Dolls Kill - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$4.99 with 67 percent savings
Print List Price: $14.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

E J Shelley
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Heart of the Matter Kindle Edition

by E J Shelley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

Just be yourself. It seems so simple… until it isn’t.

Sammy Ryan knew who he was and what he wanted. No small feat for a 10-year-old. But many people, even his own father, wanted Sammy to be something he couldn’t be… a girl.

The Heart of the Matter is a heart-warming, sometimes heart-wrenching novel of prejudice, friendship, and unexpected love.

Step into this moving journey about the transition of a child, and the transformation of those who love him.

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    351 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    November 11, 2018
  5. File size
    925 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book opened my mind and my heart to the transgender community. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you fall in love with a family that is like no other. I haven't read a book that has made me feel so much in a long time." - Alex Andersen, Author of A Ghost of a Chance


I was connected to all of the characters and pulled in by their individual struggles, as well as by the wonderful way all of their stories weave together to form a beautiful quilt of family, romance, love, acceptance, and growth into their best selves. -Megan Barnhard, Author of Recipe for Outlining


"This book tells a heartfelt story of a transgender boy and his mostly loving and supportive family. The story is one I could certainly relate to with my own childhood. I think this book is great for gender diversity advocates and parents who are seeking a better understanding of what it means to be a transgender person." -Shelley Roth, Springboard--Social Media and Gender Diversity Training


"It's not often a book makes me have ALL the feels... but this one did it. I cannot say enough good things about EJ's story, it's heartbreaking, heart-mending, affirming, and beautifully told." -Morigan Shaw, Author of The Idoramin Chronicles

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07HVQJZ8L
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 11, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 925 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 351 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
E J Shelley

E J Shelley

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

When family losses left EJ asking the question, “What are you going to do with the rest of your life?” the answer was obvious and undeniable. Embracing her lifelong dream of being an author, she set out to write her first novel—a sweet romance.

But, she was soon jarred from her sweet fiction by the reality of prejudice and politics that threatened people she loved. Just as her calling to write had been undeniable, so was her next course of action. EJ changed her story—both her life, and her book.

In her debut novel, The Heart of the Matter, EJ Shelley invites you to share the challenges, the triumphs, the joy, and the anguish of a transgender child and of the family who holds him in their hearts.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
19 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book to be a great read with a captivating story, particularly praising it as an outstanding tale of a little boy. They appreciate its authenticity.

Select to learn more

ReadabilityStory qualityAuthenticity
4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great read.

"...Authentic , loving, compassionate. A great read! I loved the character development and the interplay of the story lines...." Read more

"I loved this novel. The subject of transgender children is near and dear to my heart, since I was a public school teacher...." Read more

"...Good a read. Thank you for your honesty and story." Read more

"Well worth the read!" Read more

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the story captivating, particularly praising it as an outstanding tale of a little boy.

"This is a story of a little boy, and believe me, Sammy is all boy, who just happened to be born in a girls body...." Read more

"Beautifully written by a great story teller! Authentic , loving, compassionate. A great read!..." Read more

"...It’s important that our children be safe wherever they are. The story was captivating. I couldn’t wait to finish it!" Read more

"This story was touching on many levels about an important issue of our times. Family (old and new) and loving hearts made the difference." Read more

3 customers mention "Authenticity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the book.

"Beautifully written by a great story teller! Authentic , loving, compassionate. A great read!..." Read more

"So sweet and pure..." Read more

"Very Honest..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Laurie J. Tom
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Story of a Little Boy and the People who love him.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a story of a little boy, and believe me, Sammy is all boy, who just happened to be born in a girls body. After the ultimate betrayal, Sammy and his mother are left in a position to go it alone. As you read about these people and the events that shaped their lives, you will gain a new understanding of the transgender community. This is a beautiful first book by the author and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us all. EJ Shelley has a way of making us look at the world in a different way. Bravo!
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Liane Carmen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tugs at the heart
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The author takes us into a fictional family and allows us to see the struggles the family faces with Sammy, a transgender child. It makes you angry because there are people who face this turmoil and bullying in real life. In the end, the people who really matter are the ones surrounding Sammy. It’s so warm and touching that you almost forgot where they started, that he had any issues being exactly who he was meant to be. And isn’t that how it really should be?
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • November Hebert-Rose
    5.0 out of 5 stars So sweet and pure
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Pure love throughout <3 I’m so glad to have read this book. The supportive family theme is wonderful. Will definitely make your heart happy.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ross P
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Beautifully written by a great story teller! Authentic , loving, compassionate. A great read! I loved the character development and the interplay of the story lines. The author did a wonderful job showing how challenging it can be to be a trans kid,
    for them and their family and yet how simply allowing each other our own humanity enriches and affirms all of us.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sylvia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this novel. The subject of transgender children is near and dear to my heart, since I was a public school teacher. It’s important that our children be safe wherever they are. The story was captivating. I couldn’t wait to finish it!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • CD
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Honest
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    As an educator this is a story a lot of my students have gone through and are going through.
    Good a read. Thank you for your honesty and story.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Valerie Burson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This story was touching on many levels about an important issue of our times. Family (old and new) and loving hearts made the difference.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • JackRabbit
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Well worth the read!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • M. J.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening
    Reviewed in Canada on March 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is a unique book.
    It reads much like a sweet romance, but it's about a transgender child. Sometimes being Canadian I forget how hateful and intolerant many people are. This book was very eye-opening about the challenges a trans child faces both from their own body and from how they are treated by the world around them.
    Report
  • J. Caddick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed reading this. Although it didn't go exactly as I thought it was going to, the characters were very likeable and realistic.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report