Tourmaline’s biography of Marsha P. Johnson is excellently researched and clearly a labor of love. The book can be read either chronologically or through Marsha’s different lenses, whether as a care giver, an activist, an artist, and so forth. That makes the book appealing, as people can decide which experience they need at the time of reading. I also found that Tourmaline’s writing overall breathed life into Marsha (if I may be so informal). It was at times personal, at times analytical, but always honest and endearing.

Most importantly, it was informative. While I was familiar with some aspects of Marsha’s work, this book helped me know that her identities intersected in ways I never knew (e.g., neurodiverse, disabled) in addition to those I did (e.g., trans, Black). It helped personalize important historical events and the culture around them. The depiction of trans-exclusionist views and how they affected the queer community then (as, unfortunately, now) and the joy to be found in bars and with drag groups in which Marsha performed were both equally well-rendered, which I think is no small feat.

Books like these that preserve queer history and the people that made it are always important, but Tourmaline’s work being released during a time where anti-trans rhetoric and policies are prevalent made this particularly poignant for me. It awakens my anger once again at the removing of the trans involvement with Stonewall from the National Park Service. It also reminds me that small measures, care work, and never giving up in the face of adversity CAN make a difference. If Marsha and her contemporaries did it, we can do it. It may be hard, and it may hurt, but we can do it.

So here's the tea, Marsha was a queen then and she remains a queen now.

I couldn't have been approved for this ARC at a more appropriate time to be honest. Written in an effort to remember that change can happen in every direction if were not vigilant to ourselves and our communities, Marsha is a reminder that just because you don't live in a movement, doesn't mean it's not happening.

To have a "moment in the day of" feel as I read through this account was refreshing and allowed for us as the reader to slide into an experience that, I'm of the belief, many don't have the opportunity to relate to before casting judgment. In this account, Marsha is real, her story is presented in a harsh contrast between the dichotomy of joy we feel to hold freedom to be ourselves, and the strife of oppressive movements that strive to be a thief to that joy. All while also maintaining a foot note lesson of how far we have come within socio political society and how far we have yet to go to provide the type of community we all deserve.

I imagine that once Marsha hits shelves the account will continue to remain an invaluable addition to remembering. This slice of history is unilaterally under documented to date, and consistently set aside, so page after page not only was I ready to hear it, but I was excited to see every powerful moment written with humility and confidence.

Tourmaline knew their task here and I applaud the effort.

5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

This is a beautiful memoir about the vivacious, inspirational, and LGBTQIA+ leader, Marsha P. Johnson. This memoir is written from Marsha's childhood to her unsolved death. Marsha was so instrumental in the beginning of the LGBTQIA+ movement at Stonewall. Marsha was so much to many who suffered so much due to the AIDS/HIV devastation, and even was a sufferer herself. But, though it all Marsha still persevered for those to follow and specifically her trans "girlies".

So much time and effort were put into this labor of love memoir. Tourmaline writes an incredible tribute to Marsha. This is a historical book for LGBTQIA+ generations and an educational book, period.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7198783314 - posted 4/18/2025
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/966b866f-57b9-4276-8d89-41fe056848c2?redirect=true - posted 4/18/2025
booksbydorothea Blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/04/marsha-tourmaline-earcebook-overview.html - posted 4/18/2025

Marsha is the story of Marsha P. Johnson, a trailblazer in LGBTQIA+ history, as told by Tourmaline, a queer transgender woman, artist, writer, filmmaker, and activist.

Marsha chronicles the life of Marsha P. Johnson from her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, her times as a Time Square Hustler, her involvement in the iconic Stonewall Riots, as an activist, a performer, an advocate and carer in the AIDS epidemic, though her untimely death. Marsha does not fixate or speculate on her cause of death, rather it celebrates her life and legacy.

Marsha is a must read. Tourmaline does an incredible job honoring Marsha. The story of Marsha P. Johnson & her pivotal role in the Stonewall Riot is especially relevant today, as the rights of trans people, the queer community, and marginalized groups are under fire today.

Thank god the revolution has begun, honey

A powerful, big-hearted look into the life of iconic trans artist and activist Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha's story intersects with so many important moments in queer rights history, but she was also a real person with her own strengths, shortcomings, found family, and traumas. This is a must-read biography for anyone interested in trans and queer history.

Marsha by Tourmaline was a well written biography about the life and impact of Marsha P. (pay it no mind) Johnson. I really liked the way the chapters were broken down. I thought the conversation around disability and mental health were well explored in the Stonewall and Passing the Jordan River Chapters. My only problem with this book was perpetuation of the idea that Marsha threw the first brick at Stonewall and the decision to include her deadname which I am still undecided about my feels around.

Thank you the the author, Tourmaline, Tiny Reparations Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

The author adeptly explored the life of Marsha in this new biography. Marsha is known for being the spark of the modern LGBTQIA+ movement yet many people do not know her story. In this biography all facets of Marsha’s life are woven together to show a whole picture of who Marsha was and how despite all the hardships she faced she remained joyful and authentically herself.

I really appreciated how this biography was broken down into the many tools Marsha played in the different phases of her life. This is a must read.

“Honey, I don’t care if I never have nothing until the day I die, all I want is my freedom.”

This book made me burst into tears at the end and for me that doesn’t happen often. Marsha P. Johnson is a figure I knew bits and pieces about through documentaries and other media, but this is such a definitive, stunning biography about her life.

Marsha was a force. She was an activist before she knew it, being an integral part of the Stonewall riots that forced the LGBTQ+ community to the forefront of the culture at the time. But as important as she was, transgender people were being shunned from other gay and lesbian protests and groups. She was largely erased from the history and this book does an incredible job reminding everyone of how important she was.

It’s so amazing to read about her caring nature and how she took it upon herself to care for other queens and trans people. She was honest about her life, though it was still full of trauma. There are these amazing stories about her giving others her last dollars or making sure people in her community were fed or giving them her clothes. She took care of friends with AIDS back in a time where it wasn’t acknowledged by the government and hospitals didn’t want to offer any help. She was selfless and it shines in the stories told about her.

The chapter about her death is what made me emotional. People held her in such high regard and the words that were spoken about her were truly beautiful. It’s such a testament to her memory and everything she did in her life. I hope this book makes more people familiar with her and her impact of the LGBTQ+ community that still resonates today.

Just all the stars.

This book is a powerful and poetic tribute to Marsha P. Johnson, capturing her resilience, activism, and unwavering joy despite the hardships she faced. More than just a historical figure, Marsha comes to life as a complex, deeply spiritual, and compassionate woman who cared for her community even when she had so little herself.

The author does a brilliant job of reclaiming Marsha’s legacy beyond the tragedy of her untimely death, instead centering her as a visionary who dreamed of liberation. The book blends history with imagination, providing a rich portrayal of Marsha’s world—her struggles, her impact on the LGBTQ+ movement, and the wider queer history that shaped and was shaped by her.

Heartbreaking yet inspiring, this is an essential read for those wanting to learn about trans history, the AIDS crisis, and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Marsha’s story is one that should be remembered, now more than ever.

A poetic, visually rich tribute to Marsha P. Johnson, celebrating her joy, resilience, and activism. Blending history with imagination, the book reclaims Marsha’s legacy through vibrant & heartbreaking storytelling. Tourmaline captures her spirit beyond tragedy, centering her as a visionary who dreamed of liberation.

It’s a powerful reminder of Black trans joy, survival, and the importance of collective care - and lord knows we need it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

What a delight of a read. Masha paints a complex, compassionate, realistic, joyful and impactful picture of Marsha P. Johnson and all she did to contribute to LGBTQIA+ history. Each chapter was divided into a different facet of Marsha’s life and helped visualize the incredible woman she was.
Tourmaline crafts this biography with so much love and care while highlighting the impact Marsha has on her own life. From Marsha's childhood to Stonewall to activism to legacy, each chapter combines history with interviews to craft an engrossing picture. The cover perfectly exemplifies everything you will find in this book: joy, defiance, and love.

The author brilliantly illustrated the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha was an extraordinary figure in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, and this book effectively highlights her impact and lasting influence. Marsha was a legendary activist, and her story inspires us to embrace our true selves and live authentically.

It's been a while since a book made me cry this hard. I had to use, like, five tissues, but, to be honest, it should've been a lot more.

Anyway, I'm firmly taking the stance that this book is the autobiography of the year and everyone needs to read it.

Like many, I became of Marsha at some point in the last few years but never knew anything about her other than she was one of the heads of the LGBTQ+ movement through the Stonewall riots and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death. This book truly showed me she was so much more than that. She was a mother figure who took in and cared for other trans people, she was a force of nature on and off the stage, she was a deeply spiritual person who prayed for her deceased loved ones to become flowers so they'd live forever inside her (That really got me. Even now the tears threaten to come back.), Marsha was a whole person who was beloved, complex, and wholly human. Tourmaline really brought this queen's personality to life through her writing.

I also loved the wider queer history included, as well as learning about other major trans women such as Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major, Mary Jones, etc. Tourmaline painted such vivid pictures of the state of the world around Marsha. From the heavy discrimination and brutality from the police to the exclusion from gay/lesbian spaces despite having propelled the movement to the height of the AIDS/HIV crisis, having history culminated through Marsha's life felt more personable and real than anything I've read before.

All in all, I absolutely love this book. This book couldn't have come at a more perfect time, when we need stories such as Marsha's told more than ever. This book will definitely will be sticking with me for a long time.

Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P Johnson is a biography of Marsha P Johnson.

I LOVED THIS!!! One of my majors in college was Gender, Security, and Women's Studies. In that major, I learned a lot about Marsha P Johnson. If you know nothing about Marsha P Johnson, I highly suggest reading this. If you do know about Marsha P Johnson, I also suggest reading this. Reading this made me learn even more about what a bad ass she was. This book also focused a lot on queer history which I also loved because my other major in college was History. (Side note: I chose majors that required a lot of reading...because of course I did!) This book didn't read like a biography at all. This book was super interesting, and I did not want to put it down! Anyway, read this book. I will be thinking about this one for a long time. Also, can we talk about how stunning Marsha P Johnson is and how pretty this cover is!

Thank you, Tiny Reparations Books and netgalley for the ARC of this book.

“Marsha” gives a glimpse into the establishment of activist, community builder, and icon that Marsha P. Johnson was for the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond. Starting off, we meet Marsha in her hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey. From there, Tourmaline follows the love, heartbreak, and truly passionate journey Marsha takes to pave the way for progress, what she must endure, and the joy she overwhelmingly spreads to the people and communities around her. I enjoyed learning more about Sylvia and the creation of STAR, known as Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, and the STAR house — a place for young queens and other LGBTQIA+ youth to gather and find community. Marsha finding her “refuge and passion” on the dance floor in Greenwich Village is something we certainly still celebrate today (pg. 60). In doing finding that refuge, she began not only paving her own way in the ballroom scene, but finding the courage to pave one for those that followed her. I also highly enjoyed the cultural history provided in this book, about the time period that Marsha and her cohort functioned in, as it contextualizes the difficulty of their struggle. An idea explored throughout this book is that of radical care and love for friends and family being a revolutionary act — I don’t think that this could have come at a better time. Radical joy is an act of resistance, and it bears reminding ourselves of that as well. As Marsha would say, she crossed the River Jordan, as an activist, a sister, a mother in many ways, and a trailblazer. This book was a love letter to her & the LGBTQIA+ community and its elders. It is a reminder that we are multifaceted; we are beautiful, we deserve joy, and we radiate love. Thank you so much for early access to this incredibly important book!

Favorite & Most Illustrative Quote, pg. 125: “Marsha wove together activism and performance into a fabric that was a confluence of social movements: the downtown art scene, antiwar activism, Black power, and gay liberation.”

Tourmaline did an amazing job by Marsha and telling her story, this was one that I couldn't put down once I started reading. Thank you again for giving Marsha the spotlight she deserves.

Tourmaline is a fantastic author and treats Marsha with care and thoughtfulness. She also doesn't shy away from the harder aspects of Marsha's life. Marsha's spirit comes through so clearly, and the tragedy of her early death can be felt. The way Marsha was able to create community was just beautiful - I love that Tourmaline does focus on the care-taking nature that Marsha had, but also brought forth the idea that while it may have come naturally to Marsha, that didn't make it easy.It was fascinating to read about Marsha's concern for her friends—and even complete strangers. It was lovely to read about how she made the most of what she owned and how beautiful it truly was. Seeing how difficult life was for her was equally depressing and thought-provoking. It is quite heartbreaking to consider what may have been if she had more stability in her life, which was extremely rare. Life gave her far less than she deserved. And although though we've undoubtedly taken some steps in the direction of Marsha's ideal, much more work remains.Marsha embodied freedom, and she allowed those around her to do the same. We can all learn from Marsha, and we should all read this book! Perhaps my favorite thing, or at least the thing that probably moved me the most, was how she spoke and thought about death: as just another phase. When she died, she wouldn't really be gone, just changed in shape or presence. That was a really comforting thought to me.

I didn't know about Marsha P. Johnson until 2020, and this book helped me learn so much more about her life and legacy. I think this is a must read for anyone who wants perspective into the life and activism of Black trans women. Their struggles and sacrifices deserve to be acknowledged. While much change still needs to happen in our current political climate, we, as a society, wouldn't be where we are today without people like Marsha. Her life was cut much too short, and I think if she were still here today, she'd still be at the forefront of change for the LGBTQIA+ community. We could all learn from her. Rest in power with infinite flowers. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This book treats Marsha very respectfully. I've known who she is for years, but it's nice to learn more about her life and her unfortunate death. A lot of work went into this book to show us who Marsha was and it shows.
The book also occasionally relates certain past events to modern day, which helps to make you remember that LGBT rights are still a fight. A good example of this discussed in chapter 2 was New York police officers having a lot of leeway in arresting people just for walking on the street while trans, a bill that was only repealed in 2020.
It's important to know history and it's important to know the people that made history happen. Marsha helped to change the world and you can't erase her or other trans people from LGBT history.

To be honest I don’t do many autobiography bc it can be a tad boring. But, when I saw Marsha on Neutrally I knew this would keep my attention, not bc she was of African Decent, but due to the history is repeating itself right now. Marsha story about her struggle and how hard to be accepted and movement they accomplished will truly be relevant now in the twenty century and its a shame we keep going in circle about the right to be who you prefer to be, it not your body and to me it says a-lot about her courage and what other had to and now have to do to be seen.