A memoir to read! As someone who does not had body dysmorphia due to gender dysmorphia, this memoir really open my mind to another experience. I like the choice of it being a graphic novel, as it really illustrates the struggles Maia experienced. I also like the drafts at the end of the book. I enjoy seeing the process and how the art came to be. 

I fell in love with the work. It made me feel like I got a deeper understanding of things my partner talks about, being nonbinary and asexual, using words that I feel like she struggles to find at times. It helped me find some words for my own feelings and experiences too. I am so grateful to this work and it's author.

I had no intention of reading this in one sitting, but once I started I couldn't put it down.

This is such a well-crafted and beautiful memoir.  A must-read for this generation of young adults, especially those still figuring out their identities.

I took the .25 off the rating because the ending was super abrupt.  I read the digital version and was fully convinced my copy was glitched because it seemed like the author had set up another scene, but it disappeared.  I think this is a book that could definitely be expanded on.

I recommend!!

I thought this was a really cool look into the thoughts of someone who is genderqueer. I am cisgender, and have limited experience reading about/in the perspective of nonbinary/trans identities. I can only recount one other book where I’ve seen someone use e/em/eir (which, I also didn’t know they were under Spivak pronouns. Neat!).

I felt like Kobabe was very thoughtful about how eir experiences and upbringing affected how e approached eir gender. I found it funny that fanfiction and queer artists remain avenues through which LGBTQIA+ people have sought self discovery. E touches on a lot of other aspects of being queer, such as grappling with how one experiences sexual and romantic attraction, the different ways loved ones can react, and how one’s identity can affect existing relationships. 

The illustrations served the story well. The one about the first Pap smear e had was especially striking. There are some very pretty page long spreads, and some good uses of space to place text in a thematically relevant way. The ending was a little puzzling, but I like to imagine it is hopeful in its implications. 

 I think this could be a good intro for someone who is questioning if they are transgender, or even just queer in general. It does not shy away from the bodily discomfort one can experience as a non-binary person. There are discussions of first periods, Pap smears, masturbation, and intimacy with other people. Sexual drive (and the deficit thereof, in Kobabe’s case) is also visited. 

People who are cisgender could also benefit from listening to this perspective; now more than ever, I think, it’s critical to be aware of the existence of non binary/transgender individuals, and the struggles they may be experiencing.  

Thank you for reading!

I really enjoyed reading this book, as a nonbinary person myself, and seeing the difference in how Maia was brought up and discovered eir identity!
I found myself relating to certain things and empathizing, even leaning new things like eir pronouns. I never had a community like em and it makes me happy reading that at least others can see the importance and also gain some confidence in knowing that others go through the same things and that they're not alone.
I really appreciated this book :)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is an autobiographical comic about Maia Kobabe’s gender identity. I understand why it has been such a challenged book because some of the scenes are very graphic, but I think it has an important purpose and message. 

I absolutely LOVED this book! Why did I relate so much to Maia's experiences??? Not to even mention how clearly and succinctly e was able to put eir thoughts and feelings (which also happen to be the same thoughts and feelings I've been having) into words. It's so so sooooo relatable. The storytelling, the art style, EVERYTHING. I was on the verge of tears at certain points throughout the story and I would've definitely cried if I wasn't in public surrounded by people 😂 Either way, I really loved this book and I plan to reread it at some point so I can take notes of all the books, media and concepts that e mentioned. Would recommend to just about anyone who's interested tbh lmao