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A Graphic Memoir of Gender Identity Exploration-A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist
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- 105,00 kr
Publisher Description
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist
In their comics debut, Theo Parish masterfully weaves an intimate and defiantly hopeful memoir about the journey one nonbinary person takes to find a home within themself. Combining traditional comics with organic journal-like interludes, Theo takes us through their experiences with the hundred arbitrary and unspoken gender binary rules of high school, from harrowing haircuts and finally the right haircut to the intersection of gender identity and sexuality—and through tiny everyday moments that all led up to Theo finding the term “nonbinary,” which finally struck a chord.
“Have you ever had one of those moments when all of a sudden things become clear…like someone just turned on a light?”
A whole spectrum of people will be drawn to Theo’s storytelling, from trans or questioning teens and adults, to folks who devoured Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe or The Fire Never Goes Out by ND Stevenson, to any person looking to dive a little deeper into the way gender can shape identity. Throughout the book, Theo’s crystal-clear voice reminds the reader that it’s okay not to know, it’s okay to change your mind, and it’s okay to take your time finding your way home.
“We are all just trying to find a place to call our own. We are all deserving of comfort and safety, a place to call home.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this dazzlingly illustrated graphic novel memoir, debut creator Parish presents an earnest portrayal of their experience growing up as a nonbinary transgender person. From navigating gender expectations regarding their hair and clothing choices to everyday social interactions with family and classmates as a teen, this steadily paced work breaks down Parish's recollections of the time it took for them to grow from the person others perceived them as to the one they know they were meant to be. Cleanly lined illustrations in a muted color palette reinforce Parish's remembrances by giving the novel a hazy quality. Sometimes pensive, often affirming interludes by adult Parish, incorporated throughout, imbue the narrative with a meandering lilt that aligns with how the creator describes their journey in opening pages—a scenic route that's reflective of the fact that "for most people, gender is a fixed point on a map... most are lucky enough to be born at the correct destination. For some of us, our starting point is unfamiliar." This deeply relatable exploration of finding oneself and of giving oneself grace when the journey takes longer than expected is ideal for fans of Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer. Ages 14–up.
