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Sylvia and Marsha: A Picture Book about the Trans Women of Color Who Started an Lgbtq+ Revolution!
"Someday girls like us will be able to wear whatever we want. People will call us by the names we choose. They'll respect that we are women. The cops will leave us alone and no one will go hungry."
Sylvia and Marsha are closer than sisters. They are kind and brave and not afraid to speak their truth, even when it makes other people angry.
This illustrated book introduces children to the story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, the two transgender women of colour who helped kickstart the Stonewall Riots and dedicated their lives to fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. It introduces children to issues surrounding gender identity and diversity, accompanied by a reading guide and teaching materials to further the conversation.
Sylvia and Marsha are closer than sisters. They are kind and brave and not afraid to speak their truth, even when it makes other people angry.
This illustrated book introduces children to the story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, the two transgender women of colour who helped kickstart the Stonewall Riots and dedicated their lives to fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. It introduces children to issues surrounding gender identity and diversity, accompanied by a reading guide and teaching materials to further the conversation.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2020
7 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
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August 12, 2020
This book is historically inaccurate. The Stonewall Riots did not start on Marsha's birthday (her birthday was in August). Sylvia Rivera was not present. I could find no evidence of Marsha liberating a police truck full of arrested individuals or dancing in the street that night in my (admittedly brief and limited) research into the subject. I felt the author was glib about Marsha and Sylvia's extreme poverty and homelessness even while trying to show their giving natures. The glossary and activities in the back of the book are too numerous and stray off topic. Protest signs are not mentioned in the book - why is there a "make a sign" activity? Even though Marsha is famously depicted as wearing a flower crown it doesn't seem necessary to have a crown craft in the book. The glossary felt unnecessary - beyond transgender, the other terms did not appear in the rest of the book, making them superfluous. I wanted to love this book. I have been wanting a biography of Marsha P. Johnson for kids, but this can't be it.
This review is based on digitial review copy provided by NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers. The review is cross-posted to Goodreads and Instagram.
This review is based on digitial review copy provided by NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers. The review is cross-posted to Goodreads and Instagram.
December 17, 2020
a lot of the information in this book is incorrect and this retelling of history is insulting
September 20, 2022
Content warnings are listed at the end of my review!
This is what sanitizing queer history looks like. What could have just been vague hints at what led to Stonewall, the riots, STAR, and the lasting impacts vastly oversimplifies and sucks the nuance, complexity, and reality of the histories of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Inherently, it's not going to be easy to break down for young audiences, even with adult audiences it's a rocky topic, but that doesn't excuse glaring misrepresentations. Polishing this history to be digestible changes it into something that it is not, and silences struggles that are historical and ongoing, erasing our history.
Marsha and Sylvia are both prominent figures in the early queer liberation movement- but this book depicts their involvement in an idolizing and ahistorical way, doing a disservice to their activism and stories. I take it the author Joy Ellison watched Happy Birthday, Marsha! and decided to make a children's book based on it, as the plot follows a similar idea as the film- both deviating from Stonewall history. Johnson described herself and Rivera arriving after the riots had started:
"The way I winded up being at Stonewall that night, I was having a party uptown. And we were all out there and Miss Sylvia Rivera and them were over in the park having a cocktail.
I was uptown and I didn’t get downtown until about two o’clock, because when I got downtown the place was already on fire. And it was a raid already. The riots had already started. And they said the police went in there and set the place on fire. They said the police set it on fire because they originally wanted the Stonewall to close, so they had several raids. And there was this, uh, Tiffany and, oh, this other drag queen that used to work there in the coat check room and then they had all these bartenders. And the night before the Stonewall riots started, before they closed the bar, we were all there and we all had to line up against the wall and they was all searching us..” – Marsha P. Johnson
Anyone familiar with Stonewall and the greater queer liberation movement understands it wasn't just Stonewall, it wasn't just one or two heroes- and selling it as that negates the community and continuing effort that it took to get to where we are now. Details of the multiple days of protests are hotly contested, as well as mingled with concerning transphobia trying to erase the gender nonconforming and trans figures in the picture. This makes it especially hard to piece together a perfect timeline and the roles figures like Marsha and Sylvia played, who's accounts are accurate, who's are biased, who was there, who wasn't? The most common thought based on accounts is Marsha did play a part in the protests, despite not arriving until they had started, and Rivera was not involved in the protests. This being said, there is too much advocacy weight put on their Stonewall involvement/lack of involvement, as the work they both continued to do post-Stonewall is significant.
Really, this book doesn't frame the context, event, or figures well at all. The anti cross dressing "three-piece" laws are only briefly acknowledged as "Police could arrest transgender girls for wearing dresses." This also impacted trans men, nonbinary people, drag artists, and any other gender nonconforming people labeled "deviant", this is only vaguely touched on in the back. The Stonewall scene in the book is stated to take place on June 28, 1969 but Marsha keeps saying it is her birthday, though the back of the book plainly says her birthday is August 24, 1945- leading me to assume why this is an adaptation of the movie. It places Marsha and Sylvia at Stonewall as the protests begin, liberating a police van, police standing by dumbfounded, with protesters gleefully celebrating in the street. As I said, Marsha was involved, but not in this way, though it has been corroborated that on the second night she did climb a lamppost and drop a brick through a police windshield, which I think is worth mentioning, but Stonewall wasn't the playful party this book makes it out to be. It was an anti police brutality protest.
The back provides more information, more than the entire rest of the book, about Marsha and Sylvia which is about as plain and without context as everything else. The furthest we get is they were the main characters of Stonewall, and they founded STAR (Hilariously using the second iteration of the acronym, with Transvestite but then not defining the term in the glossary. I swear I'm not making this up!). We don't get to learn about Marsha's prominent AIDs activism, or Sylvia's pushing against mainstream conservative gay rights organizations for intersectional inclusion in the fight for queer rights. I don't even like counting this because it's not a part of the main story- and it's incrementally better than the main story...
Summary:
Readability: ★☆☆☆☆, Seeing as they wrote better content for the back of the book, the book itself feels like a joke draft, then they didn't bother to illustrate the actual good part. I don't know what is going on with this book...
Entertainment: ★☆☆☆☆, It feels like a mockery seeing Stonewall depicted as queer people and the police gently bickering and dancing in the streets, it's incredibly insulting and revisionist. I can't take this book seriously because of it fictionalizing the lives of some of the most prominent trans figures who helped create the modern day trans movements, it's utterly tasteless at best.
Audience: I don't recommend at all.
Content Warnings: arrests, cancer, death, homelessness, misgendering, police, poverty, transphobia
This is what sanitizing queer history looks like. What could have just been vague hints at what led to Stonewall, the riots, STAR, and the lasting impacts vastly oversimplifies and sucks the nuance, complexity, and reality of the histories of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Inherently, it's not going to be easy to break down for young audiences, even with adult audiences it's a rocky topic, but that doesn't excuse glaring misrepresentations. Polishing this history to be digestible changes it into something that it is not, and silences struggles that are historical and ongoing, erasing our history.
Marsha and Sylvia are both prominent figures in the early queer liberation movement- but this book depicts their involvement in an idolizing and ahistorical way, doing a disservice to their activism and stories. I take it the author Joy Ellison watched Happy Birthday, Marsha! and decided to make a children's book based on it, as the plot follows a similar idea as the film- both deviating from Stonewall history. Johnson described herself and Rivera arriving after the riots had started:
"The way I winded up being at Stonewall that night, I was having a party uptown. And we were all out there and Miss Sylvia Rivera and them were over in the park having a cocktail.
I was uptown and I didn’t get downtown until about two o’clock, because when I got downtown the place was already on fire. And it was a raid already. The riots had already started. And they said the police went in there and set the place on fire. They said the police set it on fire because they originally wanted the Stonewall to close, so they had several raids. And there was this, uh, Tiffany and, oh, this other drag queen that used to work there in the coat check room and then they had all these bartenders. And the night before the Stonewall riots started, before they closed the bar, we were all there and we all had to line up against the wall and they was all searching us..” – Marsha P. Johnson
Anyone familiar with Stonewall and the greater queer liberation movement understands it wasn't just Stonewall, it wasn't just one or two heroes- and selling it as that negates the community and continuing effort that it took to get to where we are now. Details of the multiple days of protests are hotly contested, as well as mingled with concerning transphobia trying to erase the gender nonconforming and trans figures in the picture. This makes it especially hard to piece together a perfect timeline and the roles figures like Marsha and Sylvia played, who's accounts are accurate, who's are biased, who was there, who wasn't? The most common thought based on accounts is Marsha did play a part in the protests, despite not arriving until they had started, and Rivera was not involved in the protests. This being said, there is too much advocacy weight put on their Stonewall involvement/lack of involvement, as the work they both continued to do post-Stonewall is significant.
Really, this book doesn't frame the context, event, or figures well at all. The anti cross dressing "three-piece" laws are only briefly acknowledged as "Police could arrest transgender girls for wearing dresses." This also impacted trans men, nonbinary people, drag artists, and any other gender nonconforming people labeled "deviant", this is only vaguely touched on in the back. The Stonewall scene in the book is stated to take place on June 28, 1969 but Marsha keeps saying it is her birthday, though the back of the book plainly says her birthday is August 24, 1945- leading me to assume why this is an adaptation of the movie. It places Marsha and Sylvia at Stonewall as the protests begin, liberating a police van, police standing by dumbfounded, with protesters gleefully celebrating in the street. As I said, Marsha was involved, but not in this way, though it has been corroborated that on the second night she did climb a lamppost and drop a brick through a police windshield, which I think is worth mentioning, but Stonewall wasn't the playful party this book makes it out to be. It was an anti police brutality protest.
The back provides more information, more than the entire rest of the book, about Marsha and Sylvia which is about as plain and without context as everything else. The furthest we get is they were the main characters of Stonewall, and they founded STAR (Hilariously using the second iteration of the acronym, with Transvestite but then not defining the term in the glossary. I swear I'm not making this up!). We don't get to learn about Marsha's prominent AIDs activism, or Sylvia's pushing against mainstream conservative gay rights organizations for intersectional inclusion in the fight for queer rights. I don't even like counting this because it's not a part of the main story- and it's incrementally better than the main story...
Summary:
Readability: ★☆☆☆☆, Seeing as they wrote better content for the back of the book, the book itself feels like a joke draft, then they didn't bother to illustrate the actual good part. I don't know what is going on with this book...
Entertainment: ★☆☆☆☆, It feels like a mockery seeing Stonewall depicted as queer people and the police gently bickering and dancing in the streets, it's incredibly insulting and revisionist. I can't take this book seriously because of it fictionalizing the lives of some of the most prominent trans figures who helped create the modern day trans movements, it's utterly tasteless at best.
Audience: I don't recommend at all.
Content Warnings: arrests, cancer, death, homelessness, misgendering, police, poverty, transphobia
November 18, 2020
This book is pushing an historical inaccuracy of our LGB Civil Rights history, Marsha/Malcolm self described himself in a video mere days before his death as a gay man, and simply a crossdresser. He said that he crossdressed because he could earn more money as a drag queen and as a sex worker, this video is on YouTube. He would also get very upset being misgendered when not in character.
He was not the catalyst for the Stonewall riots, that was a butch black lesbian called Stormé DeLarverie. Marsha/Malcolm himself in an interview that is available online stated that he got to the bar late and that it was already on fire by that time and that Silvia, a very troubled individual, was in park taking “cocktails” (slang at the time for a combination of drugs) with his punters.
This book is offensive to LGB people and their civil rights history, this drive by trans activists to insert themselves into our civil rights struggle to claim the credit for the rights WE won by OURSELVES is seriously unacceptable and disrespectful.
We owe the right we won to ourselves and I strongly object to this book being used to transwash our civil rights history.
I think it's problematic how the words of a dead black man are ignored and him being called a woman because he failed to live up to white expectations of black masculinity. He was also seriously unwell believing that his father was Neptune to the point where he would routinely throw his clothes into the river in tribute to his 'father'.
If the writer had any integrity they would remove this book and apologise.
This needs to stop.
He was not the catalyst for the Stonewall riots, that was a butch black lesbian called Stormé DeLarverie. Marsha/Malcolm himself in an interview that is available online stated that he got to the bar late and that it was already on fire by that time and that Silvia, a very troubled individual, was in park taking “cocktails” (slang at the time for a combination of drugs) with his punters.
This book is offensive to LGB people and their civil rights history, this drive by trans activists to insert themselves into our civil rights struggle to claim the credit for the rights WE won by OURSELVES is seriously unacceptable and disrespectful.
We owe the right we won to ourselves and I strongly object to this book being used to transwash our civil rights history.
I think it's problematic how the words of a dead black man are ignored and him being called a woman because he failed to live up to white expectations of black masculinity. He was also seriously unwell believing that his father was Neptune to the point where he would routinely throw his clothes into the river in tribute to his 'father'.
If the writer had any integrity they would remove this book and apologise.
This needs to stop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2020
I was provided an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was cute and such a fast read. It's also educational. My main problem with it was how everything was over simplified. I understand that this is for kids but still, it felt over the top. Especially since the actual drawn story is so short and then there are pages and pages of text explaining it. I feel like everything could have been more in depth in the actual drawn story and more accurate too.
Anyway, still a good introduction to explain gender identities and Stonewall.
This was cute and such a fast read. It's also educational. My main problem with it was how everything was over simplified. I understand that this is for kids but still, it felt over the top. Especially since the actual drawn story is so short and then there are pages and pages of text explaining it. I feel like everything could have been more in depth in the actual drawn story and more accurate too.
Anyway, still a good introduction to explain gender identities and Stonewall.
December 31, 2020
Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution! is a non-fiction picture book about 2 transgendered women living in NYC in the late 1960s. At that point in time, transgender women could be arrested simply for dressing in women's clothing. Sylvia and Marsha were best friends and felt bad about the treatment of transgender women. They regularly gave homeless transgender people money and helped support them in other ways. One evening, Sylvia and Marsha helped start a revolution as part of the Stonewall Rebellion. They freed transgender women who had been put in a van by the police...simply for dressing in women's clothing.
This picture book is good for older elementary aged kids and is a good way to teach about equal rights and LGBTQ+ history. This book could inspire kids to be more understanding of others.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy!
This picture book is good for older elementary aged kids and is a good way to teach about equal rights and LGBTQ+ history. This book could inspire kids to be more understanding of others.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy!
March 27, 2020
My friend Joy is the author of this book, and it has been an honor and a delight to witness it go from an idea to a Kickstarter to a whole real book that I'm holding in my hands. Both author and illustrator worked together to create a literary and historical treasure, portraying the story of the powerful friendship of these two courageous trans women of color and how from the foundation of their friendship they were able to mobilize and take action to protect the most vulnerable members of their community. The hopeful, uplifting tone of this book shines through the text and the illustrations. I would like a copy on the bookshelf of everyone I love!
August 28, 2020
*I received this book as an eARC from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
This picture book showcases two amazing trans women of color! It's the Stonewall Riots in children's book format. Plus a glimpse into these two women's lives. This book addresses homelessness. Police are seen as the antagonist, but in a way that is children appropriate.
After the story, there's plenty of additional resources. There are details and information so that adults can give some context to children who have additional questions. And so the adults have that information for themselves as well. There are even external resources. And some activities.
The events shown in this book are made appropriate for children so not all the details are there.
I give this book a 5/5. I love seeing books like this for children. Especially showcasing trans women of color from history.
This picture book showcases two amazing trans women of color! It's the Stonewall Riots in children's book format. Plus a glimpse into these two women's lives. This book addresses homelessness. Police are seen as the antagonist, but in a way that is children appropriate.
After the story, there's plenty of additional resources. There are details and information so that adults can give some context to children who have additional questions. And so the adults have that information for themselves as well. There are even external resources. And some activities.
The events shown in this book are made appropriate for children so not all the details are there.
I give this book a 5/5. I love seeing books like this for children. Especially showcasing trans women of color from history.
October 25, 2020
A huge thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
4,5/5
I really wish I could give this 5 full stars, but sadly I wasn't in love with the art, and I felt like the story could have been fleshed out a bit more in illustrations, instead of having it tacked on as text afterwards. Don't get me wrong, the text at the end is very important. It explains the transgender terms, expands more on Sylvia and Marsha's stories and lives (and the choices they made for this particular 'retelling'), gives questions to talk and think about with children, and some fun activities, like making a sign for a protest, and making a flower crown. It's a brilliant way to get kids engaged in this kind of history that is generally completely ignored in schools.
There also is some further reading, both for adults and kids, if you want to explore this more with (your) kids/students.
I think that all in all this is a very important little book, that makes these revolutionary women of color a lot more 'accessible', more real, to the people (and especially the children) of today. Not to mention the message of it being okay to be who you are; that that really is the only way you can and should be. It also shows how far we've come, and how far we've yet to go.
Would definitely recommend! Teachers, get on this!
4,5/5
I really wish I could give this 5 full stars, but sadly I wasn't in love with the art, and I felt like the story could have been fleshed out a bit more in illustrations, instead of having it tacked on as text afterwards. Don't get me wrong, the text at the end is very important. It explains the transgender terms, expands more on Sylvia and Marsha's stories and lives (and the choices they made for this particular 'retelling'), gives questions to talk and think about with children, and some fun activities, like making a sign for a protest, and making a flower crown. It's a brilliant way to get kids engaged in this kind of history that is generally completely ignored in schools.
There also is some further reading, both for adults and kids, if you want to explore this more with (your) kids/students.
I think that all in all this is a very important little book, that makes these revolutionary women of color a lot more 'accessible', more real, to the people (and especially the children) of today. Not to mention the message of it being okay to be who you are; that that really is the only way you can and should be. It also shows how far we've come, and how far we've yet to go.
Would definitely recommend! Teachers, get on this!
November 8, 2022
I would use this book in my library learning about gender rights, the LGBTQ+ community, or individuals who changed the world.
February 2, 2021
Sylvia and Marsha are the best kind of best friends: they support one another, and dream of how to make the world a better place together— *especially* for other transgender girls like themselves. Even though they are mistreated by their families, strangers, and the police, they know that they have the power to make things better. They start a revolution! This wonderfully-told story of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera is perfect for sharing in classes, storytimes, and just reading at home. Resources at the back provide further information about Sylvia and Marsha, The Stonewall Rebellion, and transgender life in the 60s; definitions to words that may be unfamiliar; and further resources for parents and teachers.
Themes: Pride, Transgender Pride, Working Together, Friendship, Rebellion, Social Justice, Be Yourself
Age range: Preschool through Elementary
Themes: Pride, Transgender Pride, Working Together, Friendship, Rebellion, Social Justice, Be Yourself
Age range: Preschool through Elementary
August 5, 2020
By now, the world knows about Stonewall, so I'm so happy to see that the two transgender women who helped kick off the riots are being featured in their own picture book.
And though I thought I knew the whole story, I did not know of the other work that they did in their lifetime. It is a bit like only knowing that Rosa Parks refused to get off the bus, when she did so much work before and after that moment in time.
Sylvia and Marsha also helped other transgender youth, because they knew what they themselves had gone through.
Highly recommended.
Very simple and easy to read, kids can get the history in very bite sized, easy to understand bits.
And though I thought I knew the whole story, I did not know of the other work that they did in their lifetime. It is a bit like only knowing that Rosa Parks refused to get off the bus, when she did so much work before and after that moment in time.
Sylvia and Marsha also helped other transgender youth, because they knew what they themselves had gone through.
Highly recommended.
Very simple and easy to read, kids can get the history in very bite sized, easy to understand bits.
March 1, 2021
This book is a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I really appreciate that it takes the time to introduce young children to two people who were influential in the LGBTQ+ story. It is important that we present children with stories about people who are different from them, as well as providing stories for children who may find themselves in the story. On the other hand, I understand the reviewers who take issue with the historical inaccuracies. In my opinion, this should have been presented and published as a fictional picture book, rather than as a straight historical picture book, and this would have helped with how people view the story.
Overall, this is a book that I think should be included in any public library.
Overall, this is a book that I think should be included in any public library.
May 13, 2021
For Pride Storytime 6/28/21
May 14, 2024
Found on the School Library Journal
Picture book from The Chicago Public Library
Grades Pre-K-3 ages 4-9
Indi Next Book Sellers Recommendation
Winter 2020 Kids Indie Next List
Sylvia and Marsh Start a Revolution tells the story the phenomenal transgender LGBTQ ladies of color Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. The books describes the revolution that they started to provide food and housing for young transgender ladies that had no where to live. It kickstarts the Stonewall Riots in the 1960's.
Sylvia and Marsha are sisters that fought for equal rights for all person's that belongs to the LGBTQ community. The ladies were tired of hearing the phrase "Alice in the Blue Dress" which signified that the cops were coming. During this time in history cops could arrest transgender ladies at their discretion.
Picture book from The Chicago Public Library
Grades Pre-K-3 ages 4-9
Indi Next Book Sellers Recommendation
Winter 2020 Kids Indie Next List
Sylvia and Marsh Start a Revolution tells the story the phenomenal transgender LGBTQ ladies of color Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. The books describes the revolution that they started to provide food and housing for young transgender ladies that had no where to live. It kickstarts the Stonewall Riots in the 1960's.
Sylvia and Marsha are sisters that fought for equal rights for all person's that belongs to the LGBTQ community. The ladies were tired of hearing the phrase "Alice in the Blue Dress" which signified that the cops were coming. During this time in history cops could arrest transgender ladies at their discretion.
May 22, 2022
This is a sweet, short children's book that gives us a small glimpse into the lives of Silvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. These trans women were integral in the 1960s and 1970s LGBTQ+ revolution in the United States, and are now posthumously famous for the Stonewall riots in particular.
Something that bothers me about the predominant narrative surrounding these women, is it reduces them solely to Stonewall when their lives were so much more than that one (albeit important) moment in history. However, this book does not solely focus on the Stonewall riots which I deeply appreciate. It also commemorates Silvia and Marsha's life's work and the importance of providing a home and support for other transgender women and girls. It does still feel like it flattens the complex history and lives of these two in some ways, but as it's a short children's book I see why it can't delve into everything in detail. I just wish it had been a bit longer.
The illustrations in this book are adorable, and I love how it used the phrase "here comes Alice in the blue dress" and explained what this means to kids. This book is so necessary: we need to teach our children about the LGBTQ+ community and history, and I am so overjoyed to see that there are books like this being published.
Marsha and Silvia's lives were, and are, so important. They were queer, trans, sex workers, activists, community workers, and revolutionaries. It really is special how they can now be honoured not only by LGBTQ historians and LGBTQ adults, but also children. Thinking about them, and so many of our LGBTQ+ predecessors, makes me feel bittersweet. I wish they could see how much progress has been made and where we are now, but we also have so much work to do and in some ways I feel as if we're failing them. Our community owes them so much. We all owe them so much. And books like these are a crucial start.
CW: police, police brutality, transphobia
Something that bothers me about the predominant narrative surrounding these women, is it reduces them solely to Stonewall when their lives were so much more than that one (albeit important) moment in history. However, this book does not solely focus on the Stonewall riots which I deeply appreciate. It also commemorates Silvia and Marsha's life's work and the importance of providing a home and support for other transgender women and girls. It does still feel like it flattens the complex history and lives of these two in some ways, but as it's a short children's book I see why it can't delve into everything in detail. I just wish it had been a bit longer.
The illustrations in this book are adorable, and I love how it used the phrase "here comes Alice in the blue dress" and explained what this means to kids. This book is so necessary: we need to teach our children about the LGBTQ+ community and history, and I am so overjoyed to see that there are books like this being published.
Marsha and Silvia's lives were, and are, so important. They were queer, trans, sex workers, activists, community workers, and revolutionaries. It really is special how they can now be honoured not only by LGBTQ historians and LGBTQ adults, but also children. Thinking about them, and so many of our LGBTQ+ predecessors, makes me feel bittersweet. I wish they could see how much progress has been made and where we are now, but we also have so much work to do and in some ways I feel as if we're failing them. Our community owes them so much. We all owe them so much. And books like these are a crucial start.
CW: police, police brutality, transphobia
August 13, 2020
Easy to follow picture book that tells children the story of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera and the Stonewall Riots in a simplified version.
The illustrations were simple and effective, the text short, each page able to stand on its own, enabling even small children to understand what is happening.
I liked the extra resources at the end. There's a glossary, short extra biographies and event descriptions, as well as activities to do with children, from discussion prompts to building a protest sign or making a flower crown. While they seem to be more aimed towards guardians reading the book with children, it's written simply enough for children to follow on their own too.
The book also directly tells the reader that it's more of a retelling than a biography or historically accurate, being upfront about being only one retelling of the events.
I also thought it was good that the book encourages guardians to talk to children about gender and queerness without having to be experts about it, instead teaching them to be open to anyone.
What I found a bit curious was the choice of calling it Stonewall rebellion rather than Stonewall riots. I for one are much more familiar with them being called the latter.
While I appreciate the simplicity of the text and pictures, I also found them a bit disconnected. This might have been a deliberate choice to make this accessible to very young children, but to me it also felt like it traded away some of its overall coherence for that.
There were also some inconsistent choices, like stating the date of the beginning of the Stonewall Riots in the text without previously setting the story in a specific time or place at all.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
The illustrations were simple and effective, the text short, each page able to stand on its own, enabling even small children to understand what is happening.
I liked the extra resources at the end. There's a glossary, short extra biographies and event descriptions, as well as activities to do with children, from discussion prompts to building a protest sign or making a flower crown. While they seem to be more aimed towards guardians reading the book with children, it's written simply enough for children to follow on their own too.
The book also directly tells the reader that it's more of a retelling than a biography or historically accurate, being upfront about being only one retelling of the events.
I also thought it was good that the book encourages guardians to talk to children about gender and queerness without having to be experts about it, instead teaching them to be open to anyone.
What I found a bit curious was the choice of calling it Stonewall rebellion rather than Stonewall riots. I for one are much more familiar with them being called the latter.
While I appreciate the simplicity of the text and pictures, I also found them a bit disconnected. This might have been a deliberate choice to make this accessible to very young children, but to me it also felt like it traded away some of its overall coherence for that.
There were also some inconsistent choices, like stating the date of the beginning of the Stonewall Riots in the text without previously setting the story in a specific time or place at all.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
October 21, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for providing me an ARC via netgalley.
You know a book is fantastic when the minute you have read it, you go straight on over to waterstones and preorder yourself a copy.
This is the book that should be on the school curriculum. It manages to talk about transgender issues (I as a 30 year old woman learnt a lot of things I didn't know!) It has discussion points, and after the story and graphics it has a lot more information about the historical events.
I think everyone should read this as a base knowledge of the transgender revoluion, and then expand on knowledge!
You know a book is fantastic when the minute you have read it, you go straight on over to waterstones and preorder yourself a copy.
This is the book that should be on the school curriculum. It manages to talk about transgender issues (I as a 30 year old woman learnt a lot of things I didn't know!) It has discussion points, and after the story and graphics it has a lot more information about the historical events.
I think everyone should read this as a base knowledge of the transgender revoluion, and then expand on knowledge!
March 9, 2021
So glad to see these women recognized for their contributions to Stonewall and the Pride movement.
It's a loose biography, for certain, and neither the text nor illustration are anything to write home about, but the overall project is worth supporting and sharing. We need more LGBTQIA biographies for young readers!
It's a loose biography, for certain, and neither the text nor illustration are anything to write home about, but the overall project is worth supporting and sharing. We need more LGBTQIA biographies for young readers!
February 9, 2021
Like many other reviews, there is a difference between pairing down information for younger readers and telling inaccurate information. Disappointing.
Read
August 30, 2020I helped crowdfund this, and I think maybe the backer reward copy I got was essentially a pre-ARC? Since mine is softcover, doesn't have an ISBN, and also doesn't have the "glossary and activities" some other reviews mention.
The book opens with Sylvia and Marsha as friends, Marsha being generous to a homeless girl, and Sylvia saying, "We've got to do something for girls like us." This theme -- of their friendship and desire to help girls like them -- runs through the whole book.
The narrative straightforwardly refers to Sylvia and Marsha as transgender women -- which feels to me like a reasonable way to make them comprehensible to children of today.
I liked the repetition of the phrase "girls like us," since I assume it was an intentional echo of #GirlsLikeUs.
Unlike March With Marsha , which literally opens with, "June 28, 1969: Marsha P. Johnson is 25 years old, and today she celebrates her birthday. Happy birthday, Marsha!" this narrative has somewhat more plausible deniability -- with Marsha being greeted upon entering the Stonewall Inn with, "Happy birthday, Marsha!" and telling a policeman who asked for her ID, "Not on my birthday." Like, I could believe that's a playful way of speaking embedded in that particular queer culture.
However, this book repeats that book's ahistorical narrative device of placing them both at Stonewall the first night of the uprising -- and adds in a line about them freeing a bunch of their friends from a police van, which I think no one claims.
It also quickly pivots from the first night of the Stonewall uprising -- as if it lasted for only one night (even though one could easily gloss that time period without actually dwelling on it in the text) -- to the development of them providing housing for trans youth. I was bummed that they didn't actually name STAR (House). ( March With Marsha splits the difference in a different way -- saying, "Marsha and Sylvia start a new organization to help young people like themselves. They march and organize and stand up for queer people's rights," and showing them holding a banner that says, "Street Transvestites [sic] Action Revolutionaries.")
The coda at the end of the book includes:
The book opens with Sylvia and Marsha as friends, Marsha being generous to a homeless girl, and Sylvia saying, "We've got to do something for girls like us." This theme -- of their friendship and desire to help girls like them -- runs through the whole book.
The narrative straightforwardly refers to Sylvia and Marsha as transgender women -- which feels to me like a reasonable way to make them comprehensible to children of today.
I liked the repetition of the phrase "girls like us," since I assume it was an intentional echo of #GirlsLikeUs.
Unlike March With Marsha , which literally opens with, "June 28, 1969: Marsha P. Johnson is 25 years old, and today she celebrates her birthday. Happy birthday, Marsha!" this narrative has somewhat more plausible deniability -- with Marsha being greeted upon entering the Stonewall Inn with, "Happy birthday, Marsha!" and telling a policeman who asked for her ID, "Not on my birthday." Like, I could believe that's a playful way of speaking embedded in that particular queer culture.
However, this book repeats that book's ahistorical narrative device of placing them both at Stonewall the first night of the uprising -- and adds in a line about them freeing a bunch of their friends from a police van, which I think no one claims.
It also quickly pivots from the first night of the Stonewall uprising -- as if it lasted for only one night (even though one could easily gloss that time period without actually dwelling on it in the text) -- to the development of them providing housing for trans youth. I was bummed that they didn't actually name STAR (House). ( March With Marsha splits the difference in a different way -- saying, "Marsha and Sylvia start a new organization to help young people like themselves. They march and organize and stand up for queer people's rights," and showing them holding a banner that says, "Street Transvestites [sic] Action Revolutionaries.")
The coda at the end of the book includes:
There are many different versions of what happened the night of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion. This book is a retelling of one version of the events.Although this book, like March With Marsha , stays in the past, I feel like it gives readers a lot more to go on to encourage them to work for change in their own time -- or at least helps them understand better what the problems were of this particular part of the past (which better enables them to recognize those problems recurring in their present).
Some people say that Marsha was the first to protest that night. We know for certain she was not alone. You can find in this book pictures of Stormé DeLarverie and Miss Major Griffin-Gracie, two other Black women who were also in the Rebellion.
You can be like Sylvia and Marsha by sharing what you have and by demanding justice for everyone. You and your friends can start a revolution, too.
August 27, 2020
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Sylvia & Marsha Start a Revolution is an illustrated book about how Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson defied police intimidation and started the Stonewall Rebellion. Their inspirational story is delightfully illustrated in this gorgeous children’s book about sisterhood, community, and bravery.
This book was such a pace breaker for me. I don’t often read children’s books like this, but when I do it is so that I can find books for students at my school that are new to English, or for the tiny children that are in my life!
This book tells an important story that is often ignored in education, as there is a lack of LGBTQ+ history on the curriculum. The language is simple and accessible without diminishing the important message of tolerance and acceptance, which will help parents and teachers alike explain Marsha & Sylvia’s story in a simple and clear way. It also explains what it means to be transgender, which is a concept that isn’t openly and consistently explained in schools at the moment, and teaches children an important lesson on tolerance and acceptance.
The illustrations are full of diverse and interesting characters, with vibrant colours and beautiful clothes that will encourage young children to read and engage with this book. Marsha and Sylvia literally glow, which is one of my favourite parts of Silver’s illustration style.
There is a section at the end for educators and parents which includes follow up questions and activities which is a lovely touch. It allows parents the opportunity to further educate themselves while they engage and inspire their children.
A delightful children’s book that I will be buying for the little people in my life!
Sylvia & Marsha Start a Revolution is an illustrated book about how Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson defied police intimidation and started the Stonewall Rebellion. Their inspirational story is delightfully illustrated in this gorgeous children’s book about sisterhood, community, and bravery.
This book was such a pace breaker for me. I don’t often read children’s books like this, but when I do it is so that I can find books for students at my school that are new to English, or for the tiny children that are in my life!
This book tells an important story that is often ignored in education, as there is a lack of LGBTQ+ history on the curriculum. The language is simple and accessible without diminishing the important message of tolerance and acceptance, which will help parents and teachers alike explain Marsha & Sylvia’s story in a simple and clear way. It also explains what it means to be transgender, which is a concept that isn’t openly and consistently explained in schools at the moment, and teaches children an important lesson on tolerance and acceptance.
The illustrations are full of diverse and interesting characters, with vibrant colours and beautiful clothes that will encourage young children to read and engage with this book. Marsha and Sylvia literally glow, which is one of my favourite parts of Silver’s illustration style.
There is a section at the end for educators and parents which includes follow up questions and activities which is a lovely touch. It allows parents the opportunity to further educate themselves while they engage and inspire their children.
A delightful children’s book that I will be buying for the little people in my life!
October 5, 2020
This book is the story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson, the trans women of colour who were an integral part of the Stonewall Uprising and the ensuing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. This book has beautiful, vibrant artwork and is written in simple and engaging language. It is perfect for young readers.
The book covers the facts in a way that is suitable for young children. It shows two strong trans women standing up against transphobia, which is empowering for young trans kids to see, especially young trans girls of colour. It's also important for every child to see trans people, especially trans women of colour, in a positive light. After the story, the book includes some facts about Marsha and Sylvia, some discussion questions that parents can use with their children, and some activities for children to do to get started as activists. There is also an explanation about what it means to be trans, with some simple, accurate definitions. I was pleased to see that the book is inclusive of nonbinary people.
This book encourages kids to stand up for social justice. It sends the message that it is good to be yourself, and that it is important to stand up for marginalised people. It also includes the message that found family is important, which will be comforting for young trans people to see, as they are often at high risk of being rejected by their biological families.
This is a really positive, inclusive book that will help kids to understand trans people and learn about trans women of colour who are central to the LGBTQ+ community but often ignored.
The book covers the facts in a way that is suitable for young children. It shows two strong trans women standing up against transphobia, which is empowering for young trans kids to see, especially young trans girls of colour. It's also important for every child to see trans people, especially trans women of colour, in a positive light. After the story, the book includes some facts about Marsha and Sylvia, some discussion questions that parents can use with their children, and some activities for children to do to get started as activists. There is also an explanation about what it means to be trans, with some simple, accurate definitions. I was pleased to see that the book is inclusive of nonbinary people.
This book encourages kids to stand up for social justice. It sends the message that it is good to be yourself, and that it is important to stand up for marginalised people. It also includes the message that found family is important, which will be comforting for young trans people to see, as they are often at high risk of being rejected by their biological families.
This is a really positive, inclusive book that will help kids to understand trans people and learn about trans women of colour who are central to the LGBTQ+ community but often ignored.
January 3, 2021
There are a lot of things I liked about this book, with Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera being women who should be celebrated and respected as the main reason. However.... while the author acknowledges that this story is a version of what may have happened the first night of the Stonewall uprising, this version includes some of the less accepted possibilities of events. An afterword explaining other reported versions, including Marsha's, which contradicts some of this version, would be in order. I understand downplaying the two doing sex work and using drugs, as that isn't age appropriate, but their poverty, homelessness, and struggle feels glossed over. I get that this book centers on Marsha and Sylvia's friendship and their founding of STAR, but Stormé DeLarverie should have been mentioned more than just being included in an illustration. The glossary at the back doesn't relate very much to the story, but I did find its inclusion helpful. The activities at the back are unnecessary, but the resources listed are wonderful. I feel like the author's heart is in the right place, but missed the chance to make a great book for kids about Marsha, Sylvia, and the Stonewall Uprising, and made an okay book instead.
#SylviaandMarshaStartaRevolution #NetGalley
#SylviaandMarshaStartaRevolution #NetGalley
June 7, 2022
I liked this. Age appropriate clear cut telling of the incident with really excellent back matter including a glossary of terms about gender and additional information about the Stonewall Riots, the women themselves, and what life was like for transgender people in their day. Information for parents includes lots of resources, always good. The craft project suggestions seemed tacked on, but whatever, good back matter although oddly it didn't include author or illustrator bios which I kind of wanted.
The back matter does make it clear that history doesn't completely know exactly how and in what order the events transpired and what came first, but this is a version. I wish that was made more clear in the text itself, especially in a nonfiction book...it does bother me with events like this when a version is made canon if there are other versions of events. I did like that this was covered in the back matter and other names were mentioned.
Overall, this one was a winner. My eight year old and I shared it, he was very interested, it sparked conversation for us, and it's great to hear stories about the history of people whose history is often unrecorded.
The back matter does make it clear that history doesn't completely know exactly how and in what order the events transpired and what came first, but this is a version. I wish that was made more clear in the text itself, especially in a nonfiction book...it does bother me with events like this when a version is made canon if there are other versions of events. I did like that this was covered in the back matter and other names were mentioned.
Overall, this one was a winner. My eight year old and I shared it, he was very interested, it sparked conversation for us, and it's great to hear stories about the history of people whose history is often unrecorded.
July 27, 2020
This book is a short read, it's aimed at young children to introduce them to these well-known people in the transgender community,
The illustrations are full of character and are charming. There isn't a lot of text which is great for young readers. But there is a couple of pages of text for older readers, explaining in a few more details the story behind this piece of history. There is also a glossary of the terms used that people may not be familiar with.
I really like that there are discussions questions for adults to discuss with the child. It will really help them to understand what the book is about. There are also further resources that you can look at with your child and also more books for you to read.
At the end, there are two activities, one to make a protest sign with your child, and another to make a flower crown like Marsha. I think these are really great additions to the book.
The illustrations are full of character and are charming. There isn't a lot of text which is great for young readers. But there is a couple of pages of text for older readers, explaining in a few more details the story behind this piece of history. There is also a glossary of the terms used that people may not be familiar with.
I really like that there are discussions questions for adults to discuss with the child. It will really help them to understand what the book is about. There are also further resources that you can look at with your child and also more books for you to read.
At the end, there are two activities, one to make a protest sign with your child, and another to make a flower crown like Marsha. I think these are really great additions to the book.
February 22, 2024
I was really excited about this book but it fell short of expectations. I would love to see more children’s books about LGBTQ+ history but this felt like a very watered down version, even for a children’s book. There is a difference between making something accessible and age appropriate, and another to gloss over, water down, or even alter history to make it work. This made the Stonewall Riots seem like hardly a big deal and (as the author acknowledges at the end) this is a retelling of an alternate version of what happened that day.
The resources and glossary and everything included in the back were great. But it made the book feel very unbalanced. Slyvia’s and Marsha’s stories should be told and made accessible to people of all ages, but this particular story did not do justice to either of them, to the Stonewall Riots, or to the Revolution those riots started. This book had SO MUCH potential, but just didn’t get there.
🏳️🌈Rep: Black Trans Female, Latina Trans Female
The resources and glossary and everything included in the back were great. But it made the book feel very unbalanced. Slyvia’s and Marsha’s stories should be told and made accessible to people of all ages, but this particular story did not do justice to either of them, to the Stonewall Riots, or to the Revolution those riots started. This book had SO MUCH potential, but just didn’t get there.
🏳️🌈Rep: Black Trans Female, Latina Trans Female
August 4, 2020
I will never cease to be amazed by how straightforwardly beautiful and real Children's books are nowadays. Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution! is the story of two transgender women of color who started the Stonewall Riots. As any book for children, it simplifies the story, and even though it doesn't show the violence those women had to face, it hints at the threat the police posed at the time.
The illustrations are sweet and the style is very clear.
This book isn't only a story for children, it's also a resource for parents and educators that includes explanations and activity suggestions. The text for older readers makes it easier for adults to explain what the book is about without doing any additional research. There are also discussion questions for groups.
A fair warning, this book might help you raise a politically conscious child.
The illustrations are sweet and the style is very clear.
This book isn't only a story for children, it's also a resource for parents and educators that includes explanations and activity suggestions. The text for older readers makes it easier for adults to explain what the book is about without doing any additional research. There are also discussion questions for groups.
A fair warning, this book might help you raise a politically conscious child.
March 28, 2023
Sylvia and Marsha, two transgender girls, were best friends! Their families did not quite accept them at first, as well as other people in society, but they embrace their identities! Unfortunately, the police can arrest transgender girls if they are wearing dresses; but they strive to live in a world that is more accepting and embracing of differences. They opened their home to other transgender girls and took care of one another; they will continue fighting for their rights to help change the world!
I would really like to include this book in my classroom. I love how it adds a history lesson and information about the past at a level that young children can really understand! Even though getting arrested and the police are sensitive subjects in the book, it would be good to still have some exposure to these topics and have conversations about our thoughts on it.
I would really like to include this book in my classroom. I love how it adds a history lesson and information about the past at a level that young children can really understand! Even though getting arrested and the police are sensitive subjects in the book, it would be good to still have some exposure to these topics and have conversations about our thoughts on it.
July 28, 2020
Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 19th November 2020 - publication day!
I loved this book!!
I thought that this book was great and it is a brilliant introduction to Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson - brilliant people who started a revolution - the book is a great way to encourage children to want to know more about these fabulous and inspirational characters!
They were leading characters in the transgender community and the book is a great way to explain more about this to younger children. The images in the book really sited the story and brought it to lie for me - It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!
I loved this book!!
I thought that this book was great and it is a brilliant introduction to Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson - brilliant people who started a revolution - the book is a great way to encourage children to want to know more about these fabulous and inspirational characters!
They were leading characters in the transgender community and the book is a great way to explain more about this to younger children. The images in the book really sited the story and brought it to lie for me - It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!
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