i honestly don't have much to say about this one. it was short, fairly informative, and can definitely be helpful for a young person beginning their journey of binding. i wish there was a bit more breakdown of each participant's stories that they included, but that's just me wanting more science surrounding why it's not good to bind in certain ways.

i think, overall, i think there may have been better ways to structure this as it is essentially an informational handout that happens to be in the form of a graphic novel. but maybe that's just personal preference

I am so glad that this book now exists in the world!! This graphic guide to healthy chest binding uses both real-life stories from interviews with trans and nonbinary folx, as well as research-backed tips and advice on binding - complete with illustrations. It is a great mix of personal story and resources. And I love that it was inclusive of all body types! There were helpful tools including journal prompts, reflection questions, a mood and symptom tracker, a gender validation pie chart, and more. This guide addresses binding from a holistic angle, including the mental/emotional and physical aspects. It is not a one-size-fits-all type of resource, but a guide to helping individual people begin to understand what is right for them, how to balance the benefits and side effects, and how to care for their body. It is not meant to be a replacement for proper medical care, but rather a companion on the journey. This is going to be a helpful resource for so many people!

This collection of stories are all about people's journeys with binding. Even though this is a pretty short book, I really enjoyed reading everyone's stories. I also like that there are journal prompts and other fun things to do towards the back of the book.

This is a graphic novel that contains a number of small stories about people who bind their chests. They are stories compiled by the authors after they did a study at the University of Michigan. The book is a great way to help explain how it feels for a person to bind their chest and also the many different reasons that a person may choose to bind. I read an ARC digital version. The images were black and white. I don’t know if the final version will be in color or not but these images were pretty good even though it was a draft. It was obviously a book for older teens or adults. The subject matter is very specific. I don’t know that I would give it to a Middle Schooler to read without parent permission. Although, I do know several kids who are questioning their identity who would probably benefit from the information. The book also contains swear words which, I know the kids hear and use but it still is something for more mature readers. Oh, they also use terms that I was not familiar with as a heterosexual female. Things like AFAB or “T”.

Other than that, the stories were well written and it gave me insight into what it was like to be a trans or queer person who was trying to bind for the first time.

Wow, what a monumental book about the safety and care of the trans community. This is perfect for teens with binding questions and adults who are new or used to it. I really appreciated the personal stories and trackers as a practical way to improve someone’s binding practice. A must read.

A good chunk of this book has sort of become common knowledge by people binding in the last few years, in my experience at least. However, this is still really helpful as it includes the advice of medical professionals who are familiar with it and have studied binding, and don't discount the emotional benefits of it.

The best part of this book I think was a combination of symptoms of binding too much, of which most I haven't heard before, and the stretches to minimize side effects of binding, which are less talked about than simply saying to stretch (in my experience)

Overall, this short book is well worth the read.

3.5.
Negatives: this book had a lot of potential but used unnecessary profanity (IMHO). It is also very brief, which might have been intentional. I would have enjoyed more. More stories, more health information, and resources.

Pros: I love the health information that is included on the risks of binding and the self-reflection prompts for folks who are considering binding/parents, as well as loved ones who care for those who do/might.

I am not looking forward to book challenges on this title. I believe that every reader their book, and every book their reader. As the book says, most injuries and adverse side effects from this approach to dysmorphia come from a lack of education and the feeling of needing to hide from loved ones/others.

To the folks who disagree with this practice, consider an analogy of a binder to high-heeled shoes and back pain that folks deal with regularly for aesthetics and self-confidence. This is similar. I never plan to bind nor encourage it (the same goes for high-heeled shoes). Still, I think that if someone else feels the need, there are resources like this book to help people make good choices and encourage them to talk with health professionals and other professionals to assist them in living the healthiest life possible, inside and out.

I know this book will cause a lot of negative press, but by doing so, it will enhance viewership for people who might not have had this book (or even ANY books, gasp) on their radar when struggling with their identities and self-perceptions. Perhaps if we spent more time listening to and supporting people instead of arguing with them about our ideals, people would find easier ways to affirm themselves and live the best life possible. Until society shifts, we have books like this to start conversations and provide insight into other folks' worlds. Love your neighbor.

It's a great book about binding AND it's a graphic novel!! I learned so much about binding and what people go through to show their true selves. A must-have for all libraries!

Breathe shows people how to bind their chests safely as well as what not to do with binding.

This is a quick guide that could be super useful to anyone that binds their chest.

Maia Kobabe and Sarah Peitzmeier's book Breathe was a thoughtful, informative and insightful examination of a very common transition stage in many transgender people's lives. The book describes both how chest binding gave the real people profiled in the book a great sense of agency in terms of how they present themselves to the world, yet how it also let to discomfort, trouble breathing and even injuries. The advice that can be gained through the stories of the individuals was plentiful and this was continued in the medical information towards the back of the books. The drawings and depictions of the unique people who share their binding journeys was warm and engaging. I am very happy that this book is becoming available in the world. I'm certain it will be a positive guide for many.

I think I couldn't have found a better time for me to find this book. Binding is an intimidating part of the trans experience, and it is vital to share clear and safe methods. The stories in each chapter helped show the different ways and reasons many people bind, and I think this will be a great tool for people interested in binding as well as their loved ones!

I chose this book not because I've ever been interested in binding, but because I read Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, and wanted more information, to help me understand people who are LGBTQ+. This volume contains information laid out in a clearly understandable, relatable way, both for those who need advice about binding safely, and those who want to support people who are LGBTQ+. The illustrations support and enhance the information provided, making the volume more interactive and informational than the text alone would be. For those interested in the issue, this is a valuable resource. Strongly recommended for anyone who is considering binding, has been binding without consulting a medical professional for how to bind safely, and anyone who cares about someone who is currently binding or considering binding.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Part memoir anthology, part medical advice, part workbook, this graphic pocketbook shows us how to chest bind safely for body and mind.

I liked how this book has a little bit of everything. The inclusion of graphic storytelling through interviews with a varied cast of people, was great as an initial intrigue and basis to introducing exercises to alleviate pain and discomfort, to then transition into statistics and a workbook for the reader to reflect on their journey and practices.

It is excellent that a small and concise book like this exists, it can be so helpful and validating if this is a journey you're going through. Not to mention, bringing awareness to health complications that can come with unsafe binding practices. Your physical health is important.

I wish the book mentioned how safe binding practices also increase your chances of top surgery scars and healing going well. I think this is something not many think about and know, and could also be a good motivator to take care of your health. BUT it's a small book and doesn't assume top surgery is something a trans masc person wants, which I really appreciate!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I also want to mention that the format of this ARC was a pain in the ass to read and it affected my reading experience, and stopped me from getting a full impression of what the printed work will look like, and be read as.

Just wanted to mention that the format of this ARC

Very helpful and intuitive book for anyone needing to learn food use or just general knowledge. Easy to understand with a good amount of facts and knowledge

This was a very interesting read and I liked it. I love to read these kinds of things because you.actually learn something. I never knew that binding was a thing. I learned it was and its interesting as to why people do it. It also talks about how to safely bind and how long. At first I could not wrap my head around it because I never knew. everyone should read this book just to see what other people say.about it. This book is a must read

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

Short and sweet guide to chest binding. I enjoyed the memoir section a lot, though I wish the latter half that was a "guide" went into a bit more detail. The exercises and stuff were great, but I wish there had been some more options in the back half for those who can't just go to the store and buy a binder other than "don't bind" — but I'm not binding myself, so I don't have much of a leg to stand on. Ultimately this is a great resource for teens who may be interested in binding but want a trusted source rather than just scouring the internet.

I found this book informative about trans health and safety. I enjoyed the stories of people finding out how best to care for themselves in their bodies with safety and authenticity. I think this book could help others who may not have good support systems in their lives to help them find safe ways to live authentically as a trans person. I will recommend this book to people who are looking for ways to chest-bind safely or are exploring gender expression.

Great illustrated comic about different types of binding methods. It includes personal stories and health and safety tips.

Loved loved loved this book.

A practical, easy to read guide about binding. The illustrations made it accessible and I loved hearing from other trans and non-binary people about their binding journey.

Breathe is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to providing insightful information for binding. There are four different individuals sharing their experiences with binding, whether it be homemade with Ace bandages or store bought. Each individual brings a unique perspective to the pros of binding. Additionally, there are some great resources at the end of the book, with my favorite being journal prompts and a binding journey timeline. By no means does this book try to convince someone to bind, but rather ensure readers have a comprehensive understanding of what it entails. Phenomenal.