Rethinking gender An illustrated exploration

Through conversational prose paired with whimsical, softly colored illustrations and journaling prompts, this primer, an uncredited German translation by the author, provides an interactive exploration of gender. Appearing as themself in illustrated form, Läuger, a White author and artist, eases into an in-depth discussion of gender with a personal introduction and gentle encouragement. Five chapters that include blank spaces for writing self-reflections focus on the topics of sex assigned at birth, gender as a social construct, gender identity, gender expression, and coming out. Läuger emphasizes the impacts of privilege and various forms of marginalization, cultural context, and capitalism as they explain each concept and define key terminology. For example, Läuger breaks down the flaws of a binary system for categorizing bodies and includes refreshingly central representation of intersex people. Repetition and references to other examples within the book help connect significant ideas without feeling redundant. Doodled graphics and expressive illustrations of people varying in skin tone, body type, and gender expression play an important role in the approachable and engaging tone that encourages curiosity and vulnerable self-reflection. While the varied and playful layouts mostly succeed in maintaining momentum, there are moments of distracting messiness. The longest chapter, devoted to gender identity, comes to life with the voices and perspectives of individuals who shared their experiences with Läuger. Acknowledging and embracing the complexities of gender, the conclusion provides resources for further reading and suggests ways for readers to continue examining their biases. Empathetic and inviting. (Graphic nonfiction. 14-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.