Transitions: Our Stories of Being Trans

by Danielle Hopkins, Meg-John Barker (Foreword), Yvy De Luca (Foreword)

A visionary, moving and one-of-a-kind anthology of writing on what it means to be trans today and every day.

From the daily bite of anxiety as you go to leave the house, to the freedom found swimming in the wild, through to moments of queer rage and joy and the peculiar timeslip of reliving your adolescence, the stories in this collection reveal the untold lived realities of trans people to help inform, inspire and unite. Spanning a range of topics such as gender dysphoria, transphobia, chest binding, gender reassignment surgery, coming out in later life, migration and love and relationships, these unique first-person accounts celebrate the beauty and diversity of being trans and will empower others on their journey.

Showcasing eight new exciting trans writers, this extraordinary collection is a powerful and heartfelt love-letter to the trans community.

Genres: Nonfiction, Queer, LGBT, Essays, Short Stories, Anthologies, Gender

112 pages, Paperback

Published May 17, 2021

Reviews

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far one of the best anthologies of trans writing I have read so far (and I have read quite a few at this point). It’s quite short but the quality and diversity and frankly importance of these stories easily makes up for that. New comfort book. Already looking forward to rereading this one.

[MossyMorels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. Trans narrative often falls into talking about tragedy and all the worst parts of living as trans. This book doesnt. This book is about the mundane and the moments of joy that come with daily trans life. Im an artist currently working on a collection about trans joy and will definitely be taking inspiration from this collection. All of the writing is gorgeous, it is rare to read an anthology without atleast one story that isnt a flop. This book is def quality over quantity.
I do wish it was more diverse it was largely written from the nonbinary trans masc experience.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The collection is short but so important and contains some real gems. This is full of wonderful reads and a book that I'd recommend to members of the trans community who are looking for comforting writing and to those outside of the community wishing to look for something more than a ‘guide to’. These individual voices and stories which share the everyday of trans life are organised carefully each is unique and full of joy and warmth. This is one of the most powerful And life affirming books I’ve ever read. Thoroughly recommended to everybody

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Crazytourists_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of essays on the trans experience and daily life. Equally important for members of the trans community, as they'll see themselves and identify and hopefully feel less lonely and strange, and for the cis readers, as they'll get an idea of the difficulties and joys of trans people and they (we) will hopefully learn something: kindess and acceptance is all that's needed.

[Kyle Ginsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

good, cute, and short— read in one sitting. sometimes a bit ridiculous but mostly very sweet and real

[Jellybean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just such a joy to read. Trans joy, the embodied experiences of trans people, trans community, trans solidarity, trans resilience. The last story by Ezra Woodger brought me to tears. That moment of seeing someone like you, bringing clarity to your reason for resistance—to the space you demand this life affords you and the people that come after you—it’s so powerful.

This is a short volume. There are 8 stories of a total of 74 pages. But I much prefer quality to quantity and the writing and authenticity in these pieces is consistent and beautiful throughout. Along with the Ezra Woodger piece, I felt especially connected to the writing of Danielle Hopkins, Edward Whelan and Tash Oakes-Monger.

If you’re trans or non-binary and looking to see yourself reflected back to you, I highly recommend this volume.

Note: I was fortunate to receive an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very short collection of essays centred around the everyday experience of being trans. Considering it’s a little over 112 pages, this collection packs a lot in, running across various themes throughout and capturing a range of different voices. Books like this are incredibly important – on the one hand, for trans folks, it shows moments they will likely identify with, a reminder that they are not alone (I hope!), and for others, it’s a glimpse into trans lives, but more broadly, it’s humanity across these pages, moments we can all recognise in one form or another.

Some feel thoughtful, planned, the writer puzzling over exactly what to write, while others feel more like a stream of consciousness. Moments of anxiety, rage, joy, beauty – all contained in a small package. These voices are placed carefully beside one another, each fresh and unique. It’s not a long read, yet it’s one of the most impactful books I’ve read for a while.

Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.

[Erika Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't mind, would you be able to check out my blog. I post book reviews on there and we have discussions on my Instagram - thank you!

Bottles of Books
This book has been kindly gifted to me by NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Transitions: Our Stories of Being Trans by Various Authors is a short collection of trans joy and non-binary joy experiences attempting to stray away from the over emphasised narrative of trans and non-binary trauma and the over medicalisation of the trans experience. Comprising of 8 short anthropologies, the authors express their everyday experiences and the small events that make them feel loved, happy and comfortable in their identities.

I was really excited to read this book as I don’t think there’s been many books I’ve read, either fiction or non-fiction, which purely homes in on trans and non-binary people, so to be able to read these 8 gems of some people’s experience was really refreshing. I loved the focus on trans and non-binary joy and how heart-warming the stories felt – just a pure expression of love and joy in the face of discrimination, lack of government support and funding and a rise in trans misinformation rhetoric.

The writing of these were all beautiful, which is definitely a bonus! Some of the authors, most notably Ezra Woodger, whose anecdote resonated with me, moved me with their gorgeous writing and eloquent expression of trans resilience.

The only drawback I found was how short it is, which I think is reflected in the fact that most of the stories seemed to be from a more trans masc non-binary perspective instead of being perhaps a little more diverse. However, these collections could likely be published every year with new authors, so I’d love to see this project expanded further.

Overall, this is a lovely little book to read, especially if you’re discovering your gender identity at the moment. I think its expected to talk about the hardships of being non-cis and non-heterosexual, but the beauty of these stories is they acknowledged their pain, trauma and negative experiences and still chose to focus on pure trans joy.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sound book, enjoyed it, sped through it because it was only diddy. I do always enjoy a book that has short extracts written by lots of people, gives a really nice selection of points of view on a topic. It also gave it the hard hitting contrast between anecdotes, switching between going to the chippy with the people you love to being spat at in the street and assaulted. There's a weight to the comparison between normality and that.

It did get a bit wanky at times, in some of the descriptions and story telling it was too abstract and soul searching and that just doesn't do it for me. Most storied tred the line right though, and focused on sweet loving and sometimes heartbreaking.

As a cis person reading it, it can be so easy to forget your privilege. To not have to experience a world where everything about you, every part of your body, how you look, dress, act, speak, live, has got gender attached to it, and the dysphoria or euphoria that can come attached with that.

The theme that ran all the way through it had to be the community though. To seek out or stumble across other trans and queer people and the value of building those communities. In creating safe spaces, spending time with people who understand, and see you for who you are, beyond being trans. The day to day normality of existing as a trans person.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

This is a really great essay collection. It's full of trans and non-binary joy. It acknowledges that there are hardships that come with living outside the gender binary but it focuses on queer love and joyous moments. My favorite essays were "An Eagle at Sunset" and "My Amazing Mostly Monochrome Dreamcoat."

There were only two things I slightly disliked about this collection. 1, it is rather short; there are only eight essays. I would have preferred a ninth essay rather than lined pages in the back to write my own since I could write such a thing anywhere if I were so inspired. and 2, it was written during the pandemic with many essays referencing that and I'm afraid it will date itself quickly because of that.

Overall I think this is a great collection and an important addition to trans literature.

[Zoë Jackson-Newbold]

Much writing on trans & non-binary experiences focuses on trauma or the medical aspects of (some people's) transition. In 'Transitions' this narrative is challenged, as the contributors share stories of joy, resilience, and community.

The collection is short but thoughtfully collated, containing some real gems. A wonderful read that I'd recommend to members of the trans community seeking nuanced, comforting writing and to those outside of the community wishing to look beyond 'trans 101' texts for more individual stories of trans life and joy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily]

This is a super interesting collection. It's filled with stories of trans joy, which we don't see nearly enough of, and I really appreciated reading from perspectives that are so different from my own.

I absolutely loved a few essays in this collection, but at about the halfway point, I ended up DNFing it. Maybe (almost definitely) it was because I just wasn't in the right headspace at the time to give these essays the attention they deserved, but some of them just felt a little underdeveloped and I wasn't vibing with the writing anymore. I may circle back to this collection when I'm in a better, more receptive place!

[Kris Rowland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverse collection of trans personal histories that tries to broaden the trans narrative. From the everyday to the inspirational to the heartbreak it's a gorgeous collection, that is so well written. I was excited to read on. I just wish it was longer. Maybe see some of these writers novels someday.

[Áine Dougherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

(does it really count for my reading challenge if I read it in an hour in a library on vacation?? feels like cheating…)
nuanced, vulnerable, liberating short stories. one thing I’m taking away from this book is how individual (but also social) experiences of gender are. loved learning from the insights and lives of the authors. now I’m ready to venture into more nonfiction, perhaps…?

[Maxwell Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little anthology - I only wish it were longer! But I'm biased, I could read stories from other trans people all day. It's refreshing to hear stories about mundanity and daily life, because that's the true reality. The hard stuff and the good stuff comes and goes, but the boring stuff is forever.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet little anthology about the real lives of transgender people across the spectrum. I especially favored the final story, but maybe that's just cause I'm a transgender man named Isaac.
I am hoping to own this book eventually, it felt really nice to read in a world that is so hostile against the people who break the binary.

[Alison Fiona Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and uplifting. Trans stories about everyday trans experiences. A comforting book made special not only because of the entries themselves but also because there is a space at the end for you to write in your own experiences. This was an excellent library find.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated being able to read stories that were about small moments and everyday experiences. Many stories seem to focus on the deepest traumas. Each story was thoughtful and poignant in its own unique way. An excellent collection of newer authors!

[Jensvdpp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eight stories of different trans people which were all super different. Focussing on joy and struggle and pain but it didn’t feel too heavy. There was a general positive feeling to it which I appreciated. The first story was very very beautifully written. Would recommend! :)

[Cleo Exters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the best books I’ve read about being trans. Rarely have I felt so seen, I feel like everyone should read this, queer or not, to try to understand one another a little better. I feel like I could talk about this book forever but I’ll leave it like this. 10/10.

[Ollie Sherwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i cried a lot

[charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - beautiful anthology of trans/queer/neurodiverse stories :)

[Oli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope this sparks a thousand more anthologies

[Azucena GG · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about these stories, how people feel and what they think of being a Trans person. I wish the stories would have had more passion and bluntness in the narrative.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[may · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure queer power and affirmation. No words could explain or expand on how moved I felt by this.

[el · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous. I cried at 3 separate points reading this anthology, so much of it really hit home and I resonated deeply. Really moving

[Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particularly enjoyed "Walk in My Shoes" by Kirrin Medcalf and "Banana" by Harry Mizumoto.

[Meg Parbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟

[Rai FG · Rating 5 out of 5]

A balm for the soul.