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| Image: Lion Forge |
Gender Queer: a memoir by Maia Kobabe. 240 p. Lion Forge, May, 2019. 9781549304002. (Review of finished purchased copy.)
Maia never felt comfortable in her skin. Though born to an accepting and rather unconventional family, she could never verbalize her feelings of disconnection. Assigned female at birth, she never liked to dress in a gender conforming way. She liked the freedom of boy clothes, yet didn't necessarily want to be a boy. She had crushes on boys as well as girls but the thought of being intimate grossed her out. Was she asexual then? This raw, honest, humorous and occasionally explicit memoir stuns in the best possible way. For questioning teens, there is comfort in knowing they are not alone in their confusion. For allies, there is much to be learned in order to be a better ally.
The panels are easy to follow and the art, muted and earthy, fits the narrative, which is spare and down-to-earth. This is an important addition to high school and public libraries. I am on the fence about adding it to my middle school collection. It is a tad explicit for the age group; but would be an excellent book for questioning or gender queer kids who need a safe place to explore and find themselves. I am leaning toward adding it.
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