American teenager How trans kids are surviving hate and finding joy in a turbulent era

A tender and informative narrative told from the perspective of transgender and nonbinary teenagers. Prolific and award-winning LGBTQ+ reporter and editor Lang documents the lives of eight American teenagers in a deeply informative and moving chronicle of their constant fight for equal human rights. Drawing from conversations and hundreds of hours of interviews with nonbinary, transgender, and gender-nonconforming youth and their respective families and communities, Lang invites the audience to hear from the sources themselves: kids who are experiencing what it means to be a trans individual in the U.S. today. Lang gives them the spotlight to tell their often difficult but also joyful experiences in the ongoing struggle for their identities and human rights. Emphasizing the importance of sharing their stories, Lang writes, "Every transgender child should get the chance to be spoiled rotten. America would be a better place if all its teenagers were so lucky." Noting the multiple bills proposed to make trans individuals' lives harder and more dangerous, Lang evokes a strong sense of urgency and importance in shifting the perspective on what it means to be a trans teenager in the current heated political climate. The right-wing narrative often depicts nonbinary and trans individuals as villains, when they are really just trying to make space for themselves and fight for their right to exist peacefully. Lang ends on a resonant and important note, "All of our lives are fuller when transgender kids have the freedom to grow up happy and healthy, to greet the universe on their own terms, to not only tell us who they are but also show us." A necessary and compassionate collection of stories that is a must-read for anyone looking to expand their horizons. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.