j wallace skelton

A fantastic resource for both transgender and cisgender people alike. Transphobia: Deal with It and Be a Gender Transcender packs a lot into a small book, from a 101 introduction to being transgender, to human rights information and statistics, to what to do if you witness transphobia, to how to cope with transphobia and take care of yourself.

There are fun quizzes and exercises throughout that put readers through hypothetical scenarios -- a substitute teacher who refuses to use someone's chosen/correct name, a friend who is asking increasingly personal and invasive questions. These are, unfortunately, not uncommon. I hope that by walking kids through these scenarios -- by giving them suggested reactions and allowing them to think about how they would behave in these situations -- this book will empower them to take action in a way that they feel comfortable and confident doing.

And, of course, there's plenty of information, including sobering statistics, that are important to know about as well. This book contains a great blend of information, support, and advice.

I also appreciate the mention of being Two Spirit. I wish there had been more of a discussion on that, since it's something that I often see coopted or misunderstood, but I'm glad it was included in this book. It was also nice to see people of different races depicted, as well as people with disabilities.

Overall, a very well-done, comprehensive book about challenging rigid gender norms and refusing to accept bullying and discrimination.… (altro)

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: N/A
Recommended: Recommended
Level: 6th grade to 12th grade

“Transphobia: Deal with it and be a gender transcender,” is written by educator J. Wallace Skelton and illustrated by Nick Johnson. This nonfiction titles explores transphobia, what it is, what forms it can take, and how to ‘deal with it.’ The information within is very concise and straight to the point with great accompanying illustrations that will catch the reader’s eye.
There are a few minor issues with the title. First, there are portions of the text which require the reader to turn the book upside down, which seemed very unnecessary. Second, there are two quizzes which do not give or explore ‘correct’ answers, instead leaving it up to the reader’s interpretation, when in fact the book could have given examples of acceptable responses. The book is incredibly short, with only 32 pages, and so it is unlikely it will meet any standards for use as a resource in school papers or projects.
Despite its brevity, it works well as a starting point on the topic of transphobia, and has a list of resources on the last page for reader’s to explore. I would recommend this this title as a gateway to the topic.… (altro)

Transphobia: Deal with It and Be a Gender Transcender by J Wallace Skelton is a short book but full of much needed info, unfortunately. This book is made for middle school and up. It starts by letting the reader know what trans gender is and what it isn't then what the transphobia is. There are multiple examples of transphobia behavior, those blatant and those subtle that seem harmless. The book gives quizzes then discusses the section at the end. Myths are also discussed. The book is great for those that are trans and those that are not. This book gives info so all can be educated and safe. Great pictures to bring home the point. Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.… (altro)