As a librarian and avid reader, I hear the phrase “this is an important book” a lot.  And while it’s true that there are many “important” books out there, sometimes these books are tough to read.  Whether it’s the subject matter or the length or the writing style, “important” books sometimes sit on my shelf, unread.  Gender Queer is an “important” book that is smart and accessible and a title that I would recommend to everyone, regardless of how they identify.

From Goodreads:  Maia’s intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity–what it means and how to think about it–for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

Things I Liked:

Maia’s use of humor throughout the book took what may have been a tough subject to talk about and made it easier for people to identify with.  This is such an emotional story and I appreciate eir being comfortable enough to share it.  I loved the idea of telling the story in comic form and the art was beautiful and interesting.   I can see this book being a much-needed resource for people grappling with their own identity and a lot of the reviews I read mentioned how much this book is needed and was needed years ago. This book is a great example of the power of comics and the importance of telling one’s story.

Things I Didn’t Like:

The only thing I didn’t like was is that I found myself wanting more of Maia’s story!

Conclusion:

I truly believe everyone would learn something by reading this book, even those that feel they are comfortable with the subject matter.   I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that this book could very well save the life of someone who is struggling with their identity or dealing with unsupportive family or friends.  I can’t recommend this book more.

Author: Maia Kobabe

Published: May 28, 2019

Rating:  5 Stars