02 - A book by a trans or nonbinary author

[Yoo]

My library had Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker which is a great book if anyone is interested in learning more about queer history and theory. I had touched briefly on queer theory at University so I enjoyed learning more in an 'academic-lite' way, with lovely graphics.

Meg-John Barker identifies as non-binary and has written many other books on gender.

[Callie]

Dreadnought by April Daniels is what was suggested to me by a Trans friend

[Evil Secret]

I read Lost Connections: Why You're Depressed and How ot Find Hope By Johann Hari

[SadieReadsAgain]

I read Courtney Love: The Real Story by Poppy Z. Brite. I'm not a fan of Courtney Love. Not in the shady way of meaning I dislike her, just that I was too young to get into grunge. I've listened to both Hole and Nirvana, and thought they were ok, but just ok. But I am interested in her story, so when my friend was clearing out his books this was one of the ones I picked up. I've read Poppy Z. Brite once before, Drawing Blood, and really enjoyed that so I knew this story was in safe hands. This book is not written to tear Courtney Love down, but equally it isn't trying to make her into some sort of saint. It covers her traumatic childhood, her involvement in different music scenes across America and in the UK, her relationship with Kurt Cobain and their journey into parenthood, and how she dealt with his death by suicide. I found it fascinating to see the other well-known people she knew - the ones she loved, and the ones she hated. I really appreciated that she doesn't hold back on that last one either, something you don't always get in "celebrity" biographies and memoirs, but I'm always down for some hot tea. She speaks her mind, and if she doesn't like someone she's not only going to tell them but she's going to tell the whole fucking world. I've come out of this book thinking that although problematic, this is a woman who has been through hell and is totally fascinating. The book is really well written, it flows really well and doesn't just take Love's word for things!

[Jennifer]

Highly recommend these 2 novellas by Sarah Gailey.

[Marie]

Jazz Jennings has two books that would fit this one. I personally read Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen. She was 16 when this book was published, and it reads like a teenager telling her story. I am glad I read it because while the writing is a little bit juvenile, it reminds me of when I was her age and the similarities and differences between the lives we lived.

[Libby]

A few I've read and can recommend:

For a literary fiction read:
For a YA read:
For a middle grade read:
For a poetry read:
For a fantasy read:

[Gina]

I really enjoyed reading Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery (published as Daniel Mallory Ortberg). I was a casual fan of The Toast (the web site he used to run); I am happy to report that his writing is still brilliant, funny, and thought-provoking in essay form here, and has that fizzy mix of high-brow and low-brow that I remember from his previous work.

[Kim]

Mean by Myriam Gurba

[Kerry]

Once & Future and Sword in the Stars were EXCELLENT ya novels setting Arthurian legend in space with lots of queer kids!!

Weird, maybe unpopular, opinion (note: I wrote this based off the prompt as I ORIGINALLY saw it on the popsugar website in December/January, which just said non-binary author)

If a trans person aligns themselves on the binary, they are NOT non-binary. This prompt was absolutely lovely because it, I think, forces the reader to seek out books by authors in this subset within the umbrella term of trans. Just as not all LGBTQ people are trans... just as reading a book by a gay man for a trans author prompt doesn’t meet the requirements, so too reading a book with a BINARY trans person doesn’t either.

Now, how do you know if they’re non-binary? One sure way is if they identify themselves clearly as non-binary or genderqueer or if they use “alternative” (ie, “ze”/“they”) And guess what? That’s basically it. Try to avoid guessing. That just ends in tears.

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

[Lilith]

The Pervert by Remy Boydelland Michelle Perez. Alternated between moving and funny. A trans girl and her life in Seattle -- seems pretty accurate per a couple of trans women friends of mine. Not for everyone: it's explicit, and open about sex work and the question as to who is the pervert, but I loved it!

[Luca]

I just read Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi and felt it was ambitious but the writing style was too esoteric for my taste, so I'd like to try their YA novel Pet. Freshwater is also super gory and has tons of triggers so use caution if you plan to read it!

[bookish_inf]

Once and Future. Sword In The Stars.
They fit the prompt and the authors are amazinf

[bookish_inf]

*amazing

[Jennifer Muster]

I read Red, White & Royal Blue for this prompt. It was amazing! I loved this book. The characters were delightful. I highly recommend this book.

[Shazana]

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender. Beautiful book. Highly recommend it.

[Harry]

Finished The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta. Surprised that she is a YA writer.

[Sue]

I read The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster by Sarah Krasnostein. I found it on the Listopia for this prompt and had heard about the book and was keen to read it, so ordered it from the library. This is a fascinating biography of a trans woman, but unfortunately was not actually written by a trans author. As I am really trying to get through my already owned, very large tbr, I am going to count this book for this prompt anyway as I don't want to have to borrow/buy any more books.

[Britany]

Finished If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Victoria]

If you like the fantasy genre, C. S. Pacat identifies as queer and genderqueer.

Captive Prince

[Debra]

Anica wrote: "I was originally planning on reading The Map of Salt and Stars for a 2019 prompt, but ended up using a different book instead. Can't recommend it or not, since I haven't read it yet..."

Lexi wrote: "I recommend both Ninefox Gambit if you like math in your SF (check trigger warnings esp. on later books) and any book by J.Y. Yang."

I just finished The Map Of Salt and Stars. It was great. I do have a hard time when they have 2 stories mixed together but both stories were good. I came on this site because I thought by her fb page she might be trans.

[Nadine in NY]

Debra wrote: "I just finished The Map Of Salt and Stars. It was great. I do have a hard time when they have 2 stories mixed together but both stories were good. I came on this site because I thought by her fb page she might be trans. ..."


Yes! this author is transgender, and uses he/him pronouns on his author profile on GR

[Sherri]

I read Good Boy:My Life in Seven Dogs by Jennifer Finney Boylan. I liked it. Gave it 3 stars.

[Erin]

I read Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey!

[Erin]

I read Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey!

[Leslie Dutcher]

I read Vanishing Monuments

I gave it four stars, only missing the 5th because it got to a point where I was exhausted of the "memory palace" portions. However, I almost gave it five because I wondered if that was the point, to experience the exhaustion of it all.

[Arunimaa]

I read Fence, Vol. 1 by C.S. Pacat who identifies themselves as genderqueer and non binary.

[Cassandra]

I'd also like to recommend anything by Kate Bornstein especially Queer and Pleasant Danger and Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws

[Udari]

I read The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar as this was the June group read.
June Group Read Discussion: The Map of Salt and Stars

[Delia]

For this prompt, I read Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon (they/them). A great resource!

[Malu]

I saw Katherena Vermette on the listopia but I cant seem to find out if she is trans or non-binary, does anyone know?

[Virginia]

I read Map of Salt and Stars for this prompt.

[Lisa]

I had thought to read Peter Darling by Austin Chant for this prompt but time is getting away from me and I am currently getting ready to read The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. I know that he is gay but I do not know if he identifies as male. Anyone know if this book might work?

[Nadine in NY]

Lisa wrote: "I had thought to read Peter Darling by Austin Chant for this prompt but time is getting away from me and I am currently getting ready to read [book:The House in the Cerulean Sea|450..."


From Klune's blog:

I am a cis white man.

Corey/Kori Ellison, the star of Why We Fight, is biracial and bigender.

I will never know what it means to be transgender.

So, no, his books would not fit in this category.

[Lisa]

Nadine wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I had thought to read Peter Darling by Austin Chant for this prompt but time is getting away from me and I am currently getting ready to read [book:The House in the Cer..."

Thanks for the info

[Barbara]

I listened to Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee.

It's...a really confusing book. There is an EXTREMELY STEEP learning curve. You'll have to infer almost everything about this world because practically nothing is explained. Quite a clunky novel.

But I am intrigued enough to continue the series.

[Sheri]

I read Ninefox Gambit for the lgbtq+ debut promos, similar feelings. I bought the second, haven’t worked up to reading it yet

[Drakeryn]

Oh hey, I recently got Ninefox Gambit on sale! Wonder if EXTREMELY STEEP learning curve is what I need to pull me out of my reading slump...

[Barbara]

Drakeryn wrote: "Oh hey, I recently got Ninefox Gambit on sale! Wonder if EXTREMELY STEEP learning curve is what I need to pull me out of my reading slump..."

Good luck! I thought it was a good book. But it often suffers from "show don't tell" in that everything is shown to you but the author doesn't always tell you what it means.

[Nadine in NY]

I couldn't handle Ninefox Gambit. It's the mathiest of math, so complex, so confusing, I have no idea what it meant. My brain just capitulated and said NOPE. I DNF'ed.


Usually I can power through "confusing" in SFF - it's almost expected that SFF books start off confusing. I mean, I made it through Ancillary Justice and The Three-Body Problem, but this book defeated me.

Props to those of you who kept reading!!!

[Sheri]

Once I got well into the story, I was able to push through all the math and lump it into “space magic, don’t have to understand” haha. Once the plot really started going, it pulled me in. The ending was fascinating enough I want to read the next.

[Robin H-R]

I read Where Do I Pee?: A Transgenders Journey into Acceptance.

A short read and only 99 cents on Amazon....

[Lauren]

I read the book When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir. It’s a memoir about one of the founders of the black lives matter movement. They are non-binary

[Meagan]

nothing made sense in Ninefox gambit until (and this is not a spoiler unless you just really wanted to figure it out on your own. but I'll add spoiler tags anyway) (view spoiler)[I realized there was a magic system (any time Lee refers to exotics they basically mean "magic") and it operated on the shared beliefs of the members of the society. this is how the calender works and, in turn, the calender governs the physics of the world. this is why putting down the heretics is so important. they break away from the consensus/shared beliefs that governs physics which weakens the exotics/magic of the world (hide spoiler)]

[Sheri]

Megan, that's basically how I felt, it just took a while to piece together from context! Once it started falling together, was easier to follow.(view spoiler)[ Mostly I just treated it as "oh yes, space magic" . I love space magic so I was fine with it once I got going. (hide spoiler)]

[Barbara]

To be perfectly honest, I didn't completely understand what was going on until I read Rick Riordan's review of Ninefox Gambit here at Goodreads. Then I said "Ohhhhh! Okay."

If ever there was a book in need of a glossary, this was it.

[poshpenny]

For Transgender Awareness Week, Audible have posted a collection of books

https://www.audible.com/ep/pride-audi...