I enjoyed Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer quite a bit. I read a lot of graphic novels and frequently read titles that explore LGBTQIA issues. Kobabe's work was slightly different than what I've seen before. Eir exploration of gender is sweet, nuanced, and at times, heartbreaking. I would definitely recommend this to those that have interest in the LGBTQIA community, or those that could benefit from learning more.

An incredibly lovely and cathartic novel from Maia Kobabe. The read was very intimate, and was grateful to hear from eir experience. It's a freshly done memoir!

I got an ARC of this book.

In an attempt to learn as much as I can about gender (and read as many graphic novels as I can), I found this memoir. I am a fan of graphic novel memoirs, partially due to one of the professors mentioned in this book. That little shout out was wonderful to me and if I hadn't already read many of her works, I would have looked her up. 

Kobabe tells the story of growing up gender queer and asexual. There isn't a bashing over the head with "this is what gender queer is" or "this is what asexuality is", instead there is just this really honest story of figuring things out and what those words mean to eir. This is wonderful. This is a memoir, not a textbook. I cared more about what these words meant for Kobabe than what the techincal definition was. Both of the main identity terms are so broad that there is no real way to understand them, until you heard what they mean to that person. 

I am both trans and ace, so this story really hit close to home with some of the feelings. The feelings around dating and this intense anxiety of coming out to strangers were so easy to relate to. The idea that coming out is this political and powerful support act for others vs personal comfort with being in the spotlight was addressed so well. If this book were solely Kababe's interactions with the children in the class e teaches I would still have given it five stars. Those few pages are so powerful and so necessary for people to see, not just other trans/non-binary/gender queer/so many other labels that are just as important, but cis gender people as well. There is this view that if trans people don't come out immediately, then the trans person has been lying. There is this pressure to be out and put out all of this emotional energy for the sake of the cis person. I loved these pages more than I ever expected to love any pages in a graphic novel. 

This book is just so powerful. There is not a single wasted panel or story. Every single detail is important and wonderful. I am just so thankful that Kobabe created this and was willing to share it with the world. The emotional energy and strength it took is just astounding. 

I can go on forever about this book. The art is beautiful. The story is wonderful and necessary. The emotions are raw and painful. I am here for all of it.

Great look to into what it means to be gender queer. Loved the illustrations. Great for all readers and easy to read.

This comic was educational and interesting. Maia take us through er history of not wanting to be a boy, and not wanting to be a girl. Of just wanting to be er self and figure out who that really is. The author holds back nothing. We get to see periods, wishing for a penis (and what that specific arousal is called), and even horrified trips to the doctors. I found once I started this story I didn’t want to put it down. I wish there was a bit more at the end, but I also understand that Maia has to live more life in order for us to get more of her evolution of self. I think this book would be great not only for those who have not figured out their identity yet, but for those of us that have, as it gives the reader a glimpse into another life, and a way to start learning proper vocabulary and understanding.
#LitsyAtoZ #G

This is the first graphic novel memoir that I've read and it's beautiful. A brilliant and raw exploration of identity and self. It's straightforward, honest and wonderful. This is a definite recommend!

this book was so emotional and personal. it definitely wasnt what i was expecting, though i dont know what it was that i was expecting from this book. this follows the author's journey through life. it shows what e went through as a child all the way through eir adulthood trying to figure out who e really is. honestly, amazing.

This was so well done, and I could relate to it so much as a non-binary identifying human. I love the style of Maia's art, and the story was beautiful and so relatable. I look forward to reading more.

This is a great, touching and informative memoir about being gender queer. It's an honest book and I wish it existed more of them.

What a wonderful, strong and moving comic. I was not only touched by the strength and honesty in it but by the truthfulness that you can feel through it. It is great to read the struggle and conflict that Maia has gone through and knowing e is displaying emself in a way that many haven't before. This Graphic Memoir delves deep and is uncomfortable to read at times as Maia's pain radiates through the page.

The art is just as well done as the writing, portraying graphic scenes as menstrual blood or strap on sex with such skill that makes them approachable and easier to read.

My only complaint is a few abrupt transitions and the final abrupt ending which had me double checking that my digital copy was accurate.

I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book on my shelves and keep an eye out for what e does next!

I really enjoyed this. I think e really articulates the challenges of being gender queer in a way that will resonate with many readers and educate many more. I hope E writes more memoir books. Both the story and the artwork were awesome. It is also great to have a narrative out there for the person who identifies as non-binary or gender queer.
I was given a free copy from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

Ok, I love, love, LOVE this graphic novel memoir!
It is so rare to see someone being so candid about their struggles with gender identity and the extreme fear and dysphoria that comes with it. I think these types of tales NEED to be out in the world, not just for the young people who are going through similar things (but goodness knows they need it so badly) but also for the general cic-het establishment to understand what gender non-binary or gender non-conforming people go through. Kidos to Maia Kobabe for being so brave and telling eir story (<--- NO THAT WAS NOT A TYPO, Maia prefers Spivak pronouns!). It will help so many people!

I’ve said before that the gender binary is toxic.

So it’s wonderful to meet someone who identifies as non-binary. I appreciate Maia and the bravery e has to share this part of eir life.

I identify as male. And I’m cis. But I hate, hate, hate the gender binary. I hate the way it forces us into roles we don’t want. I hate that it forces us into relationships we don’t need.

Thank you, Maia for sharing a little bit of yourself and helping us understand who you are.

Thank you for showing us there are other ways to think than our culture shows us.

I don’t know why we are so focused in putting people into such tiny boxes.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Lion Forge for a copy in return for an honest review.</i>

This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the book I could've used in high school. Honest, educational, and touching. E is the protagonist we all need, especially students growing up and discovering their gender identity and sexuality. E is open about all of the aspects of discovering eirself. This type of honesty is what makes this book so important.
The art is beautiful and well done. This was such a touching, important, yet easy read. I would recommend this to high school students who are struggling to find themselves, and to the general public to gain a greater understanding of how to approach the topic of pronouns.

This is an excellent story. I never really understood what it meant to be 'gender queer' but this memoir explores this, and tells the story of a person who finds that e is gender queer and what it means for em.

It is a journey which starts when e is young and then develops as e becomes a teenager and then an adult. As an adult e is able to embrace a non-binary life. E is both asexual and non-binary but has had to discover this.

This book is educational but it is more than that because it is a story of self-identity and self-understanding. Our world is intolerant of difference and it is used to divide and exclude people instead of embracing and valuing one another. This story really encouraged me to embrace who I am (even though I am not non-binary) and not to allow any one to eclipse who I am and what I have to offer.

The author has shown how e has managed to do this by writing this graphic novel. It is beautifully told and the artwork is lovely. The drawings are quite simple but convey a powerful memoir and I am so glad I read it. I think this is a book that will help many others understand who ey are and to have the courage to live eir truth.

An excellent graphic novel and going on my list of exquisite reads of 2019!

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was drawn to this one for many reasons. But I am glad I read this one. IT was thought-provoking. Beautiful and relatable. This is a memoir I will own. It is well written and I can see where this would help others in their own journey.

Gender Queer is an exploration of the author's sexuality. Kobabe discusses taboo topics in extreme detail, reflecting on eir struggles coming to terms with who ey are. I highly recommend this graphic as an easy way to begin understanding a difficult topic.

Oh wow, this hit me deep.

Gender Queer: A Memoir is a comic about Maia Kobabe and how e grew up facing questions about sexuality, gender, fitting in, coming out and navigating spaces as a queer person.

It's personal and raw and felt almost uncannily intimate to me - I frequently related to Maia, and eir experience overlaps so much with my own I was almost shocked at times. Quite a few sentences were, well, almost revelations to me, finally putting words to feelings I had only begin to confront consciously so far.

I truly believe this book will help many queer people, myself included, as well as others find new perspectives and help us reevalute what we know, as well as just broaded our horizons.

The style is simple but beautiful, at time uncomfortably frank, but always consistent. It's very easy to read (and I'm not usually a big fan of comics) with fitting illustrations of abstract concepts, explaining competently without going into detail. It flows incredibly well - I could have easily read this in one sitting, not realizing how time was passing, but I consciously made the decision to read it spread over several days to process the experiences Maia shares and what reading eir thoughts did to me.

I highly recommend!

Absolutely stunning and landmark work! Kobabe lets eir story unfold in a way that draws the reader in slowly and allows them to experience the complexity of eir growth as a person. I would recommend this for every graphic novel collection.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Rep: Non-binary and ace main character, a range of queer and LGBTQ+ side characters.

This is an autobiographical comic/graphic novel centred around our main character, Maia and eir journey to discovering eir gender and sexual identity.

The artwork and colours were beautiful and stunning. I did find it graphic at times, but I think that's a "me not you" situation as I seem to be the only one who has mentioned it.

Very important discussions on gender, sexuality and identity. The comic talks about a range of issues, from what is considered normal in terms of gender, gender norms and roles.

Growing up with the pressure to do what we are "supposed" to do, for example, girls shaving their legs, why girls and not boys? Why is that the norm?

This is about only wanting to be yourself, in a world that doesn't know how to accept anything but the norm. This is about accepting yourself, learning about and finding yourself. It's about family, friendships, support and love.

I normally avoid autobiography work as I really hate rating someones real life. I don't tend to read them for that very reason. But I love comics and I love anything LGBTQ+ so I thought I would give this one a go regardless.

While there were a few things I didn't really like, I am very glad I had the opportunity to read it.

"Though I have struggled with being your daughter, I am so, so glad that I am your child."