Graphic Novel Review: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Posted on December 14, 2023 at 6:20 am by Gene Ambaum

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Oni Press, 2019. 9781549304002. 240pp.

I had read many excerpts of this, the most challenged book in the US, but as I was preparing for a staff day graphic novel talk in November I wasn’t sure I had ever finished it. I started reading during a moment when I had way too much to do, and then I couldn’t put it down. And wow, now I get what all of the fuss is about. I’ve read lots of graphic novels and graphic memoirs by members of the LGBTQ+ community, but this is arguably the most powerful. I think it might change the hearts and minds of people who have never empathized with someone struggling to figure out their gender identity. At least I hope so. If you’ve never read it, I urge you to, whether you’re someone who thinks they want it out of the library or a library person who just hasn’t gotten around it yet.

Worth noting: My favorite thing about the book is that Kobabe mentions numerous books that meant a lot to em over the years. If you remember the Unshelved Book Club comics, these pages are kinda like those but so much better.

Kobabe also has a new short piece on The Nib’s site, “I Made The Most Banned Book In America” that’s worth a read. https://thenib.com/i-made-the-most-banned-book-in-america/ The site also has an excerpt of Gender Queer. https://thenib.com/growing-up-gender-queer/