a date to the prom. Not any date, though. She's been asked by her science lab partner but brushed him off saying it was too early to plan for the prom. She'd rather go with Tommy Knutson. They have Calculus together and she catches him looking at her throughout class.

There's only one small glitch in her plans. As long as her cycle stays on course, she can attend the prom as Jill. But if there is even a slight miscalculation on her part, she may be Jack at the time.

Jack is the person she becomes for four days prior to her period each month. The cycling from female to male started three years ago. She and her mom have been to all the doctors and had all the tests done, but no one can explain it or give her any help. So the McTeague family has taken matters into their own hands. When Jill becomes Jack, he is forced to stay home from school (they've created an ongoing need for blood transfusions each month for Jill by way of explanation) and denied access to the outside world. Jack has no access to the Internet, or a cell phone. His only stimulation comes from the piles of books, DVDs and porn Jill or her mother procures for him (thanks to the sticky notes he leaves for Jill when he's visiting).

Things are going along smoothly for Jill and her crush, Tommy, has started noticing her, no thanks to the crazy J-bar incident at the local ski slope. Now Jill just has to get him to ask her to the prom. However, in the meantime, Jack has snuck out of the house on his latest visit to peek at a sleeping Ramie, Jill's best friend. Jack is obsessed with Ramie. Mrs. McTeague strips Jack of all privileges and locks him in his room.

As the prom gets closer and closer, the cycling becomes more complicated for Jill and Jack. Jill has a harder time forcing Jack's residual thoughts into oblivion, and being around her best friend draws conflicting emotions within her.

CYCLER is a unique story that has many surprising elements within its covers. There is a lot of graphic sex talk, so those easily offended should refrain from picking this one up. My only complaint about the novel was the repetitive use of the world "mal." It was used quite often throughout the story and seemed to hamper the flow, rather than assist it. However, that being said, the entire concept is fascinating and kept me spellbound throughout the entire novel. It's not until the prom arrives does everything finally come together with the appropriate conclusion.

CYCLER is Ms. McLaughlin's first published novel, and according to the bio at the end of the book, a sequel is in the works. I know I for one will be keeping my eyes open to see what happens with Ramie, Tommy, Jack, and Jill!
...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 24, 2016 Mars R rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, quite-offensive-actually, searching-for-a-future-clarity

I... did not read the description for this book carefully enough. I thought it was gonna be a YA book exploring gender identity and also bicycles. Like, I pictured some nice young queer trying to cover themselves up in normal school, and then going to sleepaway cycling camp once a month to really be themselves. Maybe with the world's most confusing supportive parents. I WAS WRONG.

This book contains:
-No bicycles
-No exploration of gender identity
-No awareness of gender identity
-No supportive paren ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 09, 2009 Megan rated it liked it

Shelves: weird-body-shit, ya, coming-of-age, menstruation-narratives

the premise is rich for exploring gender from a teen girl's perspective -- the author creates a second character out of a 17-year-old's premenstrual hormones - the protagonist, jill, is transformed by mysterious processes into her male counterpart, jack, for five days out of the month, until the egg drops and she's "all girl" again.
jill bounces back and forth between two powerful forces in her life -- her conservative, antifeminist mother and her empowered, feminist best friend. ultimately her ...more

Like · see review

Nov 30, 2009 Danielle rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, lgbt, fiction

i give this one a big fat meh. it's a YA page turner, for sure, however, if i hear the word "mal" or "you deeply...(insert something here)" one more time.... ...more

Like · see review

Sep 25, 2008 J. rated it really liked it

Eh. I love the concept, and 3/4 of the book is really nice. However, the ending is rushed and eventually fails. It tries to end like a movie, and not like a novel, and that never works for me. Still, not a bad read. Just know that she was planning on writing a sequel before she even finished this one, so don't expect it to tie up any loose ends at all. ...more

Like · see review