Want to know what Christmas present to get the bookworm in your life? Look no further…
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGES BY THE FEMINIST PRESS, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS AND RANDOM HOUSE
As it gets colder, nothing quite beats snuggling up on the couch with a good book. They also make excellent Christmas presents – something that can be used over and over again, is often relatively cheap and phenomenally easy to wrap.
Books with trans characters and/or by trans authors don’t always make the “What should I buy a bookworm?” lists but there are so many that are sure to fit the bibliophile in your life. Here’s our list of brilliant trans books to buy this holiday season…
For the budding witch – The Sapling Cage
Margaret Killjoy’s trilogy Daughters Of The Empty Throne is an incredible series, just like its first book. The Sapling Cage follows Lorel, a trans girl who has always dreamed of becoming a witch, despite the hate and disdain with which society treats them. When her best friend is claimed by a coven, Lorel assumes her identity and takes her place. Can she prove witchcraft is not the blame for the mysterious plague swarming the kingdom? And who can Lorel truly be herself around?
For the history buff – Female Husbands
We all know that trans people have existed forever, but they are conspicuously absent from the history books. Jen Manion’s book aims to correct that. Focusing on the lesbians and trans men who lived as authentically as they could from the Regency era to the First World War. In spite of the dangers, these people lived as men and married women and formed an important part of LGBTQIA history.
For the autobiography fan – I’m Afraid Of Men
Trans author Vivek Shraya powerfully unpacks all the ways toxic masculinity has shaped her life. It starts with her memories of school and the way bullies attacked her femininity and used the idea of girlhood as a weapon. By the end, Vivek opens up about how her outwardly feminine traits were still controlled by cisgender men and the internal struggle between keeping herself safe and living freely.
For the photographer – To Survive On This Shore
Jess T. Dugan and Vanessa Fabbre travelled across the United States, photographing and interviewing older trans people. These snapshots are glimpses into the fabulous and well-lived lives of the trans community from coast to coast. The book explores the intersection of gender identity and age, with stories spanning the last 90 years.
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