Part of the bestselling Little People, Big Dreams series, this picture book biography of actor Laverne Cox is a positive look at her life from childhood to today, although some of the wording might be improved.
The story begins with her birth as one of a pair of twins, when “Their mother was told they were boys.” Soon, however, Laverne “realized that everyone had made a mistake: she was a girl.” From clothes to the locker rooms, “nothing felt exactly right.” At Christmas, “Even Santa brought the wrong toys for her” (a phrasing that unfortunately feeds into stereotypes of what toys are “right” for what genders, but should be understandable by anyone brought up in our society). Laverne was teased and bullied—and her mom told her this was her fault, for being different. Laverne just wanted to make her mother proud of her.
Laverne loved dancing, a talent that led her to the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She also discovered her love for acting, and soon “felt confident enough to start her gender transition. Laverne was determined to change the way she looked to match how she felt inside.” That page shows her hugging a person in a doctor’s coat, but there is (appropriately, since it’s not our business) no discussion of exactly what the doctor did to help. The focus is more on the “Friends who had made that journey before” and are standing with her to “give her their love and support,” a nice acknowledgment of trans community.
One could argue, though, that Laverne’s “gender transition” actually started before she showed up at the doctor’s office. We see her wearing a dress on an earlier page, for example. Laverne’s own website talks about her “being more and more femme” even before her “medical transition.” It feels like this all got a little compressed in the short span of a picture book retelling, but I’m also glad the book doesn’t dwell on medical details. As a cisgender author, I recognize my limits here, too; transgender readers can decide for themselves if they feel author Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara has worded things well. Her overall intent feels positive, however.
The story goes on to tell us that Laverne’s first big television appearance was on a show called TRANSform Me, where “Laverne and two transgender women helped others become confident, too.” Again, I love the sense of community here—but this is the first time in the book that the word “transgender” is used, and the phrasing makes it sound like Laverne isn’t necessarily a transgender women herself. Saying “two other transgender women” would have clarified. Later, as the book takes us through her rising career, we do see the word “transgender” applied to her, as she achieves a number of “firsts” for trans people and speaks up for “all the trans kids who came after her.” Even her mom grew to be proud of her.
Laverne has showed us that we shouldn’t be so quick to label babies as “girl” or “boy,” the final spread says. Rather, we should be patient, as each child will “decide who they are as they grow.” Again, I think the intent is positive here, but I question the word “decide,” which makes it feel like a conscious choice to be one gender or another, akin to deciding on a career, rather than an innate sense. We don’t “decide” to be right- or left-handed, for example. Saying “show us who they are as they grow” might have been better.
A few other details unrelated to trans identity could also have been better explained. Young readers might not know what it meant for Laverne to create “an acting reel,” nor what it means to be “Emmy-nominated.”
Backmatter includes several photos and further details about Laverne’s life. The end papers are also notable, decorated with a pattern of rainbows and the phrase “Phenomenal girl,” a phrase also on Laverne’s shirt on the cover.
Despite some small flaws of wording, this is a well-intentioned and affirming story of a transgender leader and icon who has long deserved a biography for this age group.
