I don't have much to say apart from this was really heartwarming and adorable. Thank you for the oppertunity to proof read this :)

I'm always learning something new when I pick up an informational text on the queer community. This wonderfully curated book is jam packed with answers to all the common (and uncommon) questions surrounding the queer community. Great for people exploring their own identity, or just looking to learn.

Gender is Really Strange by Teddy G Goetz is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the complex and nuanced concept of gender. Through engaging illustrations and concise explanations, Goetz navigates the intricacies of gender identity, expression, and societal expectations. This book is a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the diverse spectrum of gender experiences. Goetz's approach is accessible and compassionate, making this an essential read for anyone interested in fostering inclusivity and empathy.

Well I have never before read a science-based graphic medicine comic and I'm not sure I came in with quite the right mindset for that, nor am I probably qualified to rate a science-based graphic medicine comic.

Overall I found this very informative, with some new terminology and ways to think about gender. And the visuals are beautiful and engaging. But the language is a bit clinical and not particularly plain language. I'm guessing that the target audience is looking for that more academic voice though.

I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

As a quick read, this title piles on a lot of information in a rapid fire fashion. Although, I walked away more informed about sexuality & gender after reading this title, I still have so many more questions. & to be honest, I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. The book read more like an infographic rather that the intended graphic novel format.

The cover and title really caught my eye! It contains a lot of helpful visuals and information within a small amount of pages. This will be helpful for anyone who wants to learn more about themselves or others without putting a whole lot of time into it.

I really enjoyed this one. Many questions I had around gender were cleared up in a very creative and visually pleasing way. Would recommend this for younger readers who are just discovering themselves!

Gender Is Really Strange is a fantastic primer on the science, history, and socio-cultural background of gender identity. The bold art in gentle pastel colours is really pleasing to the eye, and the graphic novel layout helps make some complex concepts a lot more accessible. The science behind sex and gender take up the bulk of this short work, but it also manages to address history, culture, and society in eye-opening ways that push back against colonialist, racist, ableist ideas about gender. It covers a multitude of Indigenous communities precolonial ideas about gender that often break the boundaries of the idea of binary men and women.

It's a really informative book that covers a lot of ground in a short amount of space. Much of the information here will be new for a lot of people (not everything here was new for me, but a surprising amount of it was), and although the text feels a bit academic at times, it still manages to be accessible and quick to read. Highly recommended!

Much needed and very compact book on gender experiences and expressions, including practical tips on how to figure out one's own gender. The graphic format of "Gender is Really Strange" truly adds to the reading experience, allowing for representation. I found the section on gender in non-western cultures very interesting and a great summary for anyone who's interested in kickstarting their exploration of the topic.

gender is really strange caught my eye because of its incredibly accurate title. gender is the weirdest.

it's an educational primer on gender, biological sex, hormones and neuroscience, biology vs socialization, and diverse gender identities. i really appreciate seeing such scientific text in a graphic novel format; it brightens up the academic tone and makes it more readable.

i learned:

‣ TNG, a new and helpful acronym which i'd previously just considered to be the trans umbrella. it stands for trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive.

‣ more about various intersex situations, which i've never known much about. it's helpful to be able to conceptualize the actual ways that being intersex can manifest.

‣ a lot about different indigenous gender identities. this was my favorite section of the book (perhaps because it's more anthropological rather than scientific). it's mind blowing that there are so many different expressions of gender, free to flourish if uncolonized. i also appreciate the emphasis on letting these identities stand on their own, rather than warping them to fit our restrictive western categories.

my only concern is about the target audience for this short graphic novel. it covers the basics, yet is very academic, so i hope it will still be accessible for the average reader.

the final pages include discussion of how to figure out your own gender, and has helpful questions to ask yourself. i love how goetz reiterates that there are many unknowns, and that we are all on gender journeys, regardless of whether we are trans. gender is messy and complicated, so it's normal to have some stuff to figure out.

the end note citations are extensive and appreciated as well. apparently goetz is a biochemist and psychiatrist, which is a great background for the job, and they seriously did their research.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

An interesting little read! I can't lie some of the hormones and acronyms were somewhat confusing but overall quite informative. Plus the illustrations were very cute!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for this eARC in exchange for the honest review.

Gender is Really Strange provides a great intro to gender/gender identity and all of the ways it can show up in our daily lives in a beautifully illustrated, accessible way. This book gives a broad look at gender through both scientific and cultural lenses and left me impressed by the amount of information that such a short, heavily illustrated book can provide. Top notch.

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed the art style and infographic format of this short graphic novel about the biological, societal, and cultural factors that impact gender, though I do think that it could’ve been longer. It was informative yet parts were written in a conversational tone that made it accessible. It’s a quick introduction to trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming identities and I liked the questions asked toward the end and the idea of everyone on a gender journey.

This book is an informative and visually appealing reference book for those wanting to learn more about gender. It looks at many aspects of gender (appearance, hormones, sex traits etc) and shows that gender is not the simple binary.

a scientific, cultural and historical approach to gender.

would i reread it?
╰┈┈➤yes
would i recommend it?
╰┈┈➤yes
𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼𓋼𖤣𖥧𓋼𓍊𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼𓋼𖤣𖥧𓋼𓍊𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼
my warmest thanks to Jessica Kingsley Publishers & NetGalley for the copy!!

This very informative and educational and I loved it so much. If you want something that's educational and informative on Gender than this book is for you. As a parent of a Transgender child I highly recommend this book to everyone. Trust me when I say it is a good one that you don't want to pass up.

I tried downloading this a few times but the formatting just went wrong.
Unfortunately I'm unable to review it. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review, I really enjoyed this book!
It was such a lovely, easy and quick read. It is simple and accessible in writing style whilst also including lots of important and detailed information about the complexities of the subject, coming from a scientific and sociological perspective, backing up points made with data and research. It is a short read but gets the balance just right, it captures attention being concise and is fun to read but doesn’t leave anything out that takes away from the goal and intent or the factual nature of the style.
The accompanying art throughout is so wonderful too and the diversity displayed was so nice to see, intersectionality is so important! As a disabled person, I particularly enjoyed that there were several references to the crossovers and intricacies involving disability intersecting with sexuality and gender.
This a great resource for allies to learn more about a subject they may feel confused about but also for queer people to learn more about themselves or other people in the community. There were lots of things I knew but enjoyed reading about them in much more detail but also lots of new things I learnt that were so interesting. The list of references provided so people can do further reading or find more from people mentioned is also a great addition.
I would really recommend this book!

Hey science side of NetGalley, what is gender? Well, this book brings you through some of the science of gender versus sex and the most basic and easy to understand definitions of variances in self-identification, including, I"m happy to say, that some non-binary people do not consider themselves (ourselves) as trans, and some non-binary people (like me) do not use the term "enby" but that some do.

This short little book also takes us through gender divergence throughout the ages, that there is cultural proof all around the world that non-cis folks are not new and that some classifications and identifications persist even to this day.

There is a lot of science here about hormones and the studies that have been done regarding hormones and stress (and the lack thereof, too), and about a zillion reference notes for the back, but this is probably to be expected of someone who's a recent MD graduate with a ton of papers to their name so if you're someone whose eyes glaze over when things get too sciency this might not be for you, otherwise go forth and learn!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for this eARC in exchange for the honest review.

"Gender is Really Strange" is a short book, only 40 pages, and it's packed with information. It works as a great entry point for people wanting to learn more about gender identity.

I liked how inclusive it is. There is a lot of information about different cultures and time periods, even if at moments it felt like an illustrated textbook. Still, I felt a little overwhelmed by how technical the language was in some parts.

My main issue with this book was the art style. Nothing wrong with it but it felt very "corporative". It's nice and looks good, the colors are fantastic but there is no personality, it felt cold. When you are reading something so technical, a little bit of heart is needed.

Besides that, I think it's an interesting book that tackles an important topic, and it's worth reading.