**Thank you to NetGalley, creators Warren Binford and Project Amplify, and Workman Publishing Company for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

This book is emotional. Reading about the hundreds and hundreds of children and teens who have been locked away from the public eye with little to no human rights protection is so disheartening and disgusting. These children shared their words in hope for change, and I hope that change comes immediately. 

The use of children's voices in a nonfiction picture book is so powerful in itself because it is now in a language that children and young readers can understand. They are seeing illustrations and statements about the brutal mistreatment of these individuals being held in the detention centers, so not only will this book help to spark a conversation on immigration, but it can hopefully start conversations on human rights and government treatment, as well. 

I really appreciate all of the notes and resources listed in this book. It is nice to see the resources available to readers on how they can help and questions they should be asking themselves. The background information was very helpful in gaining a better understanding of the children as real people and not fictional characters, as well. 

We need more books, children's especially, that are multilingual like this one to increase inclusivity for all readers. 

Overall, a really amazing and powerful book. I am looking forward to sharing this book's message and getting it into the hands of many, many readers. 

**Thank you to NetGalley, author Aria Karlsson, and Capstone for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

This picture book is beautiful. The story follows two siblings as they learn, explore, and understand gender identity. Karlsson does a wonderful job of creating an encouraging, supportive narrative that allows family members, specifically siblings, to see how they can support their transitioning sibling. 

The author's note at the end of the story shares Karlsson's decision to create a story about a transgender child who has a supportive sibling. She does show the struggles and questions that may come up, but she does so in a way that is not demeaning or demonizing to the sibling. 

I adore the illustrations, as well. The colors are bright and the drawing style is unique and fun. 

**Thank you to NetGalley, author Jaclyn Desforges, and Annick Press Ltd. for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

This is a beautiful story. I found it extremely relatable as I was a very quiet, introverted child growing up. Desforges crafts a story that focuses on the beauty and acceptance of being a listener, and this is an extremely important message to share with children. 

I liked the simple illustrations and colors in the drawings, but I was thrown off a bit by the lack of detail on the characters' faces, besides Myra Louise's and like two others. This did not take away from the story in any way, though. 

**Thank you to NetGalley, author Manjit Thapp, and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

This is a beautifully written and illustrated depiction of anxiety and seasonal changes in emotion. I could relate to some of the messages being presented within the story and the comic style format really helped emphasize the emotion created. 

I LOVE how the illustrations' colors helped create the emotion. When things were feeling upbeat, happy, and proud, the colors were bright and inviting. Easy to find details. On the flip side, when things were sadder, unhopeful, and even trapped, the illustrations gave darker, less defined colors. I thought this was really smart and in tune with the emotion happening within the words. 

I also appreciated the fluidity and connection between some of the panels. Especially in the brighter panels, Thapp connected the words with the illustrations - vines going through multiple panels, paint bleeding down gutters. This was really beautiful to see. 

One thing I do wish was different is the font. I read an ARC of this, so it could be changed, but reading this on my Kindle, there were a few times that I had to try and decipher what the text was saying. Other than that, however, I think this is a beautifully crafted comic that covers a very important topic. 

Picked up for school. Too dense and overwhelming to finish. tooooooooo much happening on the page. 

This is my second time reading Gender Queer. I first read this graphic memoir in 2021 for a graduate course. The first read-through was eye-opening and informative. I found myself asking questions I had pondered before and being excited to learn more about gender identities, sexuality, relationships, and pronouns. 

Now, in 2023, as I read this book for the second time for the #TransRightsReadathon, I found myself appreciating this book for a whirlwind of different reasons. I have been questioning my sexuality and have been feeling really uncertain in my body this year, wanting to learn more about asexuality, more about the ways in which I can see myself as a gendered person. 

Maia Kobabe's memoir felt like a warm hug, knowing that the thoughts and feelings I have had over the past year are not "weird" or "random" or something that I should be ignoring. Through eir words and graphics, I felt seen in ways that I haven't quite felt before. I may not relate to everything in eir book, but I felt seen enough to know it is okay to question and explore the thoughts I have been having. I know with further exploration, I can maybe find answers, find a community, and start to understand myself a bit better. 

This is a beautifully illustrated story that instills a great message of knowing and loving what is on the inside is much more important than changing what is on the outside just to be like others.