If you’re looking for a queer self-help book that’s both heart-warming and full of love…this is for you!
This was a quick and lovely read, the kind of book that presents itself as both a hug and an encouragement. The author introduces themselves as not a mentor or a teacher, but as a friend. Your older queer sibling. They’re also a therapist so the book was filled with a lot of self-love reminders and grounding techniques and reminders to breathe and remember you are loved. When you read this book, you get such a strong sense of community. It’s full of snippets and perspectives and stories from other queer people from all walks of life, so it just felt like a group of your queer elders coming together to tell you everything’s going to be okay.
The book covers…
- basic education on lgbtqia+ labels and identities (it’s an overview, probably designed to give you a starting point to go do more research now that you have accessible language and understanding of labels, rather than going into super deep detail about each label)
- brief notes on queer history and rights
- some sex-education and discussions on things like boundaries and being safe (emotionally and physically)
- questioning and understanding yourself
- tips for allies
- finding a queer community
- help lines and resources
- the trans community and trans+ identities
I think it was great that it included sections, comments and thoughts for allies to read. And while it DID say that the “A” stands for asexual, it didn’t mention aromantic at all in the book, and it said A also stands for “ally”. I have to disagree there. And I don’t understand why people think ally should be part of the queer spectrum letters because, as the book literally said, you don’t get an award for showing up to be a decent person!? Anyway 😂👌🏻 A tangent.
The design is also really nice! There are speech bubbles and little cute illustrations, and it just all felt so friendly and easy to read. Truly a book designed to make readers feel welcome.
While it didn’t get very deep into anything, and did read like an overview, I think it did exactly what it set out to do: be an uplifting guide. It’s definitely great for younger teens and honestly anyone new to information about queer identities.
A kind and caring book aimed at young people exploring or wanting to learn more about the lgbtqia+ spectrum! Definitely worth picking up.
Thanks to Walker Books AUS for the review copy!
Title: Queer Up: An Uplifting Guide to LGBTQ+ Love Life and Mental Health
Author: Alexis Caught
Date Published: May 4th, 2022
Genre: YA NonFiction, Self Help
Publisher: Walker Books
Purchase: Book Depository, Dymocks, Amazon US
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A positive and uplifting book for young people who are queer or curious – and their allies looking to support them.
In this empowering and uplifting book, award-winning podcaster Alexis Caught sets out to help queer and curious teenagers explore their LGBTQ+ identity and understanding. Alongside the author’s personal experiences are first-hand stories from notable LGBTQ+ figures, providing a inclusive account of what it means to grow up queer. With chapters on questioning, coming out, friends and family, love, sex, shame, pride and allyship, this is insightful, thoughtful and reassuring book is essential reading for any questioning teen and their allies looking to support them.
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