5 Important Transgender Books by Trans Authors

[@yahaira_f]

You read detransition, baby! I'm so happy you also loved it. I'm still trying to figure out how she wrote both such a specific book, while also having it be this richly layered book about gender, womanhood, parenthood, race, class, and grief (plus so many other things I'm forgetting.)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Right?! It's incredible how someone can provide such a rich and texture look at trans life while also writing a perfectly paced novel full of such rich and dynamic characters AND explore such varied and diverse themes as class/race politics, parenthood, identity, patriarchy etc. It's insane. Never have I read such an ambitious book that pulls off everything it sought to achieve.

[@CestKevvie]

I've yet to read Detransition Baby, I'm super apprehensive of it, but I'm gonna attempt it in May. I am such a big fan of Laura Jane Grace, and really want to read her memoir. A memoir I'm currently reading and loving is This Time For Me, by transgender television and Broadway star Alexandra Billings. Other trans favorites are Darryl by Jackie Ess, Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, and Fierce Femmes & Notorious Liars by Kai Cheng Thom.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Some really great recommendations here, thank you! Especially This Time For Me, that sounds wonderful!

[@selahscott153]

Can't wait to check all of these out!

[@morganmeadowes6861]

The books that really helped me are I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver (a nonbinary author about a nonbinary main character, mainly a ya book on coming out, trust and young love, but also trigger warnings for transphobia, nonexepting parents who throw their kid out, depression, anxiety and misgendering) and Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore (a genderqueer author about a genderqueer main character, who uses different pronouns, this is mainly a ya book about standing up for yourself, queer activism, theatre kids and young love, but also trigger warnings for transphobic teachers, misgendering and I think anxiety (but I’m not sure, look them up anyway iFood wanna be safe)). These books are both great and helped me a lot in my journey. I’d also recommend Cemetary Boys ba Aiden Thomas (transmasc author about a transmasc character, in a latinx fantasy world with ghosts and trying to prove yourself to your family and community, great story, look up the trigger warnings). Mason Deaver, Steven Salvatore and Aiden Thomas have my entire trust, I will read anything they write and publish. Would definitely recommend!!

[@user-yq7fm8kn7t]

Glad to hear your polically active. Thank you for this video.

[@user-yq7fm8kn7t]

Politically

[@elimh1354]

To touch on what you were saying towards the end, trans women tend to be hypervisible while trans men tend to be invisible and not seen or talked about, which is why you've probably seen more trans women activists, etc. It's hard to quantify which faces more or less violence because it's usually different kinds of violence

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I agree. Quite a few kind people have come into the comments to discuss this point and it's given me a lot to consider over the last few months. The different ways in which society treats trans men and women really speak to so much about the lenses through which we see men and women in the first place.

[@kallistoindrani5689]

This video alone is already so informative. I'm going to check these books out because I don't know a lot about the subject and I want to learn. Thank you for this video, it was exactly what I was searching for.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you for wanting to learn more about trans lives and our community! 💜

[@imanivarieties]

Thank you for your video... As a transwoman author who has recently came out and had my struggles. However, I like to say your video has inspired me so much.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I'm sorry you've had to go through any struggles at all, but I'm glad you've felt inspired. Loads of love from one non-cis writer to another 💜

[@imanivarieties]

@@WillowTalksBooks thank you

[@bookinwithdebra]

I've not read this book but I've found my library has a memoir - Not just a tomboy: a trans masculine memoir by Casper Baldwin. Not sure if you've read this book? It's a UK author. I've added it to my library wishlist (which is ever growing).

[@jstamps9578]

I learned a lot from you here, and will read 3 of these right off. Excellent points about how it kind of seems more trans women than men are writing books and novels. Or are getting talked about. I would like to hear from both as they have such unique perspectives and enlightening insights I am thinking. You present DETRANSITION BABY with such affection and complexity. I will start there. I want to support these writers, and read good books.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you so much for taking an interest in these books! I did receive a fantastic comment that shone a light on the disparity between the stories of trans men and trans women. And yes, Detransition, Baby remains my favourite English language novel of this year. Please check it out!

[@nisoZ]

This is very important and informative! Thank you!!

[@colbyo4817]

Great list - thanks for sharing! I’ve had Detransition, Baby on hold for a while and just added a few of the others to my TBR.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I really can't recommend Detransition, Baby highly enough!

[@0o0o099999]

Detransition baby was Nice. The sex shop part stood out like a sore thumb but also felt most honest. The rest of the book feels like a good dream until the wakeup. This affliction is a curse.

[@jade_faunce]

Thank you so much for this info. So well put!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you for watching and enjoying the video!

[@imanivarieties]

Will do... thank you

[@Ali94749]

Really want to read detransition baby!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

It is an absolutely perfect novel. I can't stress that enough. Tempted to do more than one video on it, honestly!

[@strawbself]

i loved ames when i read detrans baby i could listen to you talk about him for a very long time

[@WillowTalksBooks]

God, I can't wait to read it again. When I do, maybe I'll make a dedicated Ames video!

[@ninaandsimone3854]

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you so much!

[@robertname9618]

I wasn't looking for fiction .

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I'm... Sorry?

[@cookiedestroyer402]

please do a SUPER STRAIGHT book list

[@lacanian1500]

gotem

[@willcoffarchives]

Try the fiction section

[@cukka99]

I think a different channel, perhaps "Some More News" might be a more appropriate place for that?

[@juliea4857]

Major mainstream figure who was transgender way before people talked about it openly….en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Morris Father of five, husband, partner….later wife