Continuum

Pocket Change Collective

by Chella Man, Ashley Lukashevsky (Illustrator)

Pocket Change Collective was born out of a need for space. Space to think. Space to connect. Space to be yourself. And this is your invitation to join us.

In Continuum, fine artist, activist, and Titans actor Chella Man uses his own experiences as a deaf, transgender, genderqueer, Jewish person of color to talk about cultivating self-acceptance and acting as one's own representation.

Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists.

What constructs in your life must you unlearn to support inclusivity and respect for all? This is a question that artist, actor, and activist Chella Man wrestles with in this powerful and honest essay. A story of coping and resilience, Chella journeys through his experiences as a deaf, transgender, genderqueer, Jewish person of color, and shows us that identity lies on a continuum -- a beautiful, messy, and ever-evolving road of exploration.

Genres: Nonfiction, Queer, LGBT, Disability, Transgender, Memoir, Audiobook

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Bogi Takács]

Tiny book (I almost missed it among the new LGBTQ+ books in the library), with a personal essay about being genderqueer, Chinese, Jewish and Deaf. It can be read very rapidly. Would've happily read three times this much with more detail about everything. I hope Chella Man will go on to write a lot more!
______
Source of the book: Lawrence Public Library

[Dr. Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Peguin Teen for an eARC of this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

No I definitely didn't finish this book with tears in my eyes and my heart in my throat.

Okay maybe I did...

I discovered Chella Man when I was researching contemporary queer icons and since I've found him, it's changed my life. Their TED talk was the first time I ever heard the word "genderqueer" and it sat in my brain niggling something I didn't know how to articulate until earlier this year.

In Continuum, Chella talks about his own experiences with gender identity, dysphoria, coming out and falling in love. I really hope Chella is giving more chances to write because this book was beautiful and powerful. I was able to listen along while reading my ecopy and Chella's narration was perfect! Loved it so damn much.

This book is not only educational, it is inspirational and I cannot recommend it enough along with the rest of the Pocket Change Collective!

[Reads With Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super short but well written little book about Chella’s journey to figure out who he is as a queer, trans, Deaf, biracial and Jewish person. I really appreciated this little book and hearing Chella’s perspective. Also side note I loved hearing about Chella’s mom! I have no complaints.

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seen the Pocket Change collective pop up on social media from time to time and I always think, this is such an incredible idea. Short stories about a person’s life to bring awareness. Each book is different, because each one is about a different path, life, and/or person.

Continuum is about Chella, an artist, activist, and actor. But his identity doesn’t begin or end with any of those things. It also isn’t because he is deaf, transgender, genderqueer, Jewish, or Chinese. It is an amalgamation of all of those things. None and all create the person... and all of them create his Continuum. Because our life is never ending and ever changing.

While I have never had any of the same experiences as Chella, I feel a kinship to the struggle he has faced for being himself. I would never claim to know what he’s gone through, but I read about a person who has fought to be accepted for being themself. And I find that both honorable and incredibly sexy.

[LilyElfgreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but powerful! As a deafqueer person, I loved reading about another deafqueer experience.

[Anne Smeets]

m’n e-reader ingewijd met tekst van most important trans masc representation i ever had hopla hopla 💖💖💖💖💖

[Natasha Niezgoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So grateful for Chella and his vulnerability!

I love that Chella and MaryV made art out of their story. I have been following Chella on Instagram for about a year now, and their love is so grounded and so honest. It was beautiful and sobering to listen to this audiobook. Highly recommend.

[Storm Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pocket book so it’s so cute and tiny… but there is so many feelings packed in to it. I loved reading Chella’s story. So much insight about being deaf, queer, and trans in such a little book. Amazing read!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd seen the Pocket Change Collective books before but never really picked one up until now. Continuum was as it says on the tin, very short but also just an awesome introduction or small look into Chella's life. I loved hearing about his experiences and all of the intersections of his identity. I'm eager to look more into his art and other work!

Also, they were right, can confirm it does fit into a pocket (at least a jacket pocket).

ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. #IndigoEmployee

[Katie Kaboom · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This book is small but it is mighty" indeed. Honestly, I would read a longer book by Chella too.

My perspective of this book as a CIS person doesn't really matter as i am not the demographic, however. The importance of this book is not lost on me. I am BLOWN AWAY how maturely, how LOVINGLY and Empathetic Chella goes on their approach to ignorance and those who "still don't get it" never once did Chella bash or hate on anyone, they just continued to work on themself. I can relate to that!

[Allyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had been born during any other era, my story would be different. The world would not be ready to understand with open hearts and minds. To this day, many still choose not to. But whether they choose ignorance or empathy is up to them. My story will still be here; it will never be erased.

A huge HUGE thanks to my friend Amanda for not only telling me about this new Pocket Change Collective book, but for also letting me borrow her copy!

This was absolutely amazing and it touched on a couple of things that I am still struggling with. I saw myself and scenes from my own life in Chella talking about his childhood and teenage years and the struggle he went through regarding his gender.

My entire childhood and most of my teenage years my hair was long. I wasn't allowed to get it cut because then I would look 'like a boy' and while as a child I was allowed to wear whatever I wanted, that changed with puberty. What I wanted to wear became discouraged.

I'm almost thirty now and my hair is finally at the length I've always wanted it to be. At the length that when I was finally able to make my own choices as an adult I hesitated to go to because of all the rewiring I had done to myself to fit in and to be seen as an 'adult woman'. The past few of years I've been unpacking a lot of things I tried not to think about and things I refused to acknowledge.

It's books like this and reading and seeing and finding people who feel the same way that I do, that has helped me so much. This is why representation matters. So that other kids and teenagers and adults don't have to feel alone or feel like the have to conform to something they are not.

And though I've spent this review talking about gender, Chella also talks about how his identity can not be encompassed by a single term. He talks about being Deaf and Jewish and Chinese and Pansexual.

My ethnicity. I am biracial. I am both Jewish and Chinese.

My gender. I am genderqueer, existing outside the binary of "boy" and "girl."

My disability. I am Deaf with access to some sound through two cochlear implants.

My sexuality. I am pansexual, loving beyond "straight" and "gay."

This is definitely a book that needs to be available everywhere. In fact, all the Pocket Change Collection books need to be available everywhere. In every classroom and every library and every home. These books are going to help so many people.

Above all, I've learned that I am continuously learning. I definitely do not have it all figured out. I doubt I ever will, and I am learning to be okay with that. We are all running on different frequencies and discovering ourselves at different moments.





Content Warnings:
Ableism, transphobia, and homophobia

If you ever believe that I have missed something or that I have put in a warning that you don't believe was in the book, please tell me. I am not perfect and am frequently reading multiple books at a time and therefore might make a mistake.

[Kelsea Yu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read quite a few of the Pocket Change Collective books and have been really impressed with them overall! This was no exception. Chella Man offers plenty of thoughtful insight and perspective. I appreciated the discussion of identity from the perspective of an author with many intersectional identities. Thank you Penguin Teen for providing an advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Healing too, lies on a continuum.”
Short but oh so sweet. Full of wonderful insights. A narrative that we need to see more of. As an interpreter, I will be making sure all my peers read this as well.

[London · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars if I could
I wanted so badly to fully enjoy this book as a long-time follower of Chella Man, yet I was never able to immerse fully. I understand the Pocket Change Collective series purpose is to serve as a small but mighty force, yet I feel as though for this story to be thoroughly told, it should not have been released as a short story. When I found myself getting entranced in the topic at hand, immediately the conclusion or resolution was presented, and the next topic was being showcased. I could not absorb the work deeply, understanding that in the next page or two, the book would prematurely move on. I love the concept that “All of who I am lies on a continuum,” yet after reading, I’m left disappointed and with the question of how can one adequately shove years of continuous experience and identities that cannot be confined to a single term In a short sixty-four pages?

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say, these terms are not far from how I would describe myself today—so good job, baby queer Chella! To this day, I still identify my sexuality as pansexual, but refrain from using gender-fluid. since educating myself seeing on queer terminology, my identity has evolved. I now use the term "genderqueer." For me, this translates as not subscribing to the gender binary but, rather, existing outside it.

Warnings: gender-dysphoria, ablism, transphobia

I'm so pleased I took a chance to buy and read Continuum. Chella Man has had a helluva life to this point, he has a lot of identities and wears them with pride. His story needs to be read and is potentially one that many young people will see a part of themselves in. It may inspire some readers to move beyond their disabilities and to reflect on their own feelings about their bodies. If this review encourages even one person to read it and gain some understanding of deafness or being genderqueer (or gender-fluidity) then I will be pleased. I will say his writing style is incredibly readable and I really hope that one day Chella decides to write a longer autobiography. As a disclosure, I am vaguely aware of who Chella Man is but I have never seen anything he is in (though Titans appeals to me) nor did I watch any of Chella's transition content. It is more than possible that most of the information in Continuum will already known to people who did follow his transition.

One of the first things that struck me about Continuum and Chella Man himself is his confidence to use and include his birth name, Rachel. It feels like it might come from a place of empowerment to include his birth name, an acknowledgement of that part of himself. However, Chella does not explain why he uses both names. There is a huge amount of pain that seeps off the page as he talks about the years he passed, the years he was desperately trying to be Rachel. This is balanced perfectly by the love and joy that shines through when he talks about MaryV. I really like her, that unquestioning acceptance of him is everything. I adore the way he speaks about his family, his mother and sister, Maya. The reflection in play when he discusses his mother made me smile, there was so much love there despite the misunderstandings.

An ASL speaker can feel free to correct me if I am entirely wrong. I think the ASL Chella Man is making on the cover is ILY and it is a really pretty cover too. I think Ashley Lukashevsky did a fantastic job with it. Ashley Lukashevsky only provides the cover illustration, the internal illustrations are all Chella's. They are beyond me a little I think, I feel like the change in them shows his development into becoming him. Some of them are stunning but I would love to know what some of the symbolism in them are. As I said beyond my ability to interpret, nor would I want to as a hearing, agnostic, cis, white woman.

To process discrimination throughout the years, I've found solace by following two steps: first, acknowledging where discrimination comes from, and second, preserving despite it. I acknowledge that discrimination often stems from ignorance. Although it stings to be misunderstood, others' ignorance does not always hold malicious intent.

Read for POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2024. Filling prompt #09 "A Book By A Deaf or Hard of Hearing Author" 🦻
This is shorter than I would have liked to use but I wanted to read something that layered limited hearing or deafness into a broader identity.

A representative gif:

[Alison Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sincerely hope Chella gets a hug or high-five or forehead kiss every single day because they deserve it.

This was a lovely and engaging experience, and I'm truly grateful to the author for sharing the story of their life and identities with us. I really believe that people who occupy multiple marginalizations are some of the most beautiful of G-d's children, because they teach us about possibility, complexity, difference, boldness, exploration, and so much more. And as someone who also holds a few marginalized identities, I know how scary and frustrating at times it can navigating a world that largely does not agree with my previous sentence. I liked moving along with Chella through their life story as we get to so them sort of figure themselves out and learn how to be each of their genuine selves. I also appreciated seeing how their parents clearly wanted to do right by their child, even if they didn't always fully hit the mark.

I listened to this on audio and the author narrates it themselves, and I thought they did a great job. Just the right amount of emoting and inflection, and at times you can almost hear their past vulnerabilities and uncertainties coming through in their voice. Very honest and open.

I do wish this were just a liiiiittle bit longer because there were a few portions where I would have loved a bit more depth. If Chella ever wants to write a full-length memoir, I would definitely read it.

[Selene Velez · Rating 5 out of 5]

*thank you to penguinteen for a copy of this ARC*

5⭐️

"Continuum" is such a wonderful Own Voices story that I binged in under an hour. As a cis-woman and also someone of mixed race, reading Chella's story gave me insight into a world that I've never even considered existing. To be genderqueer, biracial, and Deaf in America is not easy, and Chella explained both the difficult and beautiful parts of his life so perfectly, it felt like I was experiencing alongside him. My favorite quote has to be "The truth is, identity isn't a monolith. It exists on a continuum, reflecting our own specific experiences and personhood" (25). Chella's existence is beautiful, and I can't wait to see what he continues to do in the future!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as an audiobook

I am LOVING the Pocket Change Collective. So far, they are well-written, emotional, and digestive young adult educational nonfiction that suck me right in as much as educate me. The authors acknowledge their experiences while empowering others. Chella Man does this in abundance, diving into the layers of their genderqueer, deaf, pansexual, and Chinese/Jewish identities. The most surprising, for me, being the layers within the deaf community, specifically relating to those who are hard of hearing and need implants versus those who use sign language. The author explains each of the identities in a way that is stating the facts, not preaching. But there is enough emotion behind it to let you know what they have to say matters and needs to be heard.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book! It is as advertised — it is a short book about Chella Man’s identity; its intersectionality, complexity, and all. I would rate this book 3.5 stars. The reason I would not give it more is because of the writing style. While it does make sense to have a personable, simple writing style for such a book, I feel like the author could have added a little more flair to it. This certainly reveals my own bias towards more artful, complex writing, of course. The author does emphasise the necessity of accessibility of diverse voices, so the stylistic choice certainly makes sense in context. All in all, this was a good read to start off the year.

[Debo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made me cry on public transport.
Do with this what you like, but I can tell you that I feel deeply inspired and empowered by Chella and his story. And while our circumstances differ, I still feel incredibly seen. This little book is not supposed to present you with a solution or instructions on how to embrace yourself, but it documents one Deaf, Jewish, Chinese, transgender, genderqueer’s journey and makes Chella’s perspective more transparent and friends, I felt it was incredibly hopeful and reassuring!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chella begins their story at a very early age and moves quickly to just after college graduation. They share their negative experiences, being assigned female at birth & struggling with identity, being deaf, Chinese and Jewish all while growing up in central PA. Chella did have many advantages however, having both of their parents being doctors, being financially secure and having a very loving family. Chella Man shares their positive and inspiring story in an open and honest recounting of the challenges of finding their identity.

[Ditte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75

Nice, short biography from Chella Man. Definitely interesting to hear about his life and struggles, most of which he's seemingly used to learn positive lessons and understand himself better. Great view into how identity is a continuum and ever-changing, and how being Chinese, Jewish, trans, genderqueer, and deaf later in life has made it hard for Chella to find where he fits in.

It's my first book by Pocket Change Collective and I understand these are meant to be short, but it felt a bit like it could've been an article instead

[aiden :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is 100% a me problem but I don’t get biography-type books. like, I appreciate the concepts and things Man presented. I liked the concept of identities within a continuum. I liked that it was short. I do not, however, understand the point of this book. and I am DEEPLy sorry for that. I’m giving it four stars because it is not the book’s fault that I don’t understand nonfiction, it is purely my own.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Continuum, Chella Man talks about his journey to figure out who he is as a Trans , Queer, Deaf and biracial person.

This is a short read but super important.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author himself. I really loved hearing everything about his life.

Thank you PRHA for the complementary audiobook.

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but powerful

This little book was about Chella Man and his experience as a deaf, biracial, trans, genderqueer person who grew up in conservative Pennsylvania. We read how he was able to learn more about himself and grow after moving to New York.

As a genderqueer person myself I found parts of his journey relatable and this tugged on my heart strings a bit

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this book, from the topic to the art included. This is the book about intersectional identity I want every single human to read. I think this is my favorite Pocket Change Collective book so far.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't already familiar with Chella Man when I started listening to the audiobook of Continuum. It's only about an hour long, but it's very well put together and the author does a great job of performing it. Life's a journey and Chella's journey isn't over yet.

[Corn Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never written in a book before but there's a first time for everything. I had so many thoughts and cried for an hour after. One of my notes at the end was "is this what it feels like to be perceived?" another was "wowowow" I'm going to think about this book the rest of my life. A short read but one I'll repeat and plan on sharing with the people in my life.

[Jas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate the whole pocket change collective series, and this is easily one of my favorites. A must read for so many reasons.

[Kai Metcalfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, honest summary of queer self discovery, finding community, importance of representation. Loved that the author's family was supportive and reflective!