Thank you to NetGally and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Gender Explorers is a collection of interviews that the author did with trans* kids and young adults, and some of their parents at trans youth groups (Mermaids and Gendered Intelligence). It also includes an introduction and an afterword where the author talks about their own experience as a trans* person. I was very moved by this book and teared up several times while reading. Both the kids and their parents talk openly and in a vulnerable way about their experiences. The interviewees include kids from the age of 5 to young adults in their early twenties. What hit me hard was how happy and fluid many of the children's experience had been. Though many also talked about the bullying and external challenges they faced in coming out, there were so many who felt their school and their parents and their friends had been supportive from the start. It's wonderful to hear this since it indicates that the world is changing. A few times the author noted how they felt both happy and proud of these children but also a bit jealous. I thought these emotions were well-explored. Generally, the author seemed very kind and patient in the interviews and interviewed the children at their own pace. They want their present, their now, to be positive and happy rather than having to close their eyes and dream about a future in which they might get to run away and become themselves. As I did. Dreaming for years about being the me that no one could see. (page 18 (in arc)) I'm not trans* which means I'll never fully know how the experience of questioning your gender identity is. But to be able to support trans* people, the most important actions to take (imo) is to educate yourself, and boost and listen to others' experiences. I think this book is a wonderful resource in listening and understanding the trans* experience in our modern society. Because times are changing, and queer identities are getting more and more needed recognition. Though there are still TERFs out there I think a big takeaway from this book is hope. Hope for the future. (this happiness and hope is of course also a result of the interviews taking place where they do. I think it's right to assume that most people who seek out these groups are people with support and confidence in their identities.) I was amazed to read such young people's understanding of themselves and how much their lives changed when they were allowed to be themselves. It was also extremely emotional to read the parents' interviews, where they expressed their fears, the way they handled their young children coming out (mostly well, but some people had regrets), and how they sought support and educated themselves. Overall, this is a very powerful book that I think everyone should read. What's it like when people ask you questions all the time? Trans teen: It feels really invalidating. [...] I'm not sure it's really their fault, but it's embarrassing and invalidating even if they feel like they are validating me. It feels like I'm constantly having to prove and convince people that I'm valid and that I am who I am. (page 163 (in arc))

I bought this book after a friend recommended it. Despite being told how incredible it was, I wasn't quite prepared for how touching the children's interviews would be. I was in tears just 3 pages into the very first interview. Juno has done such a beautiful job of collecting the words and experiences of trans and gender questioning children/young people and their parents. And their own personal story just adds to the message of how important is to listen to children when they summon up the courage to be honest about how they feel. If only all parents of trans/questioning children had read this before that first conversation, we'd have much healthier and happier children.