This is such an important book for trans folks. This is written for teens but it can also be a viable read for adults. Breathe shares stories from real trans* people young and old who tell their tale of binding and explain the positive affects it had on them. But also shedding light on the do's and don'ts of binding.

At the back of the book there are exercises and stretches, Peitzmeier explains how binding can affect the body. But overall, this guide is POSITIVE. It never once paints binding in a bad light, it only shows the benefits and briefly talks about what not to do. There's also affirming language and tips for binding healthily.

I love that this exists because I would've loved to have this when I was first coming into my transness and started binding. Now as an 30-yo trans man, it will benefit me.

This graphic guide made me very happy. I've had top surgery for a year now, so I don't need to chest bind anymore, but I would've LOVED to have a book like this talking about other experiences, breathing exercises, and journaling about my journey as a trans man. Please take care of yourselves, read this guide, it's going to help you more than you can imagine. It's not difficult to read or understand, short and to the point, and is a good reminder for anyone who binds <3

This guide to safe and healthy chest binding is a gentle and welcoming book about learning to engage in necessary self-care.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!

This is an excellent resource for those seeking information about binding! There are testimonials that are diverse in their experiences, tips and suggestions for types of binding, exercises to prevent problems, a set of worksheets for the reader to get to where they need to be, statistical research about binding, and affirmations, particularly about how pain does not need to be the end goal for gender-affirming practices.

To top it off (no pun intended), the illustrations are marvelously done by Maia Kobabe, giving the entire book excellent visuals in a kind, inviting style. The coloring is done by Ashley R. Guillory, which adds to the comforting vibe.

If I had anyone of any age needing information about what binding is and how to do it safely, I would hand them this book first. Its simple yet thorough breakdown in a digestible size makes it easily a go-to reference book for the collection.

A wonderful little read. Great stories to help anyone wanting to know the binding experience. Great tips and tricks. I really loved the illustrations.

The stretches at the end of the book are amazing.

Good info, some of it was hard to read as far as the format of some sentences. It might have been nice to have the stories interspersed between the more informational chapters.

I remember having a lot of questions when I went off to college and started binding for the first time. I had previously only binded for the purposes of cosplay and for that I was using ace bandages which is not recommended. I was lucky to stumble upon sport bra recommendations which is all I was comfortable with at this time and my feelings regarding binding are constantly shifting.

I really enjoyed this book and the way it interacts with the audience. I like that you get these individuals stories and experiences with binding along with education. I thought it was great to hear from real people about their experiences and also how they each made the decision to bind. I also really enjoyed the art in this and felt that it worked well with the information provided. I didn't find it to distract from the book and added to the stories as well.

BREATHE is excellent. The ranges of ages, genders, and experiences represented are fantastic. I was surprised by this, perhaps because I thought it would be specific to young people. It's even more powerful for people of different ages to read about others' experiences with binding. I really wish that this book could be required reading for all students and their caregivers from now going forward. BREATHE can--and will--empower so many people, but only as long as they have access to it. I'm recommending it to everyone I know!

i honestly don't have much to say about this one. it was short, fairly informative, and can definitely be helpful for a young person beginning their journey of binding. i wish there was a bit more breakdown of each participant's stories that they included, but that's just me wanting more science surrounding why it's not good to bind in certain ways.

i think, overall, i think there may have been better ways to structure this as it is essentially an informational handout that happens to be in the form of a graphic novel. but maybe that's just personal preference

I am so glad that this book now exists in the world!! This graphic guide to healthy chest binding uses both real-life stories from interviews with trans and nonbinary folx, as well as research-backed tips and advice on binding - complete with illustrations. It is a great mix of personal story and resources. And I love that it was inclusive of all body types! There were helpful tools including journal prompts, reflection questions, a mood and symptom tracker, a gender validation pie chart, and more. This guide addresses binding from a holistic angle, including the mental/emotional and physical aspects. It is not a one-size-fits-all type of resource, but a guide to helping individual people begin to understand what is right for them, how to balance the benefits and side effects, and how to care for their body. It is not meant to be a replacement for proper medical care, but rather a companion on the journey. This is going to be a helpful resource for so many people!

This collection of stories are all about people's journeys with binding. Even though this is a pretty short book, I really enjoyed reading everyone's stories. I also like that there are journal prompts and other fun things to do towards the back of the book.

This is a graphic novel that contains a number of small stories about people who bind their chests. They are stories compiled by the authors after they did a study at the University of Michigan. The book is a great way to help explain how it feels for a person to bind their chest and also the many different reasons that a person may choose to bind. I read an ARC digital version. The images were black and white. I don’t know if the final version will be in color or not but these images were pretty good even though it was a draft. It was obviously a book for older teens or adults. The subject matter is very specific. I don’t know that I would give it to a Middle Schooler to read without parent permission. Although, I do know several kids who are questioning their identity who would probably benefit from the information. The book also contains swear words which, I know the kids hear and use but it still is something for more mature readers. Oh, they also use terms that I was not familiar with as a heterosexual female. Things like AFAB or “T”.

Other than that, the stories were well written and it gave me insight into what it was like to be a trans or queer person who was trying to bind for the first time.

Wow, what a monumental book about the safety and care of the trans community. This is perfect for teens with binding questions and adults who are new or used to it. I really appreciated the personal stories and trackers as a practical way to improve someone’s binding practice. A must read.

A good chunk of this book has sort of become common knowledge by people binding in the last few years, in my experience at least. However, this is still really helpful as it includes the advice of medical professionals who are familiar with it and have studied binding, and don't discount the emotional benefits of it.

The best part of this book I think was a combination of symptoms of binding too much, of which most I haven't heard before, and the stretches to minimize side effects of binding, which are less talked about than simply saying to stretch (in my experience)

Overall, this short book is well worth the read.

3.5.
Negatives: this book had a lot of potential but used unnecessary profanity (IMHO). It is also very brief, which might have been intentional. I would have enjoyed more. More stories, more health information, and resources.

Pros: I love the health information that is included on the risks of binding and the self-reflection prompts for folks who are considering binding/parents, as well as loved ones who care for those who do/might.

I am not looking forward to book challenges on this title. I believe that every reader their book, and every book their reader. As the book says, most injuries and adverse side effects from this approach to dysmorphia come from a lack of education and the feeling of needing to hide from loved ones/others.

To the folks who disagree with this practice, consider an analogy of a binder to high-heeled shoes and back pain that folks deal with regularly for aesthetics and self-confidence. This is similar. I never plan to bind nor encourage it (the same goes for high-heeled shoes). Still, I think that if someone else feels the need, there are resources like this book to help people make good choices and encourage them to talk with health professionals and other professionals to assist them in living the healthiest life possible, inside and out.

I know this book will cause a lot of negative press, but by doing so, it will enhance viewership for people who might not have had this book (or even ANY books, gasp) on their radar when struggling with their identities and self-perceptions. Perhaps if we spent more time listening to and supporting people instead of arguing with them about our ideals, people would find easier ways to affirm themselves and live the best life possible. Until society shifts, we have books like this to start conversations and provide insight into other folks' worlds. Love your neighbor.

It's a great book about binding AND it's a graphic novel!! I learned so much about binding and what people go through to show their true selves. A must-have for all libraries!

Breathe shows people how to bind their chests safely as well as what not to do with binding.

This is a quick guide that could be super useful to anyone that binds their chest.

Maia Kobabe and Sarah Peitzmeier's book Breathe was a thoughtful, informative and insightful examination of a very common transition stage in many transgender people's lives. The book describes both how chest binding gave the real people profiled in the book a great sense of agency in terms of how they present themselves to the world, yet how it also let to discomfort, trouble breathing and even injuries. The advice that can be gained through the stories of the individuals was plentiful and this was continued in the medical information towards the back of the books. The drawings and depictions of the unique people who share their binding journeys was warm and engaging. I am very happy that this book is becoming available in the world. I'm certain it will be a positive guide for many.

I think I couldn't have found a better time for me to find this book. Binding is an intimidating part of the trans experience, and it is vital to share clear and safe methods. The stories in each chapter helped show the different ways and reasons many people bind, and I think this will be a great tool for people interested in binding as well as their loved ones!

I chose this book not because I've ever been interested in binding, but because I read Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, and wanted more information, to help me understand people who are LGBTQ+. This volume contains information laid out in a clearly understandable, relatable way, both for those who need advice about binding safely, and those who want to support people who are LGBTQ+. The illustrations support and enhance the information provided, making the volume more interactive and informational than the text alone would be. For those interested in the issue, this is a valuable resource. Strongly recommended for anyone who is considering binding, has been binding without consulting a medical professional for how to bind safely, and anyone who cares about someone who is currently binding or considering binding.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.