tranny characters, autistic characters, etc. can be the stars of a good story, just by virtue of being an underdog via the everyday struggles of being tranny, autistic, etc., and as long as it's decently written. The problem with AM is that Stephie never actually faces any of those real struggles. Another kid undermines her girlness - realistic and underdog-making - but then the other kids stand with her and ostricize the other kid? It's not as realistic, but not impossible, but it also removes the adversity of the situation. Her struggles with being "outed" are artificial, since people already know all about her. Her mother is fully supportive. Her father - the worst thing in her life apparently - at least tries to get it. What about being bullied and harassed, and disowned by your own parents and forced out into the streets where religion-based charities won't help queer freakshows so they have to become an underage prostitue to survive (surprisingly common)? I mean it doesn't have to get that deep, but you have to put something there to struggle against. That's just the basics of writing. Conflict. Stephie has none, outside of the conflict she creates with her aggression towards anyone who doesn't completely understand tranny issues. So the star character is unsympathetic and there is no real story. It's a platform to talk at people from.
