Trans+
Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You
- 2019 INDIES Winner
- Gold, Juvenile Nonfiction (Children's)
Kathryn Gonzales and Karen Rayne’s accessible Trans+ covers the challenges that transgender, nonbinary, and questioning teenagers and young adults are likely to face.
Trans+ is a guide through the joys and risks of coming out, transitioning, dating, and more. It works its way through issues ranging from consent to dysphoria to spirituality, delivering candid information and practical advice. No subject is off limits.
Gentle and affirming from start to finish, the book addresses complicated and sensitive topics in reassuring language. It neither sugarcoats nor exaggerates the difficulties of being transgender in today’s world. Fun illustrations of happy teenagers enhance the friendly tone, and each chapter ends with a list of resources to find more information on its topics.
The book has limitations and acknowledges them. The language around gender is evolving with such speed that the words and phrases used here may be considered outdated in the near future. Solutions are proposed—for example, mentally substituting appropriate terms for outdated ones—to help future readers compensate for these potential issues.
Unlike most other books aimed at helping teenagers and young adults understand themselves as they grow up, Trans+ is written by and for transgender individuals. It incorporates thoughts from transgender and nonbinary teenagers and young adults that reflect a wide range of experiences and opinions. This further emphasizes the idea that gender is a unique and individual experience, that there is no wrong way to express one’s gender, and that everyone’s gender is valid and worthy of respect.
For transgender and gender-nonconforming young adults seeking guidance as they navigate in the world, Trans+ is a clear and welcoming text.
Reviewed by
Eileen Gonzalez
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
