Gender Queer

Continuing my tour of banned books. Started and finished this in one day -- it was engrossing, funny, sad, and everything in between. Kobabe pulls no punches and gives a bracingly open and direct accounting of eir journey to discover eir identity. Needless to say, I learned a great deal (including about the pronouns in the previous sentence), and reading this book was a profoundly moving experience for me. It makes me incredibly sad that such a book, which I could easily imagine helping others who find themselves in Kobabae's situation, would be denied to those readers who probably need it the most.

Maia's story is an excellent exploration of gender exploration, the lengthy self-discovery process, and the challenges (and satisfaction!) that comes from trying to be accepted for your authentic self. The book contains many references to other great reading materials, and I've already pulled out tons of quotes when discussing these topics.

Highly recommend this book, whether you feel it relates to you, people you know and love, or just the world around you.

It is clear that Maia is vulnerable and open with the reader throughout. Maia provides great insight into the experience of gender nonconformity as a child, and this book is a quick important read for anyone with others in their life who may have gone, or be going through, something similar.

This graphic novel is among the greatest hits of the book banners who in the past few years have been berating librarians and threatening the freedom of others to simply read. As an autobiography, I can see how Gender Queer—with its absolute unveiled description of Maia Kobabe’s journey to eir realization of self—might be discomforting to some, but this work could be absolutely life-saving for young people in crisis or just struggling with putting into words who they are.

the "prologue" is about em saying (at some point in eir life) that e would never work on an autobiography and you think "haha fun", but, well, jokes on us because there is so much untold in this book. and trust me when i say that, im an expert in hanging out with people for years without them really know much about me lol.

anyway, jokes aside, havent read a biopic in ages and this was a great come back. loved everything about it. also, it's so nice to follow other queer people identity journeys to discover traits in common, but also find out about things you never thought before.

highly reccomended, als if you're cis and straight. it's a very friendly and non-conflictual book so your fragilities won't be felt attacked. eheh!

An impressive "graphic memoir." One of the few comic-book-style memoirs I've ever read, and one that I couldn't put down. I'm a slow reader and it only took me an hour or two to get through it. The illustrations are top-notch and the writing is engaging, as well. An important work that everyone should read and learn from.

Personal note on the research mentioned: Touching a Nerve, by Patricia S. Churchland.

An impressive "graphic memoir." One of the few comic-book-style memoirs I've ever read, and one that I couldn't put down. I'm a slow reader and it only took me an hour or two to get through it. The illustrations are top-notch and the writing is engaging, as well. An important work that everyone should read and learn from.

Personal note on the research mentioned: Touching a Nerve, by Patricia S. Churchland.