Trans Teen Survival Guide

August 13, 2018
The Fishers, a non–gender-binary couple, offer a warm, informative, and comprehensive handbook for transgender and non-binary teens. The authors open with discussions of sex and gender and what it means to be trans, emphasizing that gender identity exists along a continuum. Lightly illustrated chapters focus on the conflicts facing many trans individuals, including choosing whether to tell friends and family and grappling with dysphoria, dating, and hormones. Throughout, the authors include first-hand accounts from transgender individuals of different ages. A nonbinary 17-year-old explains that “dysphoria makes me feel dirty. Like I haven’t showered in days.” In addition to exploring psychological considerations, the authors offer tips on clothing choices that might help trans teens feel more authentically themselves: “Buying oversized shirts can often help with giving you more of a boxy shape. They are also perfect to wear over your T-shirt and binder and can help with giving you a flatter chest.” Resource lists provide readers with opportunities to connect to broader trans communities. Ages 13–17.

August 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-In this guide, the authors present readers with a wealth of information on the complexities of navigating the world as a trans person. Through 19 short chapters, the content covers topics such as gender expression, coming out, dysphoria, name changes, being true to oneself, coping with puberty, hormone blockers and cross-hormones, dating as a trans person, and self-care. Personal stories from trans youth and comics by cartoonist Sophie Labelle reinforce the underlying message: there are a vast array of trans experiences. The book has a UK-centric slant, which is reinforced by a "Resources and Cool People" chapter of primarily European recommendations-often the advice and resources feel slightly removed from the realities of U.S. readers. The writing is frequently informal but sometimes comes across as stilted and dry. While the bulk of the material is informative for teens of all ages, some chapters like "Dealing with the Media" go into strategies that may prove useful to young college students as well. VERDICT A thorough starting point for teens exploring their gender identity, written by authors who are well versed in the subject. Recommended for general purchase.-Kelsey Socha, Ventress Memorial Library, Marshfield, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2018
A chatty and informal guide for transgender teenagers and others who want to understand more about those experiences.The authors cover topics such as coming out, names, gender roles and expression, dysphoria, hormones and surgery, coping with puberty, wellness, interacting with the media, and activism. Spot illustrations and selected comics from Labelle's Assigned Male series are interspersed throughout. The authors say that they have written a book with all the information they would have liked to have had access to when they were younger--and, loose and conversational, the tone is pulled straight from the internet. It feels like reading think pieces from whatever pop-journalism site is currently trending mixed with a personal transition blog, sometimes reminiscent of LiveJournal from the trans days of yore, and seasoned with earnest Twitter-like affirmations. A sense of vagueness permeates the information; generalized references to modern society and plenty of assumptions of a shared cultural background hamper the larger usefulness of the information. It's worth noting that the close focus on the British health care system and support networks will only be useful to readers located there, and the authors often neglect to address the ways that disability, race, and other intersections may influence a trans person's life.There are still very few nonfiction books for trans teens in need of support, and this title helps fill in that gap. (resources, appendix, glossary) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

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