Reviews

Gender Explorers: Our Stories of Growing Up Trans and Changing the World by Juno Roche

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bobinsbooknook's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This was such an authentic and empowering audio book - despite being such a short read, it has so beautifully captured the voice of young trans/non-binary people and their journeys of gender exploration into becoming their true authentic selves.

Through a series of interviews with trans youth and their families, this book gracefully navigates the topics of whether people as young as 6 can truly understand their sense of self enough to question their gender identity. I loved the way these interviews have been conducted with such care and shows both the vulnerability and joy felt by trans-youths in their journeys and particularly enjoyed the ending fictional interview of the trans narrator talking to their younger self.

Whilst I am a cis-female - this book is so eye-opening to the human experience of gender and what I took away from this more so than anything else is how the trans community embraces not just living as their most authentic selves in such challenging circumstances, but is a community which is nothing short of a catalyst for change in challenging gender stereotypes which impacts everyone. An absolute must read!

james1star's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.75

I thought this was such a beautiful, heartwarming read and one I’d totally recommend. There isn’t much to this book but what I feel Roche set out to do, they did so perfectly.

It’s a collection of interviews between the author and young trans umbrella children and teens that took place at events hosted by the the UK charities Mermaids and Gendered Intelligence. In them, these ‘gender explores’ as Roche calls them speak about growing up trans in contemporary society, school life with the good and bad, certain steps one has to overcome to make society treat them the way they want to be treated and their plans for the future. The teens and parents/carers also don’t shy away from the more challenging parts of being trans but their perseverance and outlook on life is such a beautiful portrayal of the power and joy of being trans too. Many times I teared up listening to these stories and you can’t help but wish and hope good things will follow or come the way of these individuals. Roche also includes two ‘interviews’ with a younger version of themselves called Pansy which again were amazing and I feel a great way for the author to let free their younger trans self from the bullying and being forced to hide their true self.

With all the crap being spread by the media and pathetic ‘cultural war’ over trans lives I think this book is a beacon of hope. It shows people that no one is forcing our children to ‘become’ trans but they know from a young age or at least when given the chance to explore, come to the decisions that best fits them. I loved this, so thank you Juno.

Content Warnings

forthirtydollarsnameawoman's review against another edition

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3.5

Roche calls gender fluidity "a new phenomenon" (p.18).

They can also be a bit cringe, old-fashioned, and surface-level. But I appreciated that there were so many short interviews to provide perspective.

libraryoflanelle's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Trans Kids are shaping our future, and I believe that with my entire being.

‘Gender Explorers’ by Juno Roche is the first book I finished for the #TransRightsReadathon this week, and damn, was it the most perfectly impactful way to start!

Juno’s authentic and empathetic approach to interviewing both the children and their parents is incredibly impressive and poignant.

This is the first time I’ve read a collection of unfiltered words of Trans young people and children, and my goodness, did it hit hard. The spectrum of reflections on Trans joy and struggle shared by these kids is invaluable and, at times, heartwarming and heart-wrenching in equal measure.

My copy of this book is incredibly tabbed up, and I know I will be returning to this book time and time again. I genuinely wish I could force every single human to read and reflect on this book (or something akin to it).

Protect Trans Kids. Listen to them, learn from them, advocate with and for them, and protect them at all costs.

If you have any suggestions for books or media that amplify the voices of trans kids, both fiction and non-fiction, please share them with me over on my bookstagram @libraryoflanelle.

(If you’re seeing this around the time of posting (March/April 2024, I have a fundraiser set up to support Trans Youth through ‘Gendered Intelligence’ link can be found in my Insta bio. If you’re seeing this in the future why not donate directly to them anyway)

mollymadworld's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

This was a beautiful collections of interviews by trans youth and young people. Some of their stories were so full of kindness and happiness that it truly filled my heart with so much joy