Lovely read! I’d love to purchase this for my high school science classroom! I teach students who are in a specialty center for the arts. The fusion of art and gender studies would be perfect for them to see in my classroom library. It does get a bit technical and higher-level, which is the only reason I gave it ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5!

A really interesting and colourful look at gender, full of plenty of science that's explained very clearly, and a really positive guide to why we should accept and be happy for everyone however they want to identify.

This book is right...gender is really strange.
This is a great look at what gender is, where the construct of gender stemmed from and why it's not 'real'.

A quick, not-too-complicated but not dumbed down look at gender. I think this book would work for teenagers and adults.

I received a temporary digital copy of Gender is Really Strange by Teddy G. Goetz from NetGalley, Jessica Kingsley Pub and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As an educator, I am constantly confronted with the concept of gender and am expanding my understanding of gender. I cannot recommend Gender is Really Strange more; this would be an incredible resource for students to access. For a forty-page graphic novel, I was a bit underwhelmed when I initally noticed the page number, but this was extremely thorough. Goetz begins with definitions, moves on to cultural understandings of gender (which was incredibly enlightening), moves in to medicial descriptions and then gives questions for how we can begin to understanding our own gender idenity.

"We can embody in whatever way we desire, but others will assign gender to us however they see fit." In the creation of a more inclusive world, we need to better understand gender and stop assigning what we see fit. Reading Gender is Really Strange is a great step in accomplishing that.

My review as posted on Storygraph
'I got an ebook copy of 'Gender is really weird' courtesy of Netgalley. This review is my own opinion.
This is a great book if you want something fast paced to explain gender and how it impacts you and the world, and the basics of what language to use. No single book can tell you all there is but this book is a great starting point. There is a page with different gender related pride flags with a guide of each ones meaning which I know I would have found really useful a few years ago when I was really struggling with my gender.
I found it especially interesting to learn about other genders in different cultures. I love learning about different cultures and places and it's fascinating who different parts of the world deal with gender and all it entails, I definitely want to go and learn more about them now.
The part on the gap in information around gender and everything was very interesting too. I have just finished invisible woman so I knew a lot of it already though this felt like an easier format to handle.
The illustrations are bright and colourful too and make it much easier to read than a big block of text. Loved seeing illustrations of wheelchair users too just casually there on the page as well.
My only problem is sometimes abbreviations seemed to pop up out of nowhere without any/little explanation.
Overall I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to be a better ally, learn more about gender or to someone like me who is struggling with theirs'

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book I really enjoyed it :)

This is a relatively complex but very engaging book about gender told in a graphic rather than textual format. Considering it's only 40 or so pages long it covers a lot of ground on the subject. Whilst I am very comfortable in my gender choice I think it would be extremely helpful for people who are questioning their gender and ends with a suggested set of questions that can be used to help make a decision on what their gender is, and how they wish to be known in future.
Top marks for the clear illustrations which Teddy and Sophie Standing use to outline the often complex scientific info included in the text. Also for the excellent 1 page list of sources and additional material in the back.

"Gender is Really Strange" is a science comic about sex and gender. This is a concise but packed guide.

From page 2 I was hooked in- everyone should be aware of their gender, it was thrust upon us as kids.

The illustrations by Sophie Standing are really beautiful and clear, never over the top. I had a few issues with what order to read on the page, but because it is nonfiction comprehension was still mostly fine.

I would love to see this book in the hands of medical professionals. It touches on trauma based care and focuses on being understanding of others.

This book is well researched, and the footnotes do a great job at acknowledging pitfalls. I also appreciated the history included as I don’t have a science background. I think that the science level here could be read by most people in high school or above :).

Thank you NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A beginner friendly guide to understand gender. Definition, brief history, distinction from other terms, THE TERMS used, along with biological & social factors.

Attractively informative, Gender is Really Strange is a highly recommended read 💙❤️💚💛💜

I have to say that this was surprisingly in-depth - given the page count, I expected this to be a guide for beginners but it goes deep into the medical details, describing the role of hormones etc. I very much appreciate the anti-colonialist POV and the stress not to use binary and white-centric categories to forcibly label concepts that differ from them.
I didn't like the art because I don't like this particular style but I liked the colour scheme.

Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!

An interesting 'graphic novel' style nonfiction explainer. I thought it was an interesting angle to come at gender expression from a colonization angle to try to express how natural the spectrum of gender is among many different cultures. Hoping it might serve as a lightbulb moment for understanding towards others - or even the reader for themselves! - for whomever comes across this title. I'm hoping at least one of the libraries in our consortium picks it up. Enjoyed the art style & it helped the flow of information.

<i>I would like to thank Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<b>Gender is really strange</b> is an ideal book to educate ourselves about gender identity and sex. The different concepts are explained in a clear and attractive way, including several examples across cultures and religions.

I think this book will be very helpful to help parents explain gender identity for children.

A quick read as it’s a graphic novel explaining any questions we might have regarding gender and sex. Good illustrations and easy to understand it would be good for anyone wanting some first time information in an interesting format

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc

Gender is Really Strange answers many questions you may have regarding gender. I would recommend it for middle grade and above because the terminology is a bit advanced. I appreciate scientific terminology and facts, but it is a bit dry. It's a great resource for parents to introduce the topic to their children.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy of the book for an honest review.

This is a great entry point for people wanting to learn about gender identity.

It's a quick, 40 page non fiction graphic novel that is informative and easy to understand, and has wonderful illustrations.
The language is concise, neutral and scientific, but not confusing and the sources are cited clearly. The explanation of sex and gender is great and the section about intersex individuals was particularly well done. It's intersectional, current, informative and open, delivering the information without embellishing it.
Nothing is overlooked in the text and the illustrations as it includes neurodivergency, race and disability.
Overall a good read that is well researched, representative and written by someone knowledgeable on the subject.
However, and to preface this critique, I identify as non-binary, I’m also a lesbian, physically disabled & AuDHD. In this book, "autigender" has been included amongst other non-binary identities. I don't believe this should have been done, as it is a "neurogender" and isn't always viewed as valid.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Netgalley ARC review! Thank you for the opportunity ✨
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Make this the standard entry point for people needing to learn about gender identity.
This quick, 40 page non fiction graphic novel opens up our perception of gender, and does it well. To preface this, I identify as a demigirl & under the non binary umbrella, I’m bisexual, physically disabled & AuDHD.
The language is scientific & concise from the first page, with sources cited & neutral language. It doesn’t make you feel confused or lost, but doesn’t water down important biological & scientific information, particularly around intersex individuals. The information is intersectional, up to date & open, with focus on delivering the info as is, not embellishing it. I particularly like how the text handles neurodivergence, disability, race, biological sex & intersex bodies, in that none feel overlooked, and the effect being a part of these communities has on gender is important.
Overall a great, snappy read with tons of research & representation.

I really enjoyed this. As someone who discovered the concept of gender identity later in life, I feel like reading ‘Gender is Really Strange’ simultaneously healed a piece of my inner child that longed to know why they felt different, and presented the information in a way that was fit for an adult.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=4 | 😘=2 | 13+

summary: short graphic novel exploring the ins and outs of gender, gender expression, and gender diversity in today’s world.

thoughts: I liked this! it’s the kind of thing one would want to have on hand in a conversation with one’s hypothetical mother who listens to too much Ben Shapiro, because, like, well-documented scientific rebuttals to transphobic people are good.

I feel like this is a book that everyone needs to and should read! Goetz has found a beautifully artistic away of breaking down gender and gender identity in such a captivating and engaging way. The art in this graphic novel is stunning and greatly adds to the overall experience of reading this book.

In just 40 pages, Goetz manages to cover so much information in a clear and digestible way, all while including scientific, anthropologic, and psychological information that feels accessible for readers of any age. I will definitely be adding a printed copy of this graphic novel to my personal library!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book. I have requested this book mainly for the cover firstly. It didn't disappoint. It is a wonderful non-fiction comic that covers a lot in just 40 pages.

It has enough historical information and technical terms to be very interesting and informative. There are a lot of aspects I didn't know or didn't consider before reading this and this is always very important for a book on this topic. Highly highly recommend this book (read it and discuss it with friends and family)!

Teddy G. Goetz has written a wonderful, valuable book about the vagaries of gender classification. Gender classification, and TNG identities, are a bit of a minefield to traverse right now, but Goetz has laid out the information - including all of the latest science - in an easy to understand way. There is no judgment in the writing, and even gentle words to help someone begin to see what gender means to them and how they might identify in this ever-changing world.

Goetz has also done an excellent job of including non-white cultures and communities in this book. Often indigenous communities accounted for more than two genders and held special roles for figures who identified as something other than their birth sex - Goetz has many examples of this in the book, and even places where people can learn about more.

This is a great introduction to just how complicated identities can be. The information is presented succinctly and gently, while thorough notations in the back allow for more learning along with other recommended reading throughout. This is a valuable book that could help a great deal of younger people, and it frightens me how easily I can imagine it being challenged.