We’re deep in Pride month and today we’ve put together a list of books by trans and gender non-conforming people. This list contains something for all ages, so whether you’re educating yourself, reading about folks like you, supporting loved ones or answering questions from rangatahi or tamariki, we’ve got something for you here.
Beyond the gender binary / Vaid-Menon, Alok
“Poet, artist, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Alok Vaid-Menon deconstructs, demystifies, and reimagines the gender binary.” (Catalogue)
Gender queer : a memoir / Kobabe, Maia
“In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. 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.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
The autistic trans guide to life / Purkis, Yenn
“This book is a one-stop guide for autistic trans adults setting out practical strategies and advice to help them navigate through life. The book has chapters on coming out, relationships, sexuality, physical appearance, medical aspects, social transition, work, family life etc. The book is written from a perspective of empowerment and self-acceptance and has a strong focus on promoting pride and self-worth.” (Catalogue)
Being Jazz : my life as a (transgender) teen / Jennings, Jazz
“Teen activist and trailblazer Jazz Jennings–named one of “The 25 most influential teens” of the year by Time–shares her very public transgender journey, as she inspires people to accept the differences in others while they embrace their own truths.” (Catalogue)
Non-binary lives : an anthology of intersecting identities
“What does it mean to be non-binary in the 21st Century? Our gender identity is impacted by our personal histories; the cultures, communities and countries we are born into; and the places we go and the people we meet. But the representation of contemporary non-binary identities has been limited, until now. This thought-provoking anthology shows that there is no right or wrong way to be non-binary.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
It feels good to be yourself : a book about gender identity / Thorn, Theresa
“Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. With child-friendly language and vibrant art, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young readers and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Out here : an anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ writers from Aotearoa
“This landmark book brings together and celebrates queer New Zealand writers from across the gender and LGBTQIA+ spectrum with a generous selection of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and much, much more. From established names to electrifying newcomers, the cacophony of voices brought together in Out Here sing out loud and proud, ensuring that future generations of queers are afforded the space to tell their stories and be themselves without fear of retribution or harm.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Raising my rainbow : adventures in raising a fabulous, gender creative son / Duron, Lori
“Whereas her older son, Chase, is a Lego-loving, sports-playing boy’s boy, Lori’s younger son, C.J., would much rather twirl around in a pink sparkly tutu, with a Disney Princess in each hand while singing Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi.
Raising My Rainbow is Lori Duron’s frank, heartfelt, and brutally funny account of her and her family’s adventures of distress and happiness raising a gender-creative son.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Yes, you are trans enough : my transition from self-loathing to self-love / Violet, Mia
“Transgender blogger Mia Violet reflects on her life and how at 26 she came to finally realise she was ‘trans enough’ to be transgender, after years of knowing she was different but without the language to understand why. From bullying, heartache and a botched coming out attempt, through to counselling, Gender Identity Clinics and acceptance, Mia confronts the ins and outs of transitioning, using her charged personal narrative to explore the most pressing questions in the transgender debate and confront what the media has gotten wrong.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
The transgender issue : an argument for justice / Faye, Shon
“In this powerful new book, Shon Faye reclaims the idea of the ‘transgender issue’ to uncover the reality of what it means to be trans in a transphobic society. In doing so, she provides a compelling, wide-ranging analysis of trans lives from youth to old age, exploring work, family, housing, healthcare, the prison system and trans participation in the LGBTQ+ and feminist communities, in contemporary Britain and beyond. The Transgender Issue is a landmark work that signals the beginning of a new, healthier conversation about trans life.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Sissy : a coming-of-gender story / Tobia, Jacob
“A heart-wrenching, eye-opening, and giggle-inducing memoir about what it’s like to grow up not sure if you’re (a) a boy, (b) a girl, (c) something in between, or (d) all of the above. From Jacob’s Methodist childhood and the hallowed halls of Duke University to the portrait-laden parlors of the White House, Sissy takes you on a gender odyssey you won’t soon forget. Writing with the fierce honesty, wildly irreverent humor, and wrenching vulnerability that have made them a media sensation, Jacob shatters the long-held notion that people are easily sortable into “men” and “women.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
My rainbow / Neal, Trinity
“A dedicated mom puts love into action as she creates the perfect rainbow-colored wig for her transgender daughter, based on the real-life experience of mother-daughter advocate duo Trinity and DeShanna Neal.” (Catalogue)
Trans+ : love, sex, romance, and being you / Gonzales, Kathryn
“Trans+ : Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You by Karen Rayne, PhD, and Katherine Gonzales, MBA, is an all-inclusive, uncensored guide for teens who are transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or gender-fluid. TRANS+ answers all your questions, easy and hard, about gender and covers mental health, physical health and reproduction, transitioning, relationships, sex, and life as a trans or nonbinary individual. It’s full of essential information you need — and want — to know and includes real-life stories from teens like you!” (Catalogue)
The trans generation : how trans kids (and their parents) are creating a gender revolution / Travers, Ann
“In this fascinating account, Ann Travers shows that from very early ages, some as young as two and three years old, trans kids find themselves to be different from the sex category that was assigned to them at birth. How they make their voices heard–to their parents and friends, in the schools, in public spaces, and through the courts–is the focus of this remarkable and groundbreaking book. The Trans Generation offers an essential and important new understanding of childhood.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
I’m not a girl / Lyons, Maddox
“Based on a true transgender identity journey, I’m Not a Girl is an empowering story about a boy who is determined to be himself.” (Catalogue)
