I thought this was such a beautiful, heartwarming read and one I’d totally recommend. There isn’t much to this book but what I feel Roche set out to do, they did so perfectly.

It’s a collection of interviews between the author and young trans umbrella children and teens that took place at events hosted by the the UK charities Mermaids and Gendered Intelligence. In them, these ‘gender explores’ as Roche calls them speak about growing up trans in contemporary society, school life with the good and bad, certain steps one has to overcome to make society treat them the way they want to be treated and their plans for the future. The teens and parents/carers also don’t shy away from the more challenging parts of being trans but their perseverance and outlook on life is such a beautiful portrayal of the power and joy of being trans too. Many times I teared up listening to these stories and you can’t help but wish and hope good things will follow or come the way of these individuals. Roche also includes two ‘interviews’ with a younger version of themselves called Pansy which again were amazing and I feel a great way for the author to let free their younger trans self from the bullying and being forced to hide their true self. 

With all the crap being spread by the media and pathetic ‘cultural war’ over trans lives I think this book is a beacon of hope. It shows people that no one is forcing our children to ‘become’ trans but they know from a young age or at least when given the chance to explore, come to the  decisions that best fits them. I loved this, so thank you Juno.