As someone who has given considerable thought and research to gender, I initially felt that this book would be too “introductory” for where I personally am in my journey — which isn’t a flaw of the book. However, I ended up learning quite a bit and really valued the experience of reading it. It’s a great resource and there are several aspects of the book that I liked. Even as someone who has been very engaged in discussions about gender, I still learned from this book and feel I benefited from reading it. There are prompts throughout, guiding the reader on questions to continue thinking about, helping the reader to engage with the material and think critically. There are even pages labeled “space for your notes” with guided 

 

This would be an excellent resource for kids or teens, people early in their gender journey, or allies looking to better understand the complexities of gender. It would be a great addition to a diversity and education focused Little Free Library, or a gift for someone with a gender-queer individual in their life. It would be particularly excellent for anyone looking to better understand the difference between sex and gender, how neither are binary, and how the perception of them as binary affects people and society. 

 

The author introduces themselves and explicitly acknowledges the point of view they are writing from. I like that the book opens with a glossary; I imagine this would make conversations around gender feel a lot more accessible for someone who isn’t overly familiar with these terms yet. History (including pop culture representations) is weaved throughout in an engaging — and not boring — way, which provides important context and helps readers to better understand the topics being discussed. 

 

The author writes with compassion — there are reminders that not everything may be helpful, to discuss with friends if need be, and that some topics may be sensitive. 

 

The illustrations are great, I quite like the author’s style. The colors are soothing, and the art is neither too complex nor simple. Typically, I felt like the art contributed to the text in a meaningful way. I particularly liked the illustration of intersectionality as a ball of tangled thread.