This is the first graphic novel memoir I’ve read, and it sure has set the bar high! Maia Kobabe tells eir story through the twists and turns of questioning sexuality and gender while growing up. I really connected to em, since the realization that I was queer was a long and difficult journey for me to go through, and is still a part of me that I am figuring out to this day. Maia’s story provides great insight on the broad spectrum of gender or lack there of, and breaking the binaries of sexuality and gender. I would highly recommend this book as it is an easy read that will leave a lasting impact on you.

i was provided an arc by NetGalley.

wow, i literally couldn't stop reading this. it's the most raw representation of gender identity and sexuality i have came across. i learned so much that i didn't know, and related to so many things as well.

i would totally recommend this book, for anyone, but especially those who are confused about their gender identity and sexuality.

This is a 'graphic memoir', as in the same vein of 'graphic novel'.... I like the ease, simplicity, speed of which many of these can be read. The author is a very good artist, & the drawings appropriate & easily understood, along side the memoir. The drawing & memoir is honest, & also graphic in content, in places relating to biology & sex. It's an account of Kobabe's struggle with self identity, & issues surrounding this. I'm glad I read it, I learned something & think it a worthwhile read.....maybe for a lot of people (everyone?!) I think Kobabe can be proud of this work.
I received a free e-ARC of this book from Diamond Book Distributors & publisher Lion Forge via NetGalley, in return for reading & offering my own fair & honest review.

Maia is not comfortable in the body E was born in. It isn't so much that E wants to become transgender, it is more gender fluid.

And this stark, honest graphic novel memoir chronicles all of Eir struggles. And one of the most important and significant was when E adopted these gender neutral pronouns of E Eir and Em.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5016" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-07-at-4.51.17-PM.png" alt="" />

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5015" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-07-at-4.55.22-PM.png" alt="" />

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5014" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screen-Shot-2019-03-07-at-5.08.01-PM.png" alt="" />

E finds that when E is misgendered thought, that it is often to hard to speak up. Even when wearing a button with Eir.

But through it all, there is humor in this memoire, as well of the heartache of having to remain closeted because of certain fears that the schools that E teaches cartooning at, is not as liberal as E thought.

Throughly good read. Most enjoyable, and eye opening. Highly recommend it to everyone who wonders about these things.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

This graphic memoir is very well done and I truly believe that it might be helpful for a lot of people. Here the author explores eir gender identity and how e came to be and understand who e is today. It was nice seeing a nonbinary person represented and also learning about the e, em, eir pronouns.
The illustrations are very good and I also really appreciated how eir family was present throughout the whole comic.
I highly recommend this one!

This is an important memoir to put in the hands of not just non-binary teens, but of all teens. Maia's story about growing up and trying to form an identity is relatable for every young person and the more kids understand that, the more allies the world will have for our gender nonconforming young people. As a member of the queer community I thought I had a decent understanding of the issues we all face, but this book gave me a much clearer picture of what I DON'T know.

Through the beautiful artwork and the straightforward and honest prose, Maia has made a little more space for emself and all the kids that will follow in em footsteps.

There is so much depth to this memoir! It's relatable, about a young(er) person making it relatable for the patrons at my library and in our classrooms.

When we talk about the value of books as windows into lives we don't know and mirrors for our own lives, this book helps speak for a population that doesn't get a lot of visibility. This kind of book can be the difference between a young person accepting themselves and hating themselves for who they are (and the journey that they are on).

As a queer person, I was very excited to read this graphic memoir. I saw a lot of my own experiences in this text, and I appreciated the author straying from more traditional "born in the wrong body" transgender narratives to born in the wrong society. This graphic memoir is honest and extremely personal. I think that it would be especially important for younger people who are struggling with their gender identity to read. I also really liked the art, especially the pages that were more atmospheric or developing a place rather than a focus on people. On a more critical note, I wish that the memoir had a slightly different structure. While the timeline was mostly linear, it often felt stream of conscious rather than building towards a specific goal. The ending was also very abrupt. Additionally, something I look for in all my queer reading is some discussion of race. While I understand why this might not be part of Maia's journey, I still would have liked to see some discussion of race in this graphic memoir.

This book!! Made me cry a lot.


Also I'm a bisexual girl so everything that involves LGBTQ themes is so important for me .

I think I will gave it 4/5 stars