Here and Queer

A Queer Girl's Guide to Life

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 31 May 2022 | Archive Date 13 Jun 2023

Talking about this book? Use #HereandQueer #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Here and Queer is a helpful, friendly guide full of support and advice about living your best queer life, written for girls. 

This vibrant, inclusive guide, designed for all kinds of girls, is designed to help you be the strongest, proudest, happiest version of yourself! A celebration of the gift of queerness, it's packed full of heartfelt advice, comforting stories, and stylish illustrations, and will give you the tools you need to explore your own identity, on your own terms.

Author and YouTuber Rowan Ellis uses her personal experience to take you through queer life, from coming out and dealing with tough stuff, right through to finding friendships and celebrating Pride. There are also brilliant guest essays from contributors across the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

The book opens with guidance on understanding how you feel as a queer girl. From choosing your pronouns to navigating different labels and identities, Ellis helps girls understand that they are in control of their own identity, and that it's ok to not be sure straight away.

Moving onto a glossary of queer termsHere and Queer helps introduce girls to the rainbow of definitions and terms which help queer people understand who they are and how they feel. The book then moves onto advice on coming out, for many one of the hardest steps to take on their journey to truly living their best lives.

Following are chapters on sex and romance, including helpful advice about your first time, as well as guides on consent and knowing how to make sure you build a healthy and supportive relationship with your partner.

There are also sections on dealing with bullies and stigma, finding your community, and looking after your mental health, including advice on how to help you find extra support if you need it. The book also has more information on queer ladies in history, and on the fight for equality undertaken by brave activists throughout history and today.

Stylishly designed with cool illustrations, this helpful, friendly guide will help all queer girls navigate the challenges of discovering and embracing their identities and flourishing in their own skins!
Here and Queer is a helpful, friendly guide full of support and advice about living your best queer life, written for girls. 

This vibrant, inclusive guide, designed for all kinds of girls, is...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780711264755
PRICE $14.99 (USD)
PAGES 160

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Download (PDF)

Average rating from 35 members


Featured Reviews

I've been a fan of Rowan Ellis' videos for a while now, and I adored how much her very identifiable voice and style shone through in Here and Queer. My immeasurable respect for the author aside, this book made my heart so happy as an individual who can identify with much of the book's themes and focal topics, but infinitely more so with the realization as I went on that teens today have access to such a vibrantly inclusive, infinitely validating and broadly informative resource, with all the fawn-worthy illustrations, mega-relatable references and fantastic input from internet activists it boasts.

It might seem trite but is worth repeating that a book so freshly and irresistibly resonant with its intended audience - and the respectful way it leaves ample room for the flux and fluidity of feelings and identities - was barely imaginable just a short time ago, and I really hope it'll help teens today find the advice they're hunting for and figure out the stuff they need to with fewer hiccups and more mettle than those who have come before them with the aid of the fantastic reserve of books such as Here and Queer now available to them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for kindly passing on this ARC! 💫

Was this review helpful?

This is the ultimate guide for teens to learn about gender and sexuality in a non-judgemental, factual and healthy way no matter what their sexual orientation or gender identity may be. The book is comprised of 3 parts which including information related to: coming out, relationships (including sex), and finding/joining the LGBTQ community. The book is filled with terminology and definitions, straight forward explanations, as well as debunked myths and clarity around stereotypes or common misinformation. I think this is a wonderful book for teens who are curious or questioning their gender identity or sexual preferences, and want to know more. I think that any teen would benefit from the information in this book (I'm sure adults could too to be honest!) but I think it is aimed at teen girls who identify as queer. The information about sex is pretty standard for teen books of this kind, with explanations of terms and clear statements about consent and peer pressure. I would recommend this book for teens, and potentially preteens but would recommend them reading with supervision or at least an adult who is aware of the content and whom they could ask questions to. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

Was this review helpful?

This is an A M A Z I N G resource for kids & teens to help really answer some of the big questions they might be having!

I feel as if the author did a remarkable job at hitting all the key aspects that a reader of that age group might be wondering about when it comes to how they identify.

This is a book that I am looking forward to seeing all shelves everywhere because this is the type of books & informational texts we need to be putting out there!

Was this review helpful?

I’ve loved Rowan Ellis’ YouTube videos for years, so I was really excited to learn that she was writing an informational guide for queer girls. This is the type of book I wish I could’ve read back when I was a teenager. It covers so many topics like coming out, different labels, activism, sex, consent, and the history of pride and queer women throughout the years

It’s written in a really easy to read way and the illustrations by Jacky Sheridan added a lot of charm. I appreciated how inclusive the book is, it includes trans girls and makes it clear that it’s not just a guide for cis girls. There are also a couple guest essays that cover topics like disability, religion, and more.

The book covers a lot of ground, but being that it’s under 200 pages there are some parts that feel glossed over. Like, when talking about sex muffing is brought up, explaining that it’s digital penetration/stimulation of the inguinal canals. But the book doesn’t describe what the inguinal canals actually are or safe practices for that particular act. Also dental dams only get one sentence. It just seems like these are things that maybe younger readers won’t already have knowledge about but the book isn’t giving them the full picture.

But overall I think this is a really valuable book and will help out so many people.

Was this review helpful?

I am so, so glad this book exists. Here and Queer is a brilliant and gentle "how to guide" for young (and older) girls about being queer and all that it entails from coming out to being an ally and beyond. I know this book will help so many people and for that it is an instant 5 star for me (added bonus that the art work is absolutely gorgeous).

Was this review helpful?

Oh how I wish I had this book available to me as a kid. The author uses the phrase "quick stop" through queer history, self exploration, and representation to describe this book; And I can't think of a better explanation myself. With fun art and approachable prose throughout this is a great intro to queerness for young girls.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great little support book for young queer girls looking to figure out their identity or learn more about the basics of queer community or history!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.

I love Rowan Ellis’ videos on YouTube and so was super happy to see that she had written a book, and one that I certainly felt (in hindsight) I wish I had had as a teenager. I relate to a lot of the themes brought up in this book, and hopefully this book will become a staple for queer teen/YA girls or even people questioning of any age – this is not a sit down and read it cover to cover book (and nor should it be) but seems more a ‘take it in as you need it’. This concise (relatively) book is packed with knowledge, in a non-judgemental and comforting way.

The book is also beautifully illustrated by Jacky Sheridan.

Was this review helpful?

"They tell us about fear and suffering, isolation, and loss. I don’t ever want to deny the experiences of people in out community who go through these things. But I think it’s so vital to talk about what a joyous and wonderful experience being queer is."

As a 19y/o queer girl, this book is so resourceful. Almost every question you might have as a young queer person is answered here. With accounts by a few queer people which are as authentic as they could get. It addresses issues you might have or will ever face. This book is not just for cis girls. It's for EVERYONE.

I learnt so much about myself and our community as a whole. I'll dive into all the book/movie/show suggestions given in the book.

Thank you Netgalley and Rowan Ellis for giving me this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

What a brilliant book!
This book is so perfect for young people!
It's easy to read, it has the necessary humour, and most importantly it's informative.

The illustrations are bright and bold and they fit just perfectly with the theme and style of the book.

This book should be required reading for every secondary school student, and should be in every public and school library across the country!
This is great for everyone! Not just people within the LGBTQ+ community.

Well done Rowan Ellis - you will certainly be changing young peoples lives for the better with this book!

Was this review helpful?

World, do yourself a favour. Gift this book to someone younger you love. It's definitely worth it!

An amazing compilation of well-informed explanations and illustrations regarding gender and sexuality meant for young readers and beginners. Even the adults would definitely need this guidebook because honestly speaking we don't usually go for the bland looking non-fiction books even when it would explain things way better or otherwise.

The illustrations are so eye-popping and so well done. Perfect! And the presentation like a colourful graphic novel gives all the perfect vibes for the youngsters to pick up this book.

The information provided will teach the reader about the various stereotypes, the misconceptions as well as the taboos that are related to sexuality.

I need a copy.

Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group Frances Lincoln Children's Books, for the advance review copy.

Was this review helpful?

A digital copy of this book was provided by NetGalley

This book is perfect for teens, not only the ones that are or could be queer, it helps to create awereness of the ups and downs that LGTBT+ community lives everyday.

As for the queer kids this book gives them a lovely mesage: "you are not alone and you can be happy been who you are".

Was this review helpful?

With adorable illustrations and an uplifting tone, this book provides a positive and educational introduction for every sapphic reader (especially teens) to sapphic and queer women’s culture. Personal anecdotes between the more serious chapters seem to lighten the mood as well as spirits!
This should be present in every school library to help young queer women and the people around them understand themselves and each other better.


Thank you, NetGalley and Rowan Ellis for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I adored this book, it certainly had the feel of this book is Anti-Racist, I have already ordered this through my book buyer and cannot wait to recommend it to teens and children that come into the store. We have needed something like this for a while within the non-fiction section for kids and its come at the perfect time.

Was this review helpful?

„Here and Queer“ is the book I wish I had when I was younger and struggling with my sexuality.

I loved every single part of this book but my favorite part is probably the introduction because it includes a lot of important things and aspects!

The book deals with different kinds of sexualities but also with other important topics like consent and queer history. I already knew a lot of things but I also learned a lot of new things I didn’t knew before.

The lengths of the different texts made it really easy to understand everything and the bright and colorful drawings made the whole book even more fun to read.

Of course not every sexuality and every historic event was covered but this book covered a lot of very important ones and if that’s not enough or you want to know more about specific events/sexualities you can still look them up!

This book is not just for queer teen girls but also for the straight best friends who wants to learn more about sexualities. I would recommend this book to everyone who’s interested to learn new things!

Thank you to NetGalley, Rowan Ellis and the Quarto Publishing Group for this EARC!

Was this review helpful?

The author says it herself: "it was exactly what I needed but didn't have when I was a queer teen."
This book is a perfect resource for any queer youth about pretty much anything queer, from how to figure out who you are, to affirming yourself in a group, to finding others like you.
Because it is written by someone who has lived many of these experiences, it is full of wisdom and little thoughts that are validating and honest. It does talk about the more difficult parts of being queer, but it isn't the focus of the book.
A must have if you work with young people ages 12 and up.

Was this review helpful?

Young members of the LGBTQ+ community are often left alone to navigate and this is a good and extensive guide that can help them
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Was this review helpful?

This was a lovely book. The writing was easy to relate to and digest. You can tell the writers really want people to understand and feel included. This is the kind of book that I wish more people would read so they could educate themselves. The world would be a much better place for it.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. It was exactly the kind of education I wish we’d had in school. I felt like there was so much information from history of queer identity to reasons to love being queer to not worrying about shaving if you so choose, while all being presented in a fun and light manner. Focusing on the queer girl experience this book still had so much quality information that I think anyone could appreciate and learn from. One of those “you don’t need to be represented” to learn books. All stars

Was this review helpful?

This is precisely the kind of book I wish I'd had when I was growing up. It does such a wonderful job of answering the questions young girls and femmes may have about gender, sexuality, and such, while keeping things respectfully age appropriate and interesting! On top of that, the art and design of the book is INCREDIBLE. Young people have a right to information like this as they grow into their identities, and I think books like this have an important role in that. Here and Queer meets my expectation as a queer elder (can I call myself that at 32?) and if I had a preteen, I would definitely buy this for them!

Was this review helpful?

I’ve loved Rowan’s YouTube videos on LGBTQ+ topics for years, so I was really excited to learn that she was writing a guide for queer girls!! This was a brilliantly written, friendly and accessible guide to existing as a young queer girl.
I thought that the book was well structured and the illustrations added a really delightful touch to each page. I enjoyed the positive perspective on dating, mental health, sex, friendships, self-expression, bullying, and more. And as a young lesbian I believe I took anyway a lot of helpful advice from Rowan’s writing. Finally, it was a truly intersectional guide which I valued immensely.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: