A vibrant collection of stories, essays, art, and poems by trans youth ages 11 to 18. The editors’ goal as cis, adult allies was to make the voices of trans youth louder and to break out of the usual framing of young trans lives as either tragedy or triumph. The contributors prove that there are a myriad of ways to be young and trans, even if, as the editors stress, it is only a sampling of the range of experiences.
The content is organized thematically, covering Childhood, Families, Bodies, Everyday Life, Schools, Mental Health, and Acceptance. While the youths’ contributions are the focus, the editors sprinkle in questions throughout to help readers “reflect on the stories and draw connections to your own life, regardless of your gender identity.” Each chapter also ends with a section by an adult scholar in transgender studies, offering guidance for readers on what they can do or read next. Many of the resources reflect the book’s Canadian origins, but most will be of interest and use to readers in the U.S. and elsewhere, too.
Engagingly designed with colorful page borders and backgrounds (but avoiding the cutesiness that sometimes plagues books for youth), the volume is a rich resource for youth (and adults), both trans and not, for understanding and supporting trans lives.
