• Age: 10 to 18
• Grade: 5 to 12
• Reading age: 10 to 18

What does it mean to be young and transgender today?

Growing Up Trans shares stories, essays, art and poetry created by trans youth aged 11 to 18. In their own words, the works illustrate the trans experience through childhood, family and daily life, school, their bodies and mental health. Together the collection is a story of the challenges, big and small, of being a young trans person. At the same time, it’s a toolkit for all young people, transgender or not, about what understanding, acceptance and support for the trans community looks like. In addition to the contributed works, there are questions and tips from experts in the field of transgender studies to challenge the reader on how to be a trans ally.

Growing Up Trans came out of a series of workshops held in Victoria, British Columbia, to bring together trans youth from across the country with mentors in the community.

Dr. Lindsay Herriot is a full-time inclusion/special education teacher in the Greater Victoria School District. She also works at the University of Victoria in several capacities, as an adjunct/sessional professor in both the Faculty of Education and School of Child and Youth Care and as a fellow at the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society. A cisgender, bisexual, white settler, Lindsay is originally from unceded Mi'kmaq territory in New Brunswick and is of Acadian, Scottish and Anglo heritage. She now lives on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen Peoples in Victoria, BC, with her spouse and two young children.

 

Lindsay Herriot's profile page

Kate Fry is a writer and editor currently living as a white settler on the unceded lands of the Lekwungen Peoples. Her writing has appeared in several publications, including Prism International, This Side of West, Bad Dog Review and The Albatross. She recently completed a BA with honors in English literature from the University of Victoria. Kate co-founded the Trans Tipping Point project in 2017 with her great friend and mentor, Lindsay Herriot.

 

Kate Fry's profile page

• Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Book Award (RMBA)
• Commended, Forest of Reading Yellow Cedar Award Honour Book
• Short-listed, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction
• Short-listed, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
• Commended, Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee Best Children's Books of the Year
• Commended, Ontario Library association (OLA) Best Bets
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection
• Short-listed, Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable Information Book Award
• Commended, BC Books for BC Schools

“Without a doubt, a necessary and groundbreaking book.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

“A vibrant collection…This book serves stereotype-busting diverse perspectives that are sure to resonate with many.”

School Library Journal (SLJ)

“These narratives are enlightening, heartbreaking, hopeful, haunting, raw, and real, and, all together, they create an overarching narrative that will be beneficial to young people and adults alike, and it is also a fantastic resource for parents, educators, and allies everywhere…A truly innovative, inclusive, and thoughtful resource...Growing Up Trans: In Our Own Words is not only important; it is essential.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“A vibrant collection...Engagingly designed with colorful page borders and backgrounds, the volume is a rich resource for youth (and adults), both trans and not, for understanding and supporting trans lives.”

Mombian

“Filled with hope, love, and anger, the collection engages innovatively with topics that include voice dysphoria, pronoun usage, and parental acceptance. Whether the tone is joking or heavy-hearted, the anthology amplifies and unites these often-ignored voices and is a startling testament to these kids’ resiliency.”

Quill & Quire

“Heartfelt and honest, this will be a valuable resource for trans readers hoping to see themselves and will help cis readers better understand their journeys.”

Booklist

“Sensitive and heartfelt…A sense of hope permeates these stories, and readers will root for their success. Middle and high school libraries should consider this title as a useful classroom resource for adults as much as for students.”

School Library Connection

“Many trans young people will see themselves reflected in these pages…A good recommendation for cisgender adults wishing to understand the experiences of trans youth...A valuable window in the world of trans young people.”

Kirkus Reviews