A raw and honest look at identity and self-discovery. This graphic memoir is a raw and unfiltered look at the life of a kid to young adult trying to discover who they are in every facet, but particularly in regards to gender and sexuality. I love that this book made clear it's always an ongoing journey of checking in with yourself. #FReadom
The extra content at the end was interesting, especially the reflections from the present after all of the challenges.

Oh my goodness this book was spectacular. As someone who has been going through my own gender identity journey over the past year, I find it so interesting and inspiring to hear about other's journies. I especially liked this book because I have never seen representation of people who use Ze/zir pronouns. The whole time while reading this I kept thinking that there's gonna be kids who are struggling with their gender identities who have never heard of ze/zir pronouns and this book is going to absolutely change their life. I also really appreciated the representation of asexuality. I am a part of a group on my college campus that did an event about asexuality representation and a big thing about asexuality representation is that there isn't a lot. Overall I loved this book. I do not have a single bad thing to say about it. I read the whole thing in one sitting because I could not put it down. I have a ton of asexual and gender queer friends who I am going to recommend this to ASAP. I think that this book is essential for any queer person. I hope to read more by Maia Kobabe.

Gender Queer is a graphic novel memoir about someone growing up non-binary, charting eir journey around identity, gender, and sexuality from childhood into adulthood. Opening with how difficult it has been for em to actually make such personal comics, the book explores particular episodes in Kobabe's life and eir feelings about elements of gender and what feels right.

I'd heard about this graphic novel but never actually read it, so took the chance with this deluxe edition that has a foreword and an afterword that gives more framing to its impact. I've read autobiographical comics before but never a whole graphic novel memoir, and I enjoyed the flow of the book and the way it presents the complexity of self even within a very linear format. The art style is cute, if not entirely to my taste, and I liked some of the metaphors and real utilisation of the format to get across emotions and things that might be hard for audiences to understand.

I found many parts of the book pretty relatable, particularly some of the growing up moments around gender and sexuality (occasionally way too close to home), and it feels important to have memoirs that allow people to share their experiences in a range of formats, including comics, that may help people feel less alone when they have similar experiences. Some of the fandom/pop culture elements put me off a bit, particularly around real person fanfiction, but I appreciate it was important to the memoir's narrative to include some of these points, and maybe the format lends itself less to critical self-reflection about smaller details.

This was a gripping memoir that really drew me in, partly due to having had similar experiences at times. Reading memoirs can feel quite personal and whilst some parts of this book weren't completely up my street, I think a lot of people will find it powerful and useful. As ever, it's important people can tell a range of stories in various ways and tackle topics that aren't always talked about, especially not in this format.

I absolutely love the art style in this book, it's so clear and gorgeous and the lettering is very easy to read as well! So many important topics addressed and surely a relatable journey for many

A title that should really be accessible in schools to teens.

This is a really informative graphic novel that covered everything dysphoria based like periods and puberty, but also deeper harder issues for many like visits to the gynaecologist.

It covers sexuality too, both on an ace spec and gender attraction spec with the MC alternating their labels between lesbian, bi , gay among many. It delved into how sexuality can change with gender perception also.

Gender wise this was a really interesting read for me as a non-binary person. The author writes about alternating labels and also how access to queer material can help people find a definition for themselves. Something that is hugely important, and an exact reason why this should be accessible in schools.

Obviously, because of the fact this was written years ago there is numerous Harry Potter refs in there, which obviously was due to the period this was written in; at that time that community had felt like a safe space to many.

TW’s/ CW’s I noted listed below, please skip if you don’t want spoilers.




Tw// depictions of blood, periods, dysphoria, gynaecologist visits, trauma, struggles with sexuality and gender, vague transphobic remarks, misgendering, one depiction of urination, mentions of sex.

Deeply personal and absolutely moving - I'd like to thank Maia for sharing eir story. We need more genderqueer role models so less kids will go through the same pain as em. A very important book!

This is such a needed graphic novel. Because it’s a memoir, you really vibe with the author/illustrator Maia but simultaneously, e has included so many generous and helpful signposts and little factoids to help readers who are not deeply involved in conversations about their gender identities. I screamed twice because I felt seen in ways that I hadn’t ever prepared to see in print. This novel is for everyone and I hope that lots and lots of people read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for allowing me to read and review this graphic novel.

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe was such a fantastic graphic novel and will be fundamental in a lot of young trans peoples lives. I found myself nodding along to a lot of the captions and page 195 in particular was such a stunning representation of how it feels to be nonbinary, the metaphor that was used on this page made me tear up and I want to get a poster of it to put on my wall.

This graphic Novel was first published in 2019 and so be warned that it contains lots of Harry Potter references.

I would throughly recommend this book to anyone who is questioning their gender or simply wants to learn more to help someone they know who is trans.

#neygalleyarc This is such a great book and such a great way to talk about such an important topic. I love that more and more graphic novels are being written about nonfiction and biographical topics. Having these own voices stories being written in such an accessible way is extremely important on so many levels. This is a title I’ll definitely be purchasing for my library.

I see this book helping a lot of teenagers. Some people were complaining about it being inappropriate but the book just doesn't shy away from topics that adults don't want to believe kid think about. The art is good and there is so much to love about this book,. once I started reading I could not put it down.

This was such a wonderful read! Memoirs by Queer people are some of my favourite kinds of books to read so getting to read Maia's story and eir experience with gender, eir body and family was absolutely incredible. Before accepting this galley, I hadn't read the already published version so getting to see the extras included in this DELUXE edition felt like an extra treat.
The exploration of gender identity felt saw raw and authentic as did the representation of coming out as multiple identities (Whether that be coming out as a different sexuality, gender identity or asking others to use different pronouns) at different points in eir life which was all extremely emotional and real. I'm glad Maia had support on eir journey toward eir true self.
Two minor notes is the repeated mentioning of Harry Potter which may be triggering or otherwise uncomfortable for some readers; and the fact that an AMAB Non-Binary person was misgendered by using the wrong pronouns which were not blanked out despite an AFAB Non-Binary person having their pronouns blanked out a page earlier. Just a little inconsistency to be aware of, especially if you're an AMAB Non-Binary person.
Overall, this story will always be needed and I highly recommend you pick it up ASAP.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe.

This memoir is absolutely beautiful and I feel like eir words would be such a comfort for anyone who wants to understand their sexuality and personal identity. Kobabe's art combined with eir story just feels so real and I felt honoured to read this memoir. Thank you Maia Kobabe for being amazing.

“The knowledge of a third option slept like a seed under the soil. This seed put out many leaves but I didn’t have the language to identify the plant.”

Wow. This graphic memoir is absolutely incredible. Kobabe shares eir journey with gender and sexuality, with all its heartbreaks and joys, in this beautifully drawn book. I especially loved how e showed the importance of books, fandom, internet friends and culture, writing, and drawing as e figured out being nonbinary and asexual. Reading this and seeing the ways some of Kobabe’s friends, family, and community supported em was so powerful and made me feel so grateful for my generous queer mentors. I learned a lot and felt even more. I can’t recommend this book enough. Thanks to Oni Press for the eARC of the special edition (out 6/21); I loved reading ND Stevenson's foreword and the author's afterword.

“As I pondered a pronoun change, I began to think of gender less as a scale and more as a landscape. Some people are born in the mountains, while other are born by the sea. Some people are happy to live in the place they were born, while others must make a journey to reach the climate in which they can flourish and grow. Between the ocean and the mountains is a wild forest. That is where I want to make my home.”

“I don’t want to be a girl. I don’t want to be a boy either. I just want to be myself.”

Content warnings: gender dysphoria, medical trauma

This new edition of Maia Kobabe's stellar autobiographical graphic novel has all of the bite and heart of eir original, but with a gorgeous new cover and some special additional images. No matter how you identify or what version you're reading, you need to read this book.

Gender Queer is one the most banned books in the United States right now so naturally I wanted to read it. My first reaction: What are people so scared of?

This graphic novel is packed with emotion, illustrations and scientific fact. At times brutally honest, Gender Queer is artist Maia Kobabe’s memoir of growing up unsure of identity. As Kobabe poignantly writes, “I don’t want to be a girl. I don’t want to be a boy either. I just want to be myself.” Kobabe describes how e decides to dress, to interact with friends, to date, to choose pronouns. Through this, e is supported by his parents and sister. The scientific information, especially how hormones affect prenatal brain development, is fascinating and informative.

I learned a lot from Gender Queer. It’s a sensitive guide to self discovery that will be read by any curious young person. It won’t change them into something they are not, it will just show them kindness and understanding. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Maia Kobabe for this ARC.

This important award-winning title puts the "graphic" in Graphic Novel, in a good way. This is definitely a memoir for a mature young person. Author Maia is clearly a skilled cartoonist and the illustrations are impeccable.

GENDER QUEER is a such frank, thoughtful story of one person's gender and sexuality journey. Many of my students already love this book and it's often referenced when I ask students to share titles of books that first made them feel "seen." Maia Kobabe's new additions are fantastic and I know this book will disappear from any classroom shelf quite quickly. All the more reason to purchase multiple copies. I look forward to using this in my writing classes--for high school students as well as adults--and to recommending it to people in general.

4 stars - It was really good

This was a very emotional and beautifully illustrated memoir of Maia Kobabe’s life experiences. This encapsulates Maia’s journey of self-identity and how e struggled for years until coming to the realization that eir are asexual and nonbinary. This was enlightening because I have only recently heard of the Spivak pronouns e/em/eir so I knew I needed to read this. I enjoyed this memoir but felt it did end a bit abruptly. It is still an informative memoir though.

Trigger Warnings: misgendering, dysphoria, graphic blood depictions, Harry Potter references

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe is a poignant memoir about gender identity. Eir story is stirring, honest, and truly educational. The deluxe edition features a new introduction and afterword, as well as sketches that give an insight to the process of the art of the book. This book is so important and will help so many young people with their own journeys.

Vital and important, this book speaks about the journey of a personal relationship with gender in a way that will resonate with many. There are so few books that have the courage to speak on this topic, and Maia Kobabe does not flinch from the awkward or the uncomfortable: e says to us ‘if you’ve experienced this, you are not alone.’