Transgender Reading Recommendations
International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event that occurs every March 31. It is a day to celebrate transgender (and nonbinary) people and raise awareness of the discrimination and challenges they face worldwide. Library staff have compiled this list of resources created by or featuring transgender and nonbinary people in an effort to help everyone learn more about their achievements and continued struggles. A full list with even more of our recent favourites can be found on our online catalogue.
Fiction – Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become our true authentic selves.
Fiction – The Story of Us by Catherine Hernandez
From the author of Canada Reads finalist Scarborough, comes a new novel beautifully narrated by the all-seeing eye of the protagonist’s newborn baby. The Story of Us follows the life of a Filipino migrant worker hired to look after an Alzheimer’s patient. It is about sisterhood, about blood and chosen family, and about how belonging can be found where we least expect it.
Fantasy/Sci Fi – Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
An adventure set in California’s San Gabriel Valley, with cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts.
Film – Being Thunder
A documentary that follows the life of Sherente, a two spirit-genderqueer teenager from Rhode Island’s Narragansett tribe as they fight for the right to perform wearing traditional female dress in regional pow wow competition despite backlash from tribal elders and other community members.
Film – Framing Agnes
A 2022 Canadian documentary film, directed by Chase Joynt. An examination of transgender histories, the film centres on Joynt and a cast of transgender actors re-enacting various case studies from Harold Garfinkel’s work with transgender clients at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Memoir – Pageboy by Elliot Page
A ground-breaking coming-of-age memoir from the Academy Award-nominated actor Elliot Page. A generation-defining actor and one of the most famous trans advocates of our time, Elliot will now be known as an uncommon literary talent, as he shares never-before-heard details and intimate interrogations on gender, love, mental health, relationships, and Hollywood.
Non-Fiction – Beyond Pronouns by Tammy Plunkett
A practical guide for parents of transgender or nonbinary children, written by an author who has personal experience helping guide their own transgender child.
Graphic Novel – Heavy Vinyl -Y2K-O! by Carly Usdin
This fun graphic novel series follows a group of queer activists living in the late 1990s who work at a Vinyl Record store during the day and play in a band at night.
Young Adult Fiction – Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender
From the national award-winning author of Felix ever after, comes a new character-driven YA contemporary novel featuring a diverse cast of queer characters who tackle issues including activism, bullying, mental health, intersectional identities, polyamory and self-worth (among others).
Middle Grade Fiction – The One Who Loves You the Most by Medina
A debut middle grade book about identity, body dysphoria, mental health and finding oneself and a community of belonging, told from the perspective of a 12-year-old non-binary biracial youth who is adopted by white parents.
Picture Books – If You’re a Kid Like Gavin written by Gavin Grimm and Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by J Yang
A celebratory and empowering story from young trans activist Gavin Grimm, two-time Stonewall Award-winning and Newbery Honor-winning author Kyle Lukoff, and illustrator J Yang follows the true story of how a young boy stood up for himself–and made history along the way.
