Book Review
A short overview of this book
First Year Out: A Transition Story is an entertaining (and humorous) story of the author’s own experiences as a trans woman. It’s also a graphic novel, which means it uses a combination of words and pictures to tell the story. I really enjoyed this book, and I think that parents of a transgender child would find it helpful in understanding their child’s journey.
This is what the Publisher has to say about this book…
From laser hair removal and coming out to her parents, through to dating, voice training and gender reassignment surgery, this intimate and witty graphic novel follows the character of Lily as she transitions to living as her true, female self. Providing support and guidance on a range of issues such as hormones, medical procedures and relationships, the story traces the everyday thoughts, emotions and struggles many trans and non-binary people face and seeks to empower those who are starting to question their gender as well as promoting wider discussion about the complexities of gender and identity. Based on the author’s own experiences as a trans woman, this honest and powerful work is a testament to being who you are and a celebration of gender diversity.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 10 to 18 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of First Year Out: A Transition Story by Sabrina Symington from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, where I’m here to help parents have those important conversations about love, sex, and relationships with their kids. Today, I want to talk about a really cool book I came across called First Year Out: A Transition Story by Sabrinne Symington. It’s a graphic novel that explores the journey of transitioning gender.
Now, I used to call these kinds of books comics, but nowadays they’re called graphic novels. Funny how things change, right? Anyway, I want to assure you that despite the word graphic in the title, it’s not sexually explicit. It’s actually quite eye-opening and insightful.
One thing I really appreciated about this book is that it not only follows the main character, Lily, on her transition journey, but it also includes the perspective of her mother. It shows how she tries to be supportive, even though she may not fully understand everything at first. There’s a powerful moment towards the end where Lily is getting ready for surgery, and her mother has a realization that she has been seeing Lily as a girl all along. It’s a beautiful message of acceptance and growth.
The book also touches on some lighter moments and even adds a bit of humor. It talks about Lily’s experience before and after surgery, how she had to relearn her body and adjust her thinking. It also shares the stories of other individuals and their struggles, including their experiences with being sexually active.
As a parent, I can imagine how valuable this book would be if you have a transgender child or teenager. It provides insight and understanding into what they might be going through, helping you become a better parent and support them fully. It’s all about making them feel loved, wanted, and like they truly belong.
Just a heads up, there aren’t any explicit pictures in the book, so you don’t have to worry about that. But there’s plenty of interesting and informative content that will keep you engaged. I personally found it to be a lovely book, and I highly recommend it to any parents navigating the journey of having a transgender teen or young adult.
Well, that’s all I wanted to share with you today before I return the book to the library. Thanks for tuning in, and take care!
