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melancholymegs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Dysphoria
Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Sexual content
Minor: Blood and Vomit
ninahuynh's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
A memoir to read! As someone who does not had body dysmorphia due to gender dysmorphia, this memoir really open my mind to another experience. I like the choice of it being a graphic novel, as it really illustrates the struggles Maia experienced. I also like the drafts at the end of the book. I enjoy seeing the process and how the art came to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Blood, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Body shaming, and Transphobia
rockythefreak's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
I fell in love with the work. It made me feel like I got a deeper understanding of things my partner talks about, being nonbinary and asexual, using words that I feel like she struggles to find at times. It helped me find some words for my own feelings and experiences too. I am so grateful to this work and it's author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Medical content, Sexual content, Transphobia, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Dysphoria, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia and Bullying
Minor: Incest
Very brief child nudity (not sexualized). Children are depicted urinating outside. Brief but graphic images of urine and vomit and feces. As for incest, it is discussed vaguely. It is only noticable if you're familiar with the pop culture reference where the incest takes place. Details:wizardingwisteria's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
I had no intention of reading this in one sitting, but once I started I couldn't put it down.
This is such a well-crafted and beautiful memoir. A must-read for this generation of young adults, especially those still figuring out their identities.
I took the .25 off the rating because the ending was super abrupt. I read the digital version and was fully convinced my copy was glitched because it seemed like the author had set up another scene, but it disappeared. I think this is a book that could definitely be expanded on.
I recommend!!
This is such a well-crafted and beautiful memoir. A must-read for this generation of young adults, especially those still figuring out their identities.
I took the .25 off the rating because the ending was super abrupt. I read the digital version and was fully convinced my copy was glitched because it seemed like the author had set up another scene, but it disappeared. I think this is a book that could definitely be expanded on.
I recommend!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Dysphoria
Minor: Vomit
athenian_frog's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I thought this was a really cool look into the thoughts of someone who is genderqueer. I am cisgender, and have limited experience reading about/in the perspective of nonbinary/trans identities. I can only recount one other book where I’ve seen someone use e/em/eir (which, I also didn’t know they were under Spivak pronouns. Neat!).
I felt like Kobabe was very thoughtful about how eir experiences and upbringing affected how e approached eir gender. I found it funny that fanfiction and queer artists remain avenues through which LGBTQIA+ people have sought self discovery. E touches on a lot of other aspects of being queer, such as grappling with how one experiences sexual and romantic attraction, the different ways loved ones can react, and how one’s identity can affect existing relationships.
The illustrations served the story well. The one about the first Pap smear e had was especially striking. There are some very pretty page long spreads, and some good uses of space to place text in a thematically relevant way. The ending was a little puzzling, but I like to imagine it is hopeful in its implications.
I think this could be a good intro for someone who is questioning if they are transgender, or even just queer in general. It does not shy away from the bodily discomfort one can experience as a non-binary person. There are discussions of first periods, Pap smears, masturbation, and intimacy with other people. Sexual drive (and the deficit thereof, in Kobabe’s case) is also visited.
People who are cisgender could also benefit from listening to this perspective; now more than ever, I think, it’s critical to be aware of the existence of non binary/transgender individuals, and the struggles they may be experiencing.
Thank you for reading!
I felt like Kobabe was very thoughtful about how eir experiences and upbringing affected how e approached eir gender. I found it funny that fanfiction and queer artists remain avenues through which LGBTQIA+ people have sought self discovery. E touches on a lot of other aspects of being queer, such as grappling with how one experiences sexual and romantic attraction, the different ways loved ones can react, and how one’s identity can affect existing relationships.
The illustrations served the story well. The one about the first Pap smear e had was especially striking. There are some very pretty page long spreads, and some good uses of space to place text in a thematically relevant way. The ending was a little puzzling, but I like to imagine it is hopeful in its implications.
I think this could be a good intro for someone who is questioning if they are transgender, or even just queer in general. It does not shy away from the bodily discomfort one can experience as a non-binary person. There are discussions of first periods, Pap smears, masturbation, and intimacy with other people. Sexual drive (and the deficit thereof, in Kobabe’s case) is also visited.
People who are cisgender could also benefit from listening to this perspective; now more than ever, I think, it’s critical to be aware of the existence of non binary/transgender individuals, and the struggles they may be experiencing.
Thank you for reading!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Dysphoria, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual content and Deadnaming
There is vomiting depicted in the latter half of the book in a panel after a doctor visit. There is some deadnaming as people react to the new pronouns the author starts using. Another character has the wrong pronouns used repeatedly but these pronouns are blacked out usually. There is medical trauma/fear revolving around Pap smears in general. A bloody medical tool is depicted. Descriptions of pain involving the Pap smears sound very painful, may be disturbing to some readers. Dysphoria and frustration with the inconclusiveness of one’s identity are themes in the book. There is a lot of awareness the author has over eir body due to established gender roles and peers. There are some sexual scenes vaguely depicted, such as: sexting, use of a strapon for oral, descriptions of masturbation techniques.littleb333's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
I really enjoyed reading this book, as a nonbinary person myself, and seeing the difference in how Maia was brought up and discovered eir identity!
I found myself relating to certain things and empathizing, even leaning new things like eir pronouns. I never had a community like em and it makes me happy reading that at least others can see the importance and also gain some confidence in knowing that others go through the same things and that they're not alone.
I really appreciated this book :)
I found myself relating to certain things and empathizing, even leaning new things like eir pronouns. I never had a community like em and it makes me happy reading that at least others can see the importance and also gain some confidence in knowing that others go through the same things and that they're not alone.
I really appreciated this book :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical content, Vomit, and Blood
traa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Moderate: Body shaming, Blood, Sexual content, and Vomit
Minor: Homophobia, Drug use, Lesbophobia, Outing, Pregnancy, and Transphobia
strawberrytheauthor's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is an autobiographical comic about Maia Kobabe’s gender identity. I understand why it has been such a challenged book because some of the scenes are very graphic, but I think it has an important purpose and message.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Excrement, Vomit, Sexual content, Medical content, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Bullying
maverique's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book! Why did I relate so much to Maia's experiences??? Not to even mention how clearly and succinctly e was able to put eir thoughts and feelings (which also happen to be the same thoughts and feelings I've been having) into words. It's so so sooooo relatable. The storytelling, the art style, EVERYTHING. I was on the verge of tears at certain points throughout the story and I would've definitely cried if I wasn't in public surrounded by people 😂 Either way, I really loved this book and I plan to reread it at some point so I can take notes of all the books, media and concepts that e mentioned. Would recommend to just about anyone who's interested tbh lmao
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria and Blood
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Terminal illness
Misgendering was accidental. And all the times blood was brought up, it was menstrual blood.wrinnola's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Transphobia, Medical trauma, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Vomit