Gosh I loved this instructive take on trans allyship. At times, sharing rudimentary information while almost holding your hand through the chapters and at other times, earnestly sharing intimate moments of the trans experience, this book reads like both a "Trans 101" course and a fiercely honest memoir. Kenny makes it seem like no question is off limits to him, while also sharing concrete boundaries. It's a great read.

In this book, Kenny Ethan Jones writes candidly about an assortment of topics, including ones that have been considered taboo or impolite. He is blazingly direct about gender-affirming surgeries, his own genitals, what periods can be like for transmen, and how living authentically and true to himself has affected him. By pulling the curtain back and addressing cisgender people, he demonstrates tremendous vulnerability and courage. I hope this wasn't misplaced and that those of us in the audience can take it to heart and show up better as allies/accomplices.

First off, I really appreciate the author for sharing his story so openly and getting so personal in this book, which I think will be a great starting point for cis people who want to read from trans perspectives, which is exactly this book's goal.

But this book could have used a lot more structure. The narration felt choppy, and I felt like we were going from one topic to another quite suddenly all throughout the book. While Kenny shared a lot of personal stories and valuable insights, these didn't come together in a way that made the book feel cohesive.

This book deserves a longer and more detailed review than this, but I think keeping it short and simple might be best so my main point doesn't get lost in the rambling.

This is important and well done. I think that everyone should read this, and/or others like it, especially given the current state of the world we live in today.



I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So so so good. Someone I love is trans and while I hope I am always an ally for her, her experiences are her own. But this book helped open my eyes to the deep trauma she has experienced all of her life and I am very grateful for a fresh perspective plus better armed to support her. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE, because I can guarantee, someone you know is living with gender dysphoria, even if you don't know it.

I read this book as a trans man myself. I like seeing other people's experiences, as well as kind of "fact-checking" the books available, due to seeing some well-meaning but very misinformed or misguided ones when I was questioning. I also wanted books to recommend people if they are questioning or just want more information on trans people. I feel that this is one I would recommend to people.

Many of this author's feelings and experiences in regard to being trans resonate with me. He wrote on a personal level, being very clear that other people can have different experiences, but this is the most I have seen myself in a nonfiction book as well.

Questions that trans people get asked often are all in here, as well as acknowledging common misconceptions that are growing worse in this political climate. While I do not think that this book will change the minds of the most bigoted people, I do think that it can ease the fears of parents when their kid comes out as trans. This is also a good source for the more deeply personal questions trans people get asked that quite frankly we should not be asked as often as we are.

While I do not agree with his wording sometimes (ex. saying trans men are raised as girls and trans women are raised as boys) I think the rest of the book compensates for this. This is especially true as, mentioned before, he does not look to speak for the community overall and is clear this is his own mind. Plus, this was written directed to cis people and I acknowledge the wording I'd prefer could add too much confusion.

Overall, this is a good source to use, and while only one man's experience, is at the very least a good starting point for more understanding.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC.

I requested this book because as a cisgender female I wanted to learn more about the trans community and their experiences. This book did not disappoint. The book mainly focuses on Kenny's personal experience but also reaches to tangent topics that impact not only him but many trans people. Although being trans is obviously a unique experience to each individual this book covers many topics that are vitally important to the trans community and was an eye opening read.
The writing is approachable, clear and insightful. It was engagingly written and extremely informative. The discussions of gender, gender roles, sexuality, transitioning, hormones, societal impact, and race and discrimination, provided a strong and thorough explanation and expanded on the issues in a clear and informative manner.

this is my personal opinion regarding the book.

I can not say this loudly, often, or long enough (all of these are links to sources in the blogged version of the review): PAY.

ATTENTION.

TO.

WHAT.

THEY SAY THEY WILL DO.

You can start here, with this book made up of trans peoples' words. It's addressed at all cis people, a group I am very much part of. I needed to hear these trans voices. These voices are not heard in any systemic way even in the QUILTBAG community. Trans people can and should speak up...and all too often, risk the direst imaginable consequences for doing so. I think the best way to learn is to ask, and if the silence imposed on trans people in F2F reality is blocking that avenue, then we can read! This book marries asking with reading because Author Kenny Ethan Jones has spoken to his fellow trans folk and used their own words to address us cis people, regardless of our sexual identities, about the nature of being trans.

The ball is in our court, cis folk. We possess the information, now we need to listen to what trans people want us to know. There is no more fig-leaf for our ignorance. Now it is a choice to remain ignorant. I think almost everyone who reads this blog, being readers themselves, will take this chance to lift the veil of unknowing and see what the most Othered people in the QUILTBAG rainbow of identities want to get in the way of support and acceptance.

I hope this compact, unchallenging read will make its way into your reading this #PrideMonth. There are so many ways to offer the gift of acknowledgment. The price is, honestly, negligble to the giver; the gift is precious to the receiver, as the stories told here will show you. Please do the whole angry, shouting world this favor:

Sit and listen to what your Othered siblings would appreciate you offering to them.

REVIEW: Dear Cisgender People: A Guide to Trans Allyship and Empathy ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (4.5)

Being a cis-gendered, straight woman, I was excited to read this to learn more about the trans community and how I can be a better ally for them. I listened to Dear Cisgender People as an audiobook and it was read by the author, Kenny Ethan Jones.

Dear Cisgender People dug much deeper than I thought it would. Of course, it covered many of Kenny’s experiences growing up trans and how it impacted him, but Kenny also went into other adjacent topics as well. Through this book, I found out that Kenny Ethan Jones was the first model and spokesperson for period products for trans people. It isn’t just ciswomen who menstruate, and that should be talked about. Kenny really focused on choices of words in order to make things inclusive. Kenny used period products as a huge example; by not using words such as feminine or women, others can feel included as well. He even said that some stores near him have been changing the signage to period products. Kenny not only shared his own experience growing up trans, but also a few other friends of his as well. Every trans person has their own unique experiences, and I think it was important for him to share that.

Other interesting topics covered in Dear Cisgendered People include the following: the spectrum of gender, gender roles, sexuality vs. gender, medical procedures and hormones and their effects, race, as well as overall discrimination. All these topics were covered so well and were great to reflect on.

The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the fact that even though it is called Dear Cisgendered People, the targeted audience wasn’t always clear. Also, at times, I couldn’t always figure out what this book wanted to be: a memoir, biography, advice book, or something else.

Overall I really enjoyed Dear Cisgendered People. There were so many fascinating discussions that really made me reflect. I also love that Kenny narrated the audiobook.

Thank you, Netgalley and DK, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

I didn't know anything about the author before reading this book, and then googling his name. His experience as a transgender person is what interested me in reading this book. I wanted to learn. And, yes I did! But not only about the journey and and hurdles of the transgender community. Mr. Jones casts his umbrella wide in this memoir/manifesto/manual on life. He discusses racism, intersectionality, and went on several tangents that felt a bit like off subject tangents. Some lines are blurred throughout the book. Mr. Jones isn't always speaking to cisgender allies. Sometimes he is speaking to the transgender community. But, as this is his box to speak from, he can take the conversation where he wants and for the most part, I was interested to follow along. I did feel that the book could have used some editing. Some parts didn't flow well or were repetitive or out of order. Despite that, I only made it to page 38 before ordering a copy of this book for a friend. That tells you how insightful this book was.