TRANS: A MEMOIR

by Juliet Jaques

Jaques springboards off her Guardian blog, ‘A Transgender Journey,’ and brings to life her journey from a shy, unhappy boy in rural England, to a successfully transitioned woman, writer and transgender advocate (all labels she has issues using herself).

This is a difficult and personal story that is very well told.  Jaques’ style varies widely from conversational to historical, from intimate to political. She freely shares her breadth of knowledge about transgender history, media portrayal and politics, interwoven with the day-to-day heartache of trying to find her identity and share it with her friends, family and the world. This book expanded my view of the struggles and triumphs of transgender and transsexual people, and showed me a life very different from my own. 
 
There were moments she lost me a bit, as when her tone got too academic or her subject wandered too far from her own story, but overall it was well worth the read. (Lily)