So I’m a bit late reviewing this. Bearing in mind this was published in 2018, it’s a solid source of information, and I do not want to discredit the work Krieger put in for this nor the fact that, largely, the information is accurate. However, the extent to which it is not updated (even for 2018) and to which it feels lacking, means I cannot recommend this in god conscience.

To start, Krieger introduces the terms “natal male” and “natal female” before mentioning the term “cisgender,” almost in passing. I came out as a teenager in 2014, and I have never heard these terms used outside of media from the early 2000s and before. To give these terms as options to parents of teenagers today (and even in 2018) feels irresponsible at best. Later, in the glossary, “straight” is defined as “a common term for a heterosexual cisgender person,” which is only partially true considering “straight” has nothing to do with someone’s gender.

Based on the wording throughout the book (i.e., what’s explained above, etc.) and the author’s note that he wants to provide information in a way that parents reading it won’t have to translate what terms transgender people use to talk about gender into words that these parents already understand, I feel like this book is for deeply conservative parents who completely ignore if not chastise the existence of transgender people but are now looking to come around on the idea. Even for the late 2010s, I feel like putting this book in the hands of parents of teenagers would give them outdated if not misleading information.

Looking at this book from the perspective of its audience being conservative parents you’re only hoping to meet halfway at best, this book is, like I said, solid. It’s well researched from Krieger’s time as a social worker and regularly provides sources in the footnotes from academic texts. Crucially, Krieger asserts early in the book that gender and sexuality are two different things and that both are a spectrum. Krieger also stresses the importance of mental health in transgender teens, who are more susceptible to mental illness than their cisgender peers.

I appreciate that a full chapter is dedicated to addressing a parent’s potential concerns such as that their child will regret transitioning, or they’re too young to make that decision, or that they aren’t really trans but rather depressed. Krieger gently but sternly explains the research that contradicts these common anxieties and continues on to outline ways to help their teen in exploring the correct options for them from social to medical transition.

In summary, I genuinely believe there is valuable information in here. I am simply torn about whether I would recommend this based on the way some of the information is presented.

My grandchild transitioned from female to male two years ago. This book answered a lot of questions for me and helped me to better understand the dynamics in our family's adjustment.

This is the best book on the topic that I have read thus far, As a psychologist and parent, I found this accessible, non-threatening, and extremely helpful. Excellent resources are also provided. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a transgender youth.

Good primer on the basics about transgender issues including terms and different gender identities on the full spectrum. But, only the very basics are covered and parents of transgendered teens will want more detailed information. For others (family and community members; school personnel or friends) this is a great book.

5* I read this not because I have a transgender teen in my life, but because I wanted to understand the correct terminology to use and to gain insight into trans teens.

This is another great book from this publisher - one that didn't go over my Jane Average head, and which instead educated me and opened my eyes to what it is to be transgender and non-binary. At the time of reading this, a friend whose daughter's girlfriend is transgender opened up, and together, we've helped each other understand the correct terminology to use, and more importantly, we've managed to understand the terminology, which is apparently, always changing.

It's a clear and simple-to-understand book and would certainly be helpful for a parent struggling to relate to their transgender or non-binary child. It's fair and balanced and has helpful and practical sections, as well as listing various sources of help.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers, for my reading pleasure.

This slender book is an invaluable resource for parents, and for anyone with a transgender youth in their life. With an excellent listing of resources, frank talk about transgender and especially non-binary gender identification, this book can help guide caring individuals. It conveys a sense of how vital support is in the life of transgender youth, a group who have a high rate of suicide when lacking supportive family and friends in their lives. The book pragmatically explains what gender identity is and why it is one of the most fundamental parts of an individual.