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A review by thefreckledbookworm
My Sister: How One Sibling's Transition Changed Us Both by Selenis Leyva, Marizol Leyva
5.0
I feel like anything I will write will not do this book justice. This is an absolutely amazing #ownvoices memoir. I really appreciated the dual perspective, and both sisters admitted that some of their memories/perceptions might differ, and they decided to embrace those differences. Which makes this book all the more authentic.
The book is separated in three parts : before Marizol, during the transition, and after. At first I was a bit reluctant to read Selenis' part, as I've often read absolutely inaccurate works on this matter, always by cis people. But it was very well done.
They are telling this story, with all of its horrible truths, so that no one feels alone and so that the world can understand the importance of support. And to STOP stigmatizing trans people. Selenis writes that they feel cheated, because their initial lack of knowledge resulted in so much pain for Marizol. Had they known all of this before, she could've grown into her true-self before. So this is why they wrote this book.
Always, ALWAYS REMEMBER :
"I want to be clear that it is never okay to call out or refer to a trans individual by their birth name [...] to do so is an act of violence, one that demeans and insults and harms."
"Though she was assigned male at birth [...] Marizol has always been a woman."
So thank you. For writing this book. It takes a lot of courage to open up in such an intimate way.
P. S. This subject is SO close to my heart, especially as my sibling identifies as trans.
The book is separated in three parts : before Marizol, during the transition, and after. At first I was a bit reluctant to read Selenis' part, as I've often read absolutely inaccurate works on this matter, always by cis people. But it was very well done.
They are telling this story, with all of its horrible truths, so that no one feels alone and so that the world can understand the importance of support. And to STOP stigmatizing trans people. Selenis writes that they feel cheated, because their initial lack of knowledge resulted in so much pain for Marizol. Had they known all of this before, she could've grown into her true-self before. So this is why they wrote this book.
Always, ALWAYS REMEMBER :
"I want to be clear that it is never okay to call out or refer to a trans individual by their birth name [...] to do so is an act of violence, one that demeans and insults and harms."
"Though she was assigned male at birth [...] Marizol has always been a woman."
So thank you. For writing this book. It takes a lot of courage to open up in such an intimate way.
P. S. This subject is SO close to my heart, especially as my sibling identifies as trans.