Self Portrait by Ludwig Volbeda is a phenomenal coming-of-age story illustrated through unsent letters and graphite drawings.

Volbeda's prose is masterful. The reader sees all angles of the narrator, Jip, as they stumble through their youth. Their experiences--unease, fear, uncertainty--feel effortlessly genuine.

Jip's struggle with their art assignment--a self portrait--becomes a central and internal conflict which has no clear answer until the end of the novel.

This book offers a truly poignant account of growing up transgender or queer, and how difficult it can be to understand the source of unease with your self-image. As a transmasculine reader, I felt particularly seen by this novel. Jip's internal conflict is not clear and tangible--it eats away at them over time and becomes the root of issues which aren't clearly understood.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone, but I'm certain that parents and queer youth will benefit the most from reading it.

I think this is the most unique self-discovery narrative I’ve certainly ever read, and really captures feelings that so many trans kids don’t yet have words for. I think this has so much potential to change the lives of the children whose hands it falls into.

This is the rare book that makes you stop and wonder, rooting for the characters, and truly feeling a connection with the narrator's voice. It's a bit of a mystery at first, who the writer is and to whom they are writing. But as the letters and journal writing unfold, we find that the narrator themself is learning who they are and where they fit in among peers and relationships.

So often people want to define us or fit us in a box, but in Self Portrait, the very idea of defining oneself can be nearly impossible if we are still figuring that out. I related so much to the emotions, longing and confusion of my tween/teen years, and I really liked the way there was so much acceptance among friends. Even the way bullying occurred was shown in such a true-to-life way and that sometimes kids can be cruel, and what they don't understand they tease.

The words are written like a poem, and it is a gift to read this book. I loved the final revelations of the book and the way that Jip realizes who they are in such a wonderful way. This has been my favorite YA book I've read this year!

I highly recommend this book for high schools and libraries.