Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You

by Kathryn Gonzales MBA, Karen Rayne PhD, Anne Passchier (Illustrator)

Overview

2020 ALA Rainbow Book List Selection

A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, Starred Outstanding Merit Title

2019 Foreword INDIES Awards Finalist

Trans+ : Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You -- by Karen Rayne, PhD and Katherine Gonzales, MBA. This will be our third teen relationship, identity, sex book. Trans+ is a growing-up guide for teens who are transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or gender-fluid. This book explores gender identity, gender expression, gender roles, and how these all combine and play out as gender in the world. Includes chapters on medical, health, and legal issues as well as relationships, family, and sex.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433832840
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	12/03/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	888,119
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Karen Rayne, PhD is the Executive Director of UN|HUSHED. She writes comprehensive sexuality education curricula, books for children, teenagers, and parents, and trains professionals internationally. She can be found on Facebook and Instagram @karenrayne. Visit www.karenrayne.com and www.unhushed.org to learn more. 

Kathryn Gonzales, MBA, is the Operations & Programs Director at Out Youth, a Co-Chair of the steering committee for the Central Texas Transgender Health Coalition, the Chair of the board of directors at HavenCon, and a commissioner on the City of Austin's LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission. She has been working in the nonprofit sector, specifically youth advocacy and organizing, for 15 years. She has facilitated state-wide youth lobby days, organized state-wide conferences on LGBTQIA+ youth leadership and empowerment, and created the Queer Youth Media Project during her time at the Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival. Kathryn's research into the evolutionary importance of storytelling in our everyday lives heavily influences her work and is always seeking out new ways for youth to share their stories with the world.

Anne Passchier, illustrator of TRANS+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You and Rainbow: A First Book of Pride is an illustrator and designer from The Netherlands. They are currently living in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Nyk Rayne, illustrator of TRANS+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You, is an illustrator and animator with a BFA from the Art Institute of Houston. 

Editorial Reviews

08/05/2019

Rayne (GIRL: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You) collaborates with debut author Gonzales in her second comprehensive guidebook tackling a variety of topics relevant to trans and nonbinary teens, such as coming out; pursuing the social, medical, and legal avenues of transition; and navigating potentially unfriendly or harmful families, schools, workplaces, and faith communities. The authors also take a gender-inclusive look at every aspect of intimate relationships, with chapters on dating, healthy relationships, intimate partner violence and other forms of abuse, sex, and on reproduction, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections. The inclusion of diary entries from trans and nonbinary teens and personal insights from the authors, both trans women, keeps the narrative from having a dry or impersonal tone. Aimed at readers of all gender identities, this empowering, essential guide arms teens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions not only about transition but about their bodies and lives in general, and to prioritize their safety on the journey to self-discovery. Ages 15–up. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Comprehensive guidebook…Aimed at readers of all gender identities, this empowering, essential guide arms teens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions not only about transition but about their bodies and lives in general, and to prioritize their safety on the journey to self-discovery.” ­—Publishers Weekly

“A comprehensive guide for transgender teens. Without access to resources, growing up as a transgender person can feel isolating. However, the authors emphasize that transgender people exist as ‘part of a strong, important global history’…  While the guide covers a broad range of topics, a central theme unites them: Transgender people of all identities have their own valuable narratives to share that are deserving of respect. Honest, inclusive, and essential.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Gentle and affirming from start to finish, the book addresses complicated and sensitive topics in reassuring language. It neither sugarcoats nor exaggerates the difficulties of being transgender in today’s world…. For transgender and gender-nonconforming young adults seeking guidance as they navigate in the world, Trans+ is a clear and welcoming text.” —Foreword Reviews
 
"Rayne and Gonzales have created a detailed, easy-to-read guide to gender identity written for young people who may be questioning their own identity. The book goes beyond definitions and tackles issues that will impact every trans person including coming out, transitioning, relationships, and sex… While this book is geared toward trans teens, it also has value for teens who wish to learn more about the subject… Gonzales and Rayne treat their trans readers with respect and offer information in a down-to-earth and relatable way.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

08/01/2019

Gr 9 Up—Rayne and Gonzales have created a detailed, easy-to-read guide to gender identity written for young people who may be questioning their own identity. The book goes beyond definitions and tackles issues that will impact every trans person including coming out, transitioning, relationships, and sex. The authors dive into topics that readers might not yet be thinking about but will greatly affect their futures such as reproduction, parenthood, and the legal ramifications of transitioning. The authors are direct with their audience. All discussions of sex and genitalia are straightforward and thorough. Included in the text are contributions by trans individuals regarding the different topics. While this book is geared toward trans teens, it also has value for teens who wish to learn more about the subject. VERDICT This work is a mostly inclusive collection that relays gender identity information. Gonzales and Rayne treat their trans readers with respect and offer information in a down-to-earth and relatable way.—Cathy DeCampli, Haddonfield Public Library, NJ

School Library Journal

2019-06-18
A comprehensive guide for transgender teens.

Without access to resources, growing up as a transgender person can feel isolating. However, the authors emphasize that transgender people exist as "part of a strong, important global history." In this handbook for navigating young adulthood as a transgender person, debut author Gonzales and Rayne (Girl, 2017, etc.) organize the chapters into six sections: an introduction to gender, dysphoria, and coming out; body development and reproduction; paths for transitioning; strategies for dating, building healthy relationships, and identifying unhealthy patterns; sexual activity and health; and confronting challenges in other aspects of life like school and work. Each chapter includes diary entries from trans people of varying identities and backgrounds. The authors also chime in with their own personal reflections. Quirky portraits of each contributor accompany the diary entries and author reflections. A conversational tone makes the content more engaging and approachable. Along the way, Gonzales and Rayne stress that certain topics may be triggering or exacerbate dysphoria for readers, so they encourage skipping parts or replacing terminology that feels uncomfortable with more affirming words as a means of self-care. Every chapter ends with additional trans-centered resources. While the guide covers a broad range of topics, a central theme unites them: Transgender people of all identities have their own valuable narratives to share that are deserving of respect.

Honest, inclusive, and essential. (dictionary, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews