Part memoir anthology, part medical advice, part workbook, this graphic pocketbook shows us how to chest bind safely for body and mind.

I liked how this book has a little bit of everything. The inclusion of graphic storytelling through interviews with a varied cast of people, was great as an initial intrigue and basis to introducing exercises to alleviate pain and discomfort, to then transition into statistics and a workbook for the reader to reflect on their journey and practices.

It is excellent that a small and concise book like this exists, it can be so helpful and validating if this is a journey you're going through. Not to mention, bringing awareness to health complications that can come with unsafe binding practices. Your physical health is important.

I wish the book mentioned how safe binding practices also increase your chances of top surgery scars and healing going well. I think this is something not many think about and know, and could also be a good motivator to take care of your health. BUT it's a small book and doesn't assume top surgery is something a trans masc person wants, which I really appreciate!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I also want to mention that the format of this ARC was a pain in the ass to read and it affected my reading experience, and stopped me from getting a full impression of what the printed work will look like, and be read as.

Just wanted to mention that the format of this ARC

Very helpful and intuitive book for anyone needing to learn food use or just general knowledge. Easy to understand with a good amount of facts and knowledge

This was a very interesting read and I liked it. I love to read these kinds of things because you.actually learn something. I never knew that binding was a thing. I learned it was and its interesting as to why people do it. It also talks about how to safely bind and how long. At first I could not wrap my head around it because I never knew. everyone should read this book just to see what other people say.about it. This book is a must read

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

Short and sweet guide to chest binding. I enjoyed the memoir section a lot, though I wish the latter half that was a "guide" went into a bit more detail. The exercises and stuff were great, but I wish there had been some more options in the back half for those who can't just go to the store and buy a binder other than "don't bind" — but I'm not binding myself, so I don't have much of a leg to stand on. Ultimately this is a great resource for teens who may be interested in binding but want a trusted source rather than just scouring the internet.

I found this book informative about trans health and safety. I enjoyed the stories of people finding out how best to care for themselves in their bodies with safety and authenticity. I think this book could help others who may not have good support systems in their lives to help them find safe ways to live authentically as a trans person. I will recommend this book to people who are looking for ways to chest-bind safely or are exploring gender expression.

Great illustrated comic about different types of binding methods. It includes personal stories and health and safety tips.

Loved loved loved this book.

A practical, easy to read guide about binding. The illustrations made it accessible and I loved hearing from other trans and non-binary people about their binding journey.

Breathe is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to providing insightful information for binding. There are four different individuals sharing their experiences with binding, whether it be homemade with Ace bandages or store bought. Each individual brings a unique perspective to the pros of binding. Additionally, there are some great resources at the end of the book, with my favorite being journal prompts and a binding journey timeline. By no means does this book try to convince someone to bind, but rather ensure readers have a comprehensive understanding of what it entails. Phenomenal.

This book is absolutely perfect for anyone who binds, or who is thinking about starting to bind, especially for young people! The first story really stuck with me, since I am also a fat, nonbinary femme who struggled with my identity before discovering that I was genderqueer., and I truly felt that my story was represented here. Had I had this book earlier in life, perhaps it would have made things easier during my transition. The book is very informative, gentle and offers great tips for stretching, resting, and finding a binder that works for you at any age and stage of life. The stories are from both trans and nonbinary perspectives, which is great to see. I would recommend this to anyone who is on their gender identity journey, and really hope that it helps others feel seen and informed.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in April 2024. This book tells a lot of important stories and I really enjoyed reading them. They can ignite my own dysphoria at times, but the stories told her are so incredibly important. I am interested to see a final, completed version of this book.

Such an informative book. I love the artwork, and the stories they told. I hope there are more stories than in the ARC, because 4 does not seem like enough. I love the tips on what pain may accompany binding and even the stretches that can help. This book will help so many people who are searching for answers.

ARC. This graphic guide feels so important. I can only think about every single person that is going to help.
There is a lot of information, but it´s presented in a way that everyone will be able to understand, so they can make their decision based on what´s best for them and for their experience. That´s why it´s really important to introduce personal stories that share how everyones journey is different, but also completely valid.
I really loved the overall message that one can affirm their gender while also being safe, healthy and taking care of themselves.
I also think that some details like the journal prompts, the check in tracker, the reflection questions, and others, are amazing additions.
Every person involved in this book made an incredible job.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the e-arc. I can´t wait to read the final version of this book.

Breathe is a great resource for teens and young adults struggling with their identity or ways of safely binding. As a cis-woman, it gave me insight into the lives of my trans and nonbinary students and the struggles they may face on a day-to-day basis if they are binding regularly. I would give this book to students looking for information on binding and to parents of trans and nonbinary kids so they can better understand the needs of their child and ways to encourage them to safely bind.

This was such an excellent volume. I would buy a copy for any young trans person just beginning on their journey in chest binding. This was a good mix of personal stories, experiences, and good advice for binding healthily and safely. I was really interested in learning more about trans tape as well since I had really only heard about it briefly from my non-binary trans wife.

We need more books like these, they could literally be saving lives and preventing injury in young queer trans folks.

Every library needs this book! It’s difficult to find safe information about binding especially if one is navigating online information and having difficulty finding researched fact backed info. Having the information in a graphic novel format increases the accessibility as well. The book even includes stretches and reflection activities to support a safe binding journey. All of the information is researched and backed by studies and the stretches are shared by a physiotherapist and massage therapist.
The main focus is on finding a balance between good mental health in facing gender dysphoria and safe binding practices. It’s very affirming and flexible in sharing ideas on how to listen to your own body’s needs and making small changes like sizing up or reducing wear time.
As a nonbinary adult who has struggled with back, shoulder, and neck pain in relation to dysphoria, this is a very important tool for the community.

**Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5**
*Breath: Journeys to Healthy Binding* is a brilliantly creative and informative manual on binding health for individuals, especially young people, who are exploring binding options and practices that will affirm them.

>> What I loved: It is difficult to find a book that is both accessible and grounded in research, and *Breathe* hits the mark on both counts. I love the mix of personal stories with actionable health information and opportunities for individual reflection provided within this little workbook. I can only imagine how transformative a book like this will be for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals who are navigating the process of binding.

I would strongly recommend this book for any youth and adults, especially those who are binding or thinking about binding, or those who have friends and family in their lives who are binding. I think every Library that serves the public should seek to add this to their collection. Additionally, this would be an invaluable resource for school counselors and social workers working with young people. Books like this are absolutely necessary, and I am grateful to the authors for creating it.

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Maia Kobabe & Sarah Peitzmeier, PhD, and Penguin Young Readers Group/Dutton Books for Young Readers, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

Four people share their experiences with binding, including the euphoria and the health concerns. Each offers tips on how to stay safe while also affirming gender, and the book continues with some instructions on exercises, journaling, community, and healthcare to help prompt discussion and action for anyone who wears a binder.

This book is gentle and affirming and offers some great information for anyone who binds or is considering binding. It isn't exhaustive, but it is an easy read and a good starting place.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

i never thought i'd see a book about binding in my life, and it's so cool! being a trans masc person, binding is a thing that has so many differences based on the person that not many people understand, sometimes youtube tutorials can't help. adored this!

Very informative and helpful! I was miserable binding before my top surgery, and a lot of the information in this book would have helped me be more comfortable. Safety is most important and this book presents information about binding in a judgement-free and safety-conscious way. I appreciate the inclusion of nonbinary people, people who plan on having surgery, and people who don't - all are valid and I think a gender expansive take on these topics is very important, especially for readers who are at the beginning of their gender journey and still exploring what works best for them.

Easily digestible introduction to concepts, who binds, how they bind, different binding methods, benefits and risks of binding. In addition to telling the binding stories of several people of different generations, it offers important practical information on how to bind safely and how to address some of the common physical complaints associated with binding. It stresses the importance of good communication with parents and healthcare providers for safe binding practices. I'd highly recommend this to young people and their parents alike.