Language: R (2 swears, 6 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (repeated objective references to sexual anatomy, repeated references to sex work & sexual abuse, repeated references to different types of body modifications throughout history, one trans man portrayed without a shirt); Violence: PG-13 (repeated references to physical violence & abuse towards trans people throughout history, but nothing graphic or on-page, and two specific references to suicide of a trans person).
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME
Trans History is a graphic nonfiction book that offers an engaging and deeply researched introduction to trans history, spanning from ancient times to the present. The five chapters of the book highlights stories, historical profiles, and conversations with modern activists, to explore the diversity of trans experiences and tracks the evolution of the concepts of gender and sexuality across cultures and eras.
As someone who has studied and taught world history, I found this text incredibly helpful for illustrating how history is shaped and how voices are often excluded from the historical record based on past and present cultural norms and values. Even though I have read a lot of LGBTQIA+ literature, there is still so much that I didn’t know about the trans experience. I felt like this book taught me a lot and gave me more to think about every time I stepped away from it. It is not a “how-to become trans” book, merely a well-researched and easily digestible history of trans people. I don’t see it as something that will be widely circulated, but for those that need it, it will be incredibly valuable.
Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
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