Recommended for all public library and undergraduate browsing collections. Readers who are questioning their gender identity or the concept of gender in general won't find answers, but may feel better about the lack of answers.

NetGalley ARC.

Ewing's illustrated analysis of gender is a charming and informative volume that will be loved and appreciated by so many readers. The interviews provide an easy 'entry point'' to thinking critically about gender, and the interviewees are nuanced and thoughtful, offering a range of coherent and often contradictory perspectives on the gender binary, the gender spectrum, transitioning, hormone replacement therapy, the intersections of race/class/gender/sexuality, and more. My primary critique of the book is formal: I found the structure of the chapters/sections to be repetitive and a bit circuitous -- part of the problem, I think, is that the book's attempt to be a 'primer' on gender without yielding to easy generalities is at odds with the strict breakdown of topic-based chapters. The interviewees and Ewing themself are nuanced and eloquent, often refusing to separate discussions of gender presentation from those of sexual characteristics or racial discrimination or misogyny or transphobia or capitalism. As such, we return to the same insights throughout the book, which makes it feel repetitive at points. (Though perhaps this is a formal tactic! To replicate the circuitous nature of gender exploration in the book's very structure.... hmm..). Overall, a great read!

This graphic novel is fantastic! A while ago, I read a tweet by Jae Red Rose that said, "Are You Deconstructing Your Idea Of Gender, Gender Identity And Gender Presentation Or Are You Just Memorizing Pronouns?" This notion has really stuck with me as I continue to unlearn so many things about the gender binary and heteronormativity. This graphic novel follows Rhea as they work through their personal understanding of gender. Rhea also conducted interviews with 56 people who also shared their ow experiences and reflections about gender. Fine covers 15 different topics ranging from femininity and masculinity to hormones, healthcare, and bathrooms. I learned so much while reading this nonfiction graphic and I encourage you to also pick up a copy as you continue to expand your understanding of gender.

Favorite Quotes:
~ "What we should be focusing on is our humanity, and on our ability to see each other as living creatures on this planet."
~ "Anything that improves the lives of the most vulnerable improves everyone's lives."

I was very glad to see the diversity of perspectives and experiences discussed in this graphic novel and really appreciate the food for thought that Rhea Ewing poses for us through these interviews. I found it refreshing that Ewing readily presented the contrasts and discrepancies between different people’s feelings and opinions because it is so important to maintain that no community is a monolith. At times I found it difficult to get a proper sense of who was who and at what point in the timeline x scenario was but this didn’t impede my reading too much as I was able to still grasp the overall message and theme.

I was very excited to read a "comic about gender," thinking it would be something in the vein of Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a talking heads documentary in comic-book form from the perspective of a young, white, naive non-binary person. For someone who is at the very beginning of their journey of questioning their gender, this may be a comforting approach. This may also be a good book for cis people. For this particular trans reader, however, it felt like a lot of conversations about gender with cis strangers. Conversations I choose to engage in out of an effort to protect trans folks seeking care through certain institutions but conversations that definitely take a toll on my mental health as my humanity and needs are often undermined by cis fragility. There was some nuance, acknowledgment of privilege, and definitely a diverse cast of interviewees, but the prevailing tone of naivete and overt niceness was very off-putting. The talking heads style also made it very difficult to feel engaging to me as, beyond thematic associations, there was very little narrative flow (beyond the author's, "gosh, I've never thought of that before" reactions).

Fine: A Comic About Gender is such an important story, and one I think everyone should read if they have the chance. This comic brought up such an important conversation about gender, and I really do believe everyone can benefit from reading it. Each person will take away something different, I feel. Even for those who think they have a good grasp on what gender is, and especially for those who are unsure or questioning, this story is for you. Fine could even be used to teach others just how complex gender is, and how it’s unique to each person. This comic wonderfully illustrates that concept through the different interviews. Rhea’s individual story woven throughout was so special and really brought home the whole point of the comic. I laughed, I smiled, I frowned, I cried, and I learned. I think that’s the most important thing I can take away from my time with Fine. We all stand to learn more about ourselves and about others, and this comic was a fantastic way for me to do that. Not only did it help me to understand the experience of others a little better, but it also brought up personal questions that I might not have had an answer to.

While the story and content were both amazing, I also have to give a nod to the artwork. It captured the feelings and emotions felt by the various people so perfectly. It showed Rhea’s confusion, their hesitancy, their discomfort in their own body, but it also showed the stark difference between the earlier years of the comic and the later ones when they became more comfortable and had a better understanding of who they are. Each person introduced had a style that was distinctive to them. I can’t praise this enough, because while it was a way to make sure each person was their own, it also reinforced how each of us experience gender and life differently.

I’m so glad I came across Fine while I was browsing NetGalley one day. I was looking for more graphic novels and comics, so when I saw this one, I thought it would be a perfect fit for me and immediately requested it. I was right. This was such a profound read, and I highly encourage everyone to pick it up for themselves.

I thought this was an accessible and diverse look into gender. As a trans person, it's hard for me to determine how cis people will understand the nuance and layers of this, but I feel like it gives a variety of voices a platform that decenter the common stereotypical or dominant narratives about gender and what it means to be trans. I appreciated that it touched on a lot of pressing topics while also showing that no two trans people are alike. I hope that books like this encourage cis people to think more about gender and what gender means to them, and I think this book has a lot of great questions that may facilitate that.

This is a wonderful graphic novel exploration of gender in the form of interviews and self reflection by Rhea.

I particularly appreciate the many different views highlighted in the book, showing that gender is an intersectional and diverse topic.

Never before have I felt so seen in a book, and I've done a lot of reading over the years. Ewing provides readers with a variety of interview experiences, trying to understand and break down gender and our assumptions of it. Definitely a book to keep on hand for anyone questioning their gender or wanting to learn more about it.

Found this book really enlightening and opened my eyes to a lot of concepts that I wasn't sure about before and informed me about some of the trials faced by trans and non-binary people.
I strive to be as good an ally as I can and this has inspired me to try better and harder, especially with pronouns, but also in other ways.
Recommend this to everyone looking to explore this topic.

This is a non-fiction graphic that partially follows the author’s journey with gender and also talks about gender through the form of many interviews that they did over the course of years,

I liked seeing the author’s journey, as well as getting opinions and insight on gender from so many different people, - and seeing how that sometimes influenced the author’s own views,

It was super important to include so many people’s views (and ideas from so many different types of people), but with the large number of interviews it did feel like the book dragged a little, especially in the middle.

Overall, this is a great graphic novel talking about gender and trans experiences, and it’s a good read for both cisgender and non-cis readers - I think there’s a lot to be gained from this book for all sorts of people.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. This could be a good introduction to someone who is questioning their gender identity or someone further along their gender journey. I liked that the author interspersed their own story with the stories and experiences of others. This gave a range of thoughts and experiences. The artwork is fantastic and beautiful.

Fine by Rhea Ewing is a book about their struggle with figuring out who they are throughout their teen and young adult years. Rhea could not exactly place or describe the feelings they were having about their body and which gender they identified as. This book was the result of their interviewing several people to get a deeper understanding of gender and other factors that relate to it such as how people who identify as LGBTQ+ and their communities are treated, like in healthcare, and their attitudes, opinions, and experiences related to these topics.

This is a powerful book told through comics or as a graphic nonfiction novel, sharing several stories of people from all different backgrounds, races, and genders. Because of this, and Rhea's conscientiousness to their readers, this book is very accessible and thought provoking but also completely heart-wrenching at times, hearing the stories that some of these people had to endure. This book is perfect for those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and those who are needing more education about this topic. I learned so many new things while reading this book and know I will recommend it and share parts of it with my friends, students, and colleagues. Rhea's writing style is engaging, knowledgeable, and even humorous at times as they explain their experiences navigating this wild world we live in.

This book really made me reflect on my own experience with gender. As trans person I am constantly questioning what makes me a man and I really enjoyed hearing how other people answer this question. Definitly recommending this to my trans and gender-questioning friends!

I received an advance copy of this book free in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

I don't think comparing this to Alison Bechdel's work did this book any favors. Stylistically there are obvious similarities but it lacks the dry self-effacing humor that makes Bechdel's writing something special and the meaningful introspection that makes Maia Kobabe's GenderQueer a must read. The pacing dragged. The author's presence in the story would have been better served with a lighter touch, less presence, more showing than telling.

For the first 234 pages it lived up to its name in full. It was fine, not good, just fine. It seemed in want of a thesis for so long, I'd given up hope of one. The final two chapters, however, were something genuinely special, and the first time the work took an interesting focus and really developed something meaningful to add to the broader conversation.

In short, this is a decent set of graphic-novel style interview transcripts on the nature of gender with a focus on transgender, gender queer, and GNC identities. Plus a heavy, and at times unhelpful, element of autobiography. If you want to cut straight to the good stuff start at the chapter on Queer Community at 235 and go from there.

*reviewed from uncorrected egalley*

nonfiction-conversations with different people from across the gender spectrum, from interviews with 56 people as well as the author's own experiences in figuring out their own genderqueer identity.

content warnings: "Gender dysphoria, transphobia, racism, ableism, and body-image issues are discussed throughout the book. Drug use, sex work, and suicidal ideation are mentioned briefly in some stories. There is one depiction of a suicide attempt...that may be especially challenging to some readers."

YES! Ok, this is exactly what the world needs more of. I thought at first as I was downloading it, that this might be kind of long, but as I read, and kept reading, and kept reading, all of it was so good and everybody was providing really thoughtful and valid information. So glad this exists; I hope many people find this book and get to read it.

This was a great book! As a nonbinary person, I will definitely recommend it to my students, peers, and friends!

I read this book hoping for a graphic novel with a LGBTQ theme that would be accessible to gr 7/8s who are reading below grade level. Although it is well-written, it would not be suitable for younger students. Some content is more mature, as well as some explicit language. Likely better for high school students.

“I don’t have many answers. What I do know is this: Find who you aren’t and connect with the people who power ignores. Then listen. Then build.”

Fine: A Comic About Gender by Rhea Ewing is a graphic novel that seeks to answer big questions like “what is gender” through interviews that take place over several years and started as a school project. Both named and anonymous, the interviewees talk about many ideas such as the intersection of gender, race, and poverty, what it means to be gender fluid, and accessing healthcare as a transgender person.

Ewing’s illustrations are lovely and quirky. I really liked that the author wove their own story and experience with the interviews. The book touches on so many important and nuanced topics within the realm of gender (and sexuality) in a thoughtful and inclusive manner.

I appreciated the honesty and openness of this book, including the author’s perspective about their own ignorance. As a cis woman, I am grateful for how much I learned and I cant wait to buy a physical copy to have in my classroom library. This graphic novel will also be great for GSA (gender and sexuality alliance).

Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

I think this graphic novel is an excellent conversation starter. The art is really nice and I enjoyed all the different interviews and perspectives. Seeing the different walks of life and the discussions of their different identities really opens so many doors for people who may also be curious of 'gender'. Identity isnt as linear as people have wanted to make it, its not black/white (or blue/pink) where you fit in one circle or another and I think this graphic novel really does a fantastic job showcasing just how different we can all be. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and appreciate the author putting their research & interviews in to such a format that will allow other's to absorb and learn things they may never have had the chance to in their usual walk of life.