The risk it takes to bloom On life and liberation

In a deeply moving memoir, journalist and activist Willis chronicles the hurdles of being a Black, transgender woman from a Catholic family in Georgia. Her journey is divided into four periods of growth: "Rooting," "Budding," "Tilling," and "Blooming." She recounts moments of loneliness amidst the affection from her parents and grandmother, even trying to "pray my queerness away." Eventually, she convinces her father to let her grow out her hair into an afro--an expression of both her Blackness and gender identity. Later, she finds solace and strength with others in the LGBTQ+ community at college, though her father's death creates another whirlpool of grief. Willis details her experiences with coming out in the workplace, homophobia, violence, representation in the media and so, so much more. In between chapters of her life, she writes letters to those who have influenced her, such as Chyna Gibson, a Black, trans woman who was killed in New Orleans. Willis' voice shines in this poignant debut, which is nothing short of inspirational.

Journalist Willis debuts with an amiable chronicle of her transformation as a Black trans woman and her activism on behalf of the trans community. Willis recounts navigating racism and homophobia in her middle-class community in Augusta, Ga., in the 2000s, and the pain of coming out as gay to her Catholic family. It was not until after she found a queer community at the University of Georgia and began performing in drag contests that she felt empowered to come out to her friends and family as a trans woman and medically transition. After graduation, she worked as a journalist at the Monroe Chronicle in Georgia and became concerned about the epidemic of violence against Black trans women across the country, motivating her to reveal her trans identity at work and in professional circles (her colleagues were unaware that she had transitioned) and organize trans activism within the Black Lives Matter movement. She has since become one of the nation's leading trans activists, coming to prominence after she gave speech at the 2017 National Women's March in Washington, D.C. This pleasantly conversational memoir mixes somber activism and youthful levity, combining glittering details of a buoyant social life with sorrowful reflections on violence against trans people. It's an inspiring account. (Nov.)

A Black transgender activist recounts her journey to political and personal self-discovery. During her childhood in Augusta, Georgia, Willis felt supported and loved. Her older sister, Jessica, was like a second mother to her, and she knew she could rely on her brother, Chet, for protection and unflagging support. Things began to change when she thought that she was gay, an identity that was forbidden by her family's mostly white, and sometimes racist, Catholic congregation. After coming out to her mother and father--both of whom eventually accepted her--Willis enrolled in college at the University of Georgia. There, she was exposed to drag culture and began performing as a drag queen. These performances, combined with her relationship with a trans man, helped the author realize that she was not a gay man, but a trans woman. "It was affirming," she writes, "to have a trans boyfriend in this early era of my gender transition," she writes, and he became "a haven" for her. Unfortunately, she was not able to come out as a trans woman to her father, who died prematurely. During the time that she began to tell her family about her trans identity, Willis took on leadership roles in several campus LGBTQ+ organizations, a decision that would foreshadow her future career as a journalist and activist. The decision to be a part of these clubs felt fraught, though, as Willis felt she was forced to choose between her Black and queer identities, a pattern that would follow her throughout her life. The author's sociopolitical analysis is well layered, and her frankness and vulnerability render her voice intriguingly endearing. Although her prose oscillates between clumsy and lyrical, the book's fundamental elements are strong, suggesting even more sophisticated work to come. A promising debut memoir from a young activist with an already impressive career. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.