The Boy Beneath My Skin A Black Trans Man Living in the South

by Charley Burton

For years, I have wanted others to read my story and hear my voice. I do not think that I am a unique person, although my travels in life have been different. But for many, my path will be one that is recognizable. This book is about the many journeys that I have taken to become the man that I am today. From a child born in a small rural town, who at the age of eight knew that I was different, to my path of recovery from drugs, alcohol, and food, and moving into my transition from female to male, this is a story of struggle, disappointment, and triumph. It is a story of digging beneath my skin to become whole.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

252 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Gabe Dulecki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am immensely grateful for the experience, strength, and hope in this book. Charley, a Black trans elder in recovery shares his life and wisdom in this book, and I am so glad it was published. There were many things to love about this book, and I think Charley did a wonderful job exemplifying one of the things you hear in the rooms about how despite our differences we will have so many shared experiences. I am a young white trans man in recovery in a big city, and I really appreciate how I see the overlaps in these experiences while also holding space for the nuance of the differences.

I will say that if a reader is not in a 12 step fellowship, this book may be difficult to get through. Much of Charley’s story revolves around recovery, and the way he shared his story often felt like I was hearing a lead at a meeting, or maybe listening to the main speaker at a convention. When I reframed this book in my head to expect the writing style to be more like a long share at a meeting, I was able to get much more out of it.

There was a lot of repetition throughout the book, and I did end up skimming some parts where we had already heard the story before.

[Allie Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Devastating, emotionally compelling and strenuous
- Subject matter is unfiltered, candid, and despite how traumatic in nature it is, it reads soft.
- Themes center around Identity, and LGBTQ+ Issues
- Trigger Warning for : Sexual Assault, Substance Issues, and Suicide.
- Pace drops off towards the end as it switches to diary entry format halfway through, looses the momentum built in first half that was established through narrative.
Still a good read.

[Savannah Elmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read a small number of memoirs, but this one was a good one. I appreciate the way Charley writes and shares his memories, even the heartbreaking and painful ones. I think that the way Charley speaks has a great potential to connect to older trans people, and I'm thankful that he's shared his story.

[Kat Alyst · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Stays With You, Whether You’re Ready for It or Not

This is not just a memoir—it’s a mirror, a reckoning, and a journey into the complexities of identity, self-discovery, and belonging. Gabriel Bump’s writing is both intimate and unflinching, peeling back the layers of what it means to exist in a body that doesn’t always feel like home.

The beauty of this book is in the honesty—the raw, sometimes uncomfortable truths about identity, masculinity, and the spaces in between. It doesn’t sugarcoat the journey, but it also doesn’t drown in despair. Instead, it offers something far more valuable: a testament to resilience, transformation, and the quiet power of understanding yourself on your own terms.

Some stories don’t just deserve to be told—they need to be heard. This one lingers, not just in your mind but somewhere deeper.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It really needed editing.

Burton has been through a lot leading up to his older transition, including abuse, mental health issues, and addiction, and that he eventually was able to reach such a good place is important, but there is so much repetition and times when more insight could have been helpful.