Jackson does a great job of showing the nonlinear and illogical aspects of gender exploration and transition. Interesting for those familiar with trans identities but has enough background info for new readers.

This book was very good. An interesting, and effectively done, mix of autobiography and primer on transgender transition. And as a millennial, I love the frame of this book intro-ing with the Sorting Hat from the Harry Potter universe, and Albus Dumbledore's accompanying adage "sometimes I think we Sort to soon." We as society - parents, doctors, teachers, all - "sort" children by gender-assigned-at-birth all the time, and sometimes we sort incorrectly.

Jackson Bird's account is very revealing, but I liked that he situated his story as just that, his and his alone. While transgender visibility is certainly on the rise, Jackson makes it clear that his story is just one of many. He does an excellent job of managing the telling of this story with providing a broader context in which other transgender folks - or their loved ones - may find guidance and camaraderie.

As a person who is cisgender (I believe that is the right term, I'm sill learning), I will never full understand what a person goes through who is transgender. But I am trying and this book helped so much. Jackson Bird not only shares his struggles in questioning his identity and sexuality, but also his struggles in finding answers to all his questions. He, like so many others like him, questions so much about himself, but then also has to try to figure out what all his questions even mean. And then on top of all that, he educates us in terminology, and what all he and other have to do to come out and begin the long process of living their life as their true self. It's not just a medical process, it's emotional, spiritual, social and so much more.

I was truly impressed with the person he is. And to see how happy and fulfilled he is now, is a testament to how strong and brave he is. This book is well written with humor and knowledgeable authority. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand what transgender people go through.

After reading several "YouTuber" books over the years, it's safe to say Sorted by Jackson Bird is the most well written and researched one yet. Part memoir and part educational guide, Sorted is Jackson's story discovering that he is trans. As a viewer of Jackson's YouTube channel, this book helped me understand his journey in a new way, and have an even deeper respect for what he and other trans people face growing up and becoming themselves. That being said, I highly recommend reading this book even if you've never heard of Jackson, as it is a great resource for learning more about the LGBTQ+ community.

It's easy for me to connect with Jackson because we are the same age and share some of the same interests. When he discusses attending the Harry Potter releases, for example, I can remember when I was doing the same with my friends. I can also relate to feeling uncomfortable in my body, and not knowing exactly how gender plays a part in my self identity. Over the years I've gone through extremely girly phases and tomboy phrases, too. My favorite colors have gone from pink to blue to green. As I turn 30 in just a few weeks, I realize I haven't worn a dress in years and have no desire to do so again (at least for the foreseeable future). I think my fluid ideas of gender and expression allowed me to sink into this book easily. I really appreciate Jackson's candidness in sharing the struggles he went through growing up.

My critiques of Sorted are marginal at best. The book opens with a set of disclaimers from Jackson that I truly don't believe are necessary. You don't need to tell me that this is your story and it is not representative of all trans people - it's your memoir! Of course it only represents your life. I understand the desire for such disclaimers, but I wish people didn't feel the need to use them.

Similarly, this book includes educational passages in the middle of Jackson's personal narrative. These passages are very helpful and add a lot to the book, but I found them to be a bit repetitive. For example, Jackson repeated definitions and other key points a few times. I believe he did so in order to stress importance, but because terms are included in a dedicated glossary, I don't think the repetition is necessary.

Overall, I am so glad I read Sorted and hope more people will pick up this book. It is extremely approachable if you are new to the trans community, and I believe that reading Jackson's story can help to demonstrate what trans people experience when trying to understand more about themselves and their gender. Sorted also provides many resources for further study, and I appreciate the amount of work Jackson put into this book. I look forward to watching more of his videos, and seeing what is ahead for him!

This book had me hooked immediately with the very first Harry Potter sorting reference.

I admittedly had never heard of Jackson Bird before reading this, but as a queer lady myself I make it a point to regularly read memoirs of other LGBTQA+ folks because voices matter, people!

I was excited to read this, I really enjoy memoirs from trans folks but this book I found especially wonderful. Not only was it well written, I laughed out loud a few times (those diary entries addressed to Harry, oh my goodness!), I teared up, I was fully along for the ride. What made this different for me was the amount of emotional labor and education also put into this book, which I thought was brilliant and so helpful to people outside (or inside) the LGBTQA+ community that don't know the correct terms, how to properly ask for pronouns, etc. I think that so many people don't ever really mean to be offensive, it's just a lack of knowledge that gets in their way and this book provides a safe place to learn about these things.

Really a perfect blend of memoir and education. I loved this book.

This book was such a raw and honest read. I admire the author's bravery in living the life that they knew they were meant to. The author coming out as transgender in a time when it wasn't talked about as much as it is now was brave and a move that many others questioning how to come out can look at for inspiration. I work at a middle school and feel that this is a book that should be available for those that need a safe place to get information on such a personal issue.

<i>Sorted</i> is a well-written, engaging, and smooth read. Jackson Bird's voice is very strong, and he is able to present complicated ideas in a very clear and understandable way. While I wasn't necessarily "wow-ed" by Bird's memoir, I enjoyed following along as he led me through his FTM journey. Though I'm not familiar with his previous work on YouTube, etc., I found the overabundance of Harry Potter references in <i>Sorted</i> to be really relatable. As someone who found queer community and identity through online fandoms (including HP), I really connected to that aspect of Bird's story. The memoir's title in fact is a reference to the Sorting Hat in <i>Harry Potter</i>, used as a surprisingly apt analogy for gender identity. 3.5 stars.

Jackson Bird had a problem growing up in a 1990s suburban Texas neighborhood. Born female, Jackson identified more with boy clothes and haircuts. However, in high school, Jackson tried to ignore the feeling by dressing feminine. During college, Jackson became a gay trans male and a videographer. This is his story.

Jackson’s story is heartfelt and emotional but also empowering. He now is happily pursuing his most important documentary—his own story. He tells of confusion about trans culture because of growing up in a heavily role-based town. Both girls and boys had parts to play in life and there was little to no variation allowed.

To avoid that issue with other people, Jackson does YouTube videos, TED talks, and this excellent book that explains how to speak and interact with people who just happen to be trans. It also is a memoir of Jackson’s experience of awakening and ultimate transition. By Sorted, the author means like by the sorting hat in Harry Potter—not in the British slang meaning of fixing a problem. It’s not a problem, it’s just Jackson.

While Sorted is a great book if you or a loved one is having some gender issues, it is also an excellent memoir that most people will enjoy. Jackson’s story is brutally honest and compelling to read. 5 stars!

Thanks to Tiller Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book was great. I've followed Jackson's journey on and off. I saw his coming out video quite a while ago, and then I watched several of his videos on his channel because I was curious to learn more about him.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves memoirs, Harry Potter, and/or LGBTQA+ content. I don't like Harry Potter, but if you do, that's probably a bonus, because you've maybe heard of Jackson before and have a love of the wizarding world in common.

The book is honest, well-written, and engaging. It provides a different perspective on being trans than what people typically get to see. It's a long-form narrative about someone who follows a different path than the trans people often portrayed in media. But that's the whole point, there is no one experience of being trans. There's no one way to be an LGBT+ person. I think that's something this book really gets across, and it's so important.

I got an ARC of this book.

So there is nothing wrong with this memoir, but it just wasn't for me. I had no clue who Jackson Bird was before this book and in a few months, I may not even remember the name. This is not to say that his journey and his contributions to the queer community don't matter.

The book is very much trans 101. There were big breaks in the middle of chapters to explain some very basic terms. He gives these definitions beautifully. They were well explained. I was really impressed with how some of the terms were explained in such an easy way. That being said I didn't exactly need or want the super basic definitions. It made the story slow down and it felt like the story was less for other trans people and was for cis people. This is not a bad thing, just made it feel like it wasn't for me. I would hope after transitioning as long as I have been, that I would at least have a grasp on the basics. 

I couldn't help comparing my transition to Bird's. I am two years younger and I was starting hormones before he had even figured out that trans men could exist tor that they could be gay. So it just felt so alien to me in that sense. He was traveling to other countries and living life in a way that I couldn't. I had to make a lot of choices that came down to whatever else or my transition. By the time he came out, I had already had top surgery and a hysterectomy. I know that every transition varies and all are valid, the book does an amazing job pointing this out. I am more impressed with people who come out later in life than people who have known all along, but I will cheer them both on. The strength it takes to speak out after an identity has been fully formed in the world is just mind boggling. It was just something that further pushed the story away from me. I could no longer connect with Bird.

The main reason I couldn't connect with Bird and his story is going to seem to trivial, but it really was the last straw. There was just so many Harry Potter references. There are many reasons why I just don't like talking to people around my age and one of the big reasons is I don't like Harry Potter. I grew out of it. I get a lot of flack for not being a fan. I get made fun of and bullied by people in the fandom, like this happens on a fairly regular basis even today. It is to the point when someone mentions their house in a bio it reads as a red flag for me. So while I wanted to be happy that Bird has a place to belong and was helping people, it also pushed me away because I had such a drastically different experience with that fandom. 

So there is nothing wrong with this memoir, it just didn't do anything for me. I can see it doing great things for others. I can see this being a great tool for young cis people to get some trans 101. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to trans people or anyone over the age of 25. Maybe if Bird and I were further apart in age and location then I would have had a different view of things.

A very accessible memoir. It's written for an audience unfamiliar with trans issues and experiences, and Bird works to break down the basics before delving into his personal journey. I'd recommend to fans of the author and to those who want an introduction to the experiences of transmasculine people.

I am so excited to buy my finished copy of this book if preordering if your jam than 100% go and do that right about now.
This is the kind of memoir that makes me remember why my fantasy, science fiction, and YA farce loving self also sort of thinks non-fiction might be the best genre. When a true story, on any scale, is written well with a cohesive narrative, it completely kicks ass.
Sorted is a memoir following Jackson Birds life through the lens of gender. The narrative is so tight, funny, and informative without feeling unapproachable. We get a glimpse into many aspects of what it is like growing up trans, a Texan, a Harry Potter nerd, and the struggles of early adulthood.
Quick acknowledgment, I have been following Bird's online presence for quite some time. I started as an occasional Will it Waffle viewer and was probably aware of his youtube channel because I was deep into the Harry Potter side of the internet as soon as I was on the internet. I am a pretty regular viewer of his youtube content and am eagerly awaiting more of his podcast. I have been known to lightly trash talk some internet people turned authors. Despite that, I am delighted to have to eat crow on my assertion that I would no longer read internet peoples books (I am also dying to read Akilah Hughes' Obviously). I loved this book and genuinely think it is terrific.
I found this book incredibly relatable and assume that a wide array of people will agree with me here. I figured out towards the end of the book that his home town is about 20-30 minutes from where I lived for a few years as a small child. I related so hardcore to the annoyance of being perceived as a person much younger than you are. This book would have been worth it to read if only for learning that I am not the only person over 18 to have been carded for a PG-13 movie, he handled this with much more grace than I did. I also tend to love musings on early career building as a 20 something figuring out what to do with life.
The narrative of this book has small sections of more educational content on the trans or queer community that are clearly delineated and work really well with the narrative. I am not anywhere near an expert on gender, but I believe that the educational component will work well for people who have given gender no additional thought while still giving nods to people with an academic and/or personal focus. Something that I particularly loved was the pretty long list of further reading and watching at the end of the book. I am quite excited to dive into other books written by and about trans people.
What more could I ask for out of a memoir? Informative, funny, it made me cry once (a Harry Potter reason but it still counts), and I was so interested in how the story would progress. I think that people with all levels of familiarity with Bird will find this book completely accessible. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves narrative nonfiction, has an interest in learning more about trans experiences, or who was also a Harry Potter kid.

Though I have never watched Jackson on YouTube I recognized his name and face from interactions with YouTubers that I have watched and internet places where he has been involved. While this helped me to understand some of the events, people, and places he talked about in his book I don't find that necessary at all.

I though this memoir was extremely well written. It was heartfelt, real, and also showed so much learning and growth. I really loved the section about terminology at the beginning, but also the sections throughout the book to explain things that came up and how to interact with people in your life who are coming out and who are transgender.

This book felt like it was written from the heart and I felt like I was travelling along this journey with Jackson and think it is great for people who know who he is, but also for those looking for a real and honest memoir.