Graphic Novels with Trans/Gender Queer Rep

Graphic novels immerse readers in a visual and verbal world. The fact that they are quick reads also make them great to reread, so they soon get imprinted on my mind. I’ve been glad to find a number of graphic novels — memoirs to fantasy — that feature trans and gender-queer characters. Comics are a great way to get such characters in the hands of kids and teens, whether those readers are gender non-conforming and need to know they are not alone or they are being introduced to the idea that gender is not binary. Some of these books have been challenged by bans, which only makes me more determined to help get these wonderful books into the hands of kids who need them.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (2018)

A book with a lighter touch to begin with. Prince Sebastian’s parents are searching for his bride. He’s not interested. Instead Sebastian spends his evenings sneaking out of the castle dressed as Lady Crystallia in elaborate gowns made by his friend Frances. Frances has dreams of her own, but keeping Sebastian’s secret means that she is missing out on acclaim for her dress designs. Both search for acceptance and recognition.

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe (2019)

Kobabe (e/em/eir) has created a searingly personal book as eir attempt to explain to others eir journey through gender and sexuality. Honest and touching, this book looks at how challenging it is for a kid not to fit into the stated norms.

The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson (2019)

Johnson perfectly captures the emotional highs and lows of middle school with an ensemble cast. A group of kids are on a soccer team and are very bad at playing soccer. They persist and build friendships along the way. Though gender is not the main focus here, one of the characters comes out as trans and is embraced by the team.

Magical Boy series by The Kao (started 2022)

Max is from a long line of Magical Girls with powers that keep humanity safe from the forces of evil. Mom’s all ready to show Max the ropes (cue the training montage) as Max’s powers begin to emerge. The problem? Max is a trans boy. I loved how this book let Max figure out how to both honor his family traditions and be true to himself.

Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure by Lewis Hancock (2022)

Hancock depicts his high-school years, during which he was figuring out his gender identity. Adult Lewis converses with the characters in the past, adding humor to this tale of his sometimes-painful journey. My kid was particularly struck by how hard it was in England just to get puberty blockers.