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marziesreads's review
5.0
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a good middle school read about transgender individuals, respecting their rights, their feelings, their name and their pronouns. It teaches the reader how to identify transphobia and how to handle or battle against it. While some people have suggested it's too Canadian (Is that a thing? Is it like being too polite?) I really don't think children in the proper age range (middle school) will have any trouble with the semantics of washrooms versus bathrooms. This book is well suited to both individual and group reading.
I do want to point out that one of the quizzes has what I believe is a reversal of answers. On page 17 of the print copy (19 in the galley) question 8 seems to have the correct responses (put up vs. speak up) for options b and c reversed. Doing nothing is clearly not speaking up.
This book is a good middle school read about transgender individuals, respecting their rights, their feelings, their name and their pronouns. It teaches the reader how to identify transphobia and how to handle or battle against it. While some people have suggested it's too Canadian (Is that a thing? Is it like being too polite?) I really don't think children in the proper age range (middle school) will have any trouble with the semantics of washrooms versus bathrooms. This book is well suited to both individual and group reading.
I do want to point out that one of the quizzes has what I believe is a reversal of answers. On page 17 of the print copy (19 in the galley) question 8 seems to have the correct responses (put up vs. speak up) for options b and c reversed. Doing nothing is clearly not speaking up.
lilyn_g's review
4.0
I chose to read Transphobia: Deal with It and be a Gender Transcender because I am in the process of overcoming my own transphobia and figured a kids book that explained things super simply would be a good place to start. I stand up for Trans rights because I know that being transphobic is wrong. I know that it doesn't matter what gender a person is. I know it, and yet part of me still has trouble accepting it.
Transphobia is a 32 page book for Canadian children that deals both with how to deal with transphobia both as an outsider and as someone who is trans. It gives tips for educating yourself and people around you for people who are not trans, but wanting to know more about it. It has sections designed to help kids who are trans make their needs known.
I really liked the "Dear Conflict Counselor" and "Dear Dr. Shrink Wrapped" sections. I think Wallace did a good job in keeping the questions simple and on a level kids can understand. And the answers are very clear cut. At the same time, though, they're questions even adults might think (at least a variation of) so it is good for adults to read too!
The Transphobia Myths section covered all the common myths that I've heard and gave rebuttals for them.
The Quiz section had potential, but it felt a little off for kids. It was aimed specifically at kids who are questioning their gender, and asking them how they would react to various situations. The reactions were labeled with 'put up' 'speak up' or 'flare up' but there was no explanation as to why the kids should choose one or the other. (I can think of some adults who wouldn't know why, so I definitely get concerned about kids comprehension of it.)
Side note: There was one illustration in this section (referencing trans being a new thing) that (to me) looked like it was referring to Shakespeare's characters on stage. I was a bit confused by that because I didn't think that playing a role on stage (because girls didn't traditionally act back then) made someone considered trans.
I really liked the Choice of... section. It probably had the greatest impact on me, just because it put how to deal with things so easily.
There were things I wish they would have went into a little bit more detail on for kids. For example, one of the dos and don't section says "don't speak up on behalf of a targeted group you aren't a part of" - and that's good advice, but maybe explain to kids why they shouldn't do that.
Overall, it wasn't quite as good as I was hoping it would be, but I think it's a great starter book for kids who need to learn about Transphobia.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review consideration.
Transphobia is a 32 page book for Canadian children that deals both with how to deal with transphobia both as an outsider and as someone who is trans. It gives tips for educating yourself and people around you for people who are not trans, but wanting to know more about it. It has sections designed to help kids who are trans make their needs known.
I really liked the "Dear Conflict Counselor" and "Dear Dr. Shrink Wrapped" sections. I think Wallace did a good job in keeping the questions simple and on a level kids can understand. And the answers are very clear cut. At the same time, though, they're questions even adults might think (at least a variation of) so it is good for adults to read too!
The Transphobia Myths section covered all the common myths that I've heard and gave rebuttals for them.
The Quiz section had potential, but it felt a little off for kids. It was aimed specifically at kids who are questioning their gender, and asking them how they would react to various situations. The reactions were labeled with 'put up' 'speak up' or 'flare up' but there was no explanation as to why the kids should choose one or the other. (I can think of some adults who wouldn't know why, so I definitely get concerned about kids comprehension of it.)
Side note: There was one illustration in this section (referencing trans being a new thing) that (to me) looked like it was referring to Shakespeare's characters on stage. I was a bit confused by that because I didn't think that playing a role on stage (because girls didn't traditionally act back then) made someone considered trans.
I really liked the Choice of... section. It probably had the greatest impact on me, just because it put how to deal with things so easily.
There were things I wish they would have went into a little bit more detail on for kids. For example, one of the dos and don't section says "don't speak up on behalf of a targeted group you aren't a part of" - and that's good advice, but maybe explain to kids why they shouldn't do that.
Overall, it wasn't quite as good as I was hoping it would be, but I think it's a great starter book for kids who need to learn about Transphobia.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review consideration.
aceofbens's review
2.0
NOTE: I received an advance reader copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinions or the way I talk about the book.
When I saw this was a book explaining transgender things with a middle-grade target audience, I was so excited to read it! I was already thinking in my head who to recommend this to before I opened it. Unfortunately, as I read, the star rating kept going down in my mind. The only excuse I can come up with is that this book was published in Canada and I live in the US, so the culture may differ.
Pros
*Overall, this is a good source for children who may have never heard "transgender" before.
*The illustrations naturally and explicitly include people of color, people of different religions, and people with disabilities. Everyone is represented.
*There is a note about intersectionality. It explains that young trans women of color is a very targeted group of people who are more likely to experience violence and other hate crimes against them.
*It explains that gender is on a spectrum rather than a binary and equally rotates pronouns and identities in its examples
*Mental health is discussed and the high suicide rate among transgender people is addressed well.
*The information is truly on a level for kids and people who have never encounter this before to understand.
*On the last page, there is a list of other sources including websites, phone numbers, reference books, and fiction books.
Cons
*Uses "sex" and "gender" interchangeably. It mentions something about the "sex you were assigned at birth". Maybe terms are different in Canada, but I've never heard that worded that way. I've always been told (by knowledgeable people) that sex is what you are physically and gender is what you are mentally. Therefore, you are assigned a gender at birth based on your sex.
*The use of "transsexual". This term is downright outdated. It's only used once, which makes the instance even weirder, because it's used in place of transgender. It's not even used to distinguish trans people who have had SRS from trans people who have not. That's the most common distinction I've heard between "transgender" and "transsexual", not that I agree with that usage.
*The use of GLBTQ. Listen, it's LGBTQ or LBGTQIA or LGBT+ or some other variation, but the L always goes before the G. There is no reason, other than sexism, why it needs to be GLBTQ. The gays don't need to be first. I am a Gay™ and I approve this message.
*The use of "transphobic" as a noun? There's a section titled "You're not a transphobic, are you?" and a quiz titled "Are you a transphobic?" Maybe I'm getting picky here, but the word that should be used is "transphobe". I've never heard anyone call someone a "homophobic", because the correct word in that case is "homophobe".
*On page 8 it gives a scenario where during grad pictures boy are posed with a diploma while girls are posed with a rose. The explanation underneath says that this is sexist but not transphobic, and that's about it. Sexism and transphobia are closely linked because they both have to do with gender. I understand that explaining sexism can quickly become a book of its own, but couldn't the author briefly explain the reason this is sexism instead of transphobic? Could the author mention that it's sexist because it's making boys look smarter than girls, that it isn't transphobic because it's not targeting people who don't fit these gender roles?
*On pages 22-23 there is a list of 30 transphobic statements, but the book doesn't explain why they are transphobic. At the end it basically says that if you agree with any of these statements, you should educate yourself more. This would be an acceptable answer if you were bombarded with questions on the street or on social media, but this is a book explaining transphobia to children. You can't tell them something is problematic and not explain why. This may be their first source of information on the topic. This may be their only accessible source of information.
*On the "More Help" page, it recommends [b:Luna|316445|Luna|Julie Anne Peters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339269673l/316445._SY75_.jpg|1532237] and [b:Parrotfish|522782|Parrotfish|Ellen Wittlinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348477148l/522782._SY75_.jpg|510662] which are both infamous for being transphobic books with transgender MCs. Why would you recommend those books to children who might be transgender when you could recommend [b:Beautiful Music for Ugly Children|13221769|Beautiful Music for Ugly Children|Kirstin Cronn-Mills|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330538287l/13221769._SY75_.jpg|18408748], [b:Symptoms of Being Human|22692740|Symptoms of Being Human|Jeff Garvin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1434997054l/22692740._SY75_.jpg|42204988], [b:When the Moon Was Ours|28220826|When the Moon Was Ours|Anna-Marie McLemore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489647354l/28220826._SY75_.jpg|48249481], literally anything by [a:Jazz Jennings|8424949|Jazz Jennings|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1468730175p2/8424949.jpg], and/or [b:The Pants Project|30095473|The Pants Project|Cat Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470413686l/30095473._SY75_.jpg|46859873]? Each of these books have problems of their own, but none of them are as bad as the infamous ones mentioned.
Final thought: Bearing these issues in mind, I would say it is up to the provider to decide if they want to give this to children. This is a rare source of information on transphobia that is geared towards late elementary/middle school aged children. Still, it leaves a lot to be desired. I, personally, would not recommend it, but I understand people who would want to because of it being one of few of its kind. Just be aware that this is an imperfect source.
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When I saw this was a book explaining transgender things with a middle-grade target audience, I was so excited to read it! I was already thinking in my head who to recommend this to before I opened it. Unfortunately, as I read, the star rating kept going down in my mind. The only excuse I can come up with is that this book was published in Canada and I live in the US, so the culture may differ.
Pros
*Overall, this is a good source for children who may have never heard "transgender" before.
*The illustrations naturally and explicitly include people of color, people of different religions, and people with disabilities. Everyone is represented.
*There is a note about intersectionality. It explains that young trans women of color is a very targeted group of people who are more likely to experience violence and other hate crimes against them.
*It explains that gender is on a spectrum rather than a binary and equally rotates pronouns and identities in its examples
*Mental health is discussed and the high suicide rate among transgender people is addressed well.
*The information is truly on a level for kids and people who have never encounter this before to understand.
*On the last page, there is a list of other sources including websites, phone numbers, reference books, and fiction books.
Cons
*Uses "sex" and "gender" interchangeably. It mentions something about the "sex you were assigned at birth". Maybe terms are different in Canada, but I've never heard that worded that way. I've always been told (by knowledgeable people) that sex is what you are physically and gender is what you are mentally. Therefore, you are assigned a gender at birth based on your sex.
*The use of "transsexual". This term is downright outdated. It's only used once, which makes the instance even weirder, because it's used in place of transgender. It's not even used to distinguish trans people who have had SRS from trans people who have not. That's the most common distinction I've heard between "transgender" and "transsexual", not that I agree with that usage.
*The use of GLBTQ. Listen, it's LGBTQ or LBGTQIA or LGBT+ or some other variation, but the L always goes before the G. There is no reason, other than sexism, why it needs to be GLBTQ. The gays don't need to be first. I am a Gay™ and I approve this message.
*The use of "transphobic" as a noun? There's a section titled "You're not a transphobic, are you?" and a quiz titled "Are you a transphobic?" Maybe I'm getting picky here, but the word that should be used is "transphobe". I've never heard anyone call someone a "homophobic", because the correct word in that case is "homophobe".
*On page 8 it gives a scenario where during grad pictures boy are posed with a diploma while girls are posed with a rose. The explanation underneath says that this is sexist but not transphobic, and that's about it. Sexism and transphobia are closely linked because they both have to do with gender. I understand that explaining sexism can quickly become a book of its own, but couldn't the author briefly explain the reason this is sexism instead of transphobic? Could the author mention that it's sexist because it's making boys look smarter than girls, that it isn't transphobic because it's not targeting people who don't fit these gender roles?
*On pages 22-23 there is a list of 30 transphobic statements, but the book doesn't explain why they are transphobic. At the end it basically says that if you agree with any of these statements, you should educate yourself more. This would be an acceptable answer if you were bombarded with questions on the street or on social media, but this is a book explaining transphobia to children. You can't tell them something is problematic and not explain why. This may be their first source of information on the topic. This may be their only accessible source of information.
*On the "More Help" page, it recommends [b:Luna|316445|Luna|Julie Anne Peters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339269673l/316445._SY75_.jpg|1532237] and [b:Parrotfish|522782|Parrotfish|Ellen Wittlinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348477148l/522782._SY75_.jpg|510662] which are both infamous for being transphobic books with transgender MCs. Why would you recommend those books to children who might be transgender when you could recommend [b:Beautiful Music for Ugly Children|13221769|Beautiful Music for Ugly Children|Kirstin Cronn-Mills|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330538287l/13221769._SY75_.jpg|18408748], [b:Symptoms of Being Human|22692740|Symptoms of Being Human|Jeff Garvin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1434997054l/22692740._SY75_.jpg|42204988], [b:When the Moon Was Ours|28220826|When the Moon Was Ours|Anna-Marie McLemore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1489647354l/28220826._SY75_.jpg|48249481], literally anything by [a:Jazz Jennings|8424949|Jazz Jennings|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1468730175p2/8424949.jpg], and/or [b:The Pants Project|30095473|The Pants Project|Cat Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470413686l/30095473._SY75_.jpg|46859873]? Each of these books have problems of their own, but none of them are as bad as the infamous ones mentioned.
Final thought: Bearing these issues in mind, I would say it is up to the provider to decide if they want to give this to children. This is a rare source of information on transphobia that is geared towards late elementary/middle school aged children. Still, it leaves a lot to be desired. I, personally, would not recommend it, but I understand people who would want to because of it being one of few of its kind. Just be aware that this is an imperfect source.
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