Absolutely brilliant book which everyone should read ASAP. This is such an eye opening book, written in a clear friendly style, I leant a hell of a lot about gender, LGBTQIA and identity issues that were previously confusing me. The author has made sure to include quotes from different backgrounds to her own, to ensure a more rounded / diverse set of opinions. 5 star book.

What's The T? is a non fiction book all about the T in LGBT+, written by Juno Dawson, a trans woman who is an established YA author. This book is a handbook on everything trans. It covers coming out, passing or not, choosing a name, pronouns, puberty, legal stuff, and dealing with transphobia. It's aimed at genderdivergent youth but there's plenty in it for everyone, and Dawson explains everything in a friendly conversational tone, in simple terms, without being patronising. The book also covers the history of the transgender identity, and features profiles of famous trans people, like Janet Mock, Chaz Bono, Laverne Cox, Alex Bertie and more. There are also sections where other trans people are quoted talking about their own experiences and identities, showing the diversity of transgender people.

This book is a really enjoyable read. It answers all of your questions, and then some. It also gives a different perspective to the one that is so often in the UK news. Dawson takes the 'concerns' voiced in the media and explains why they are transphobic. I particularly liked that she talks about why people changing their minds about their trans identity isn't as awful and world destroying as the media makes it out to be, because this is something that a lot of people get hung up on. It's a breath of fresh air to see someone tackling this very British form of transphobic 'concern', because Britain has a horrible transphobia problem and many people don't realise how bad it is because it looks different to other countries.

Dawson doesn't shy away from sexual content, and the book has descriptions of surgeries, body parts, sex. Therefore it is probably not suitable for young kids, but most teens should be able to handle it. It's like sex ed, but better because it's actually about trans people.

I also liked the quirky illustrations, and that the book is nonbinary inclusive. This book also shows trans kids that there is a future, post transition (whatever transition looks like to you), where you can just live, and just be.

'What's the T?' is an honest and funny guide exploring what it means to be transgender or non-binary. It is aimed at teenagers aged 14+, but is also a great read for adults who wish to be better allies to the people (particularly teens) in their life who may be gender non-conforming, or questioning their gender in some way.

It is very informally written and almost feels like having a chat with Juno. It is humorous, sarcastic and light-hearted, whilst at the same time honest and informative. Juno manages to balance this brilliantly and makes some of the topics feel less intimidating.

Overall a great book that I would whole-heartedly recommend to teenagers and adults whether they need advice themselves, or just want to know how to better support the trans and non-binary people in their lives.

I knew I was expecting something great after reading Dawson’s book Gender Games, and this met my expectations perfectly.

This book couldn’t be more timely, with transgender discussion taking centre stage, and Dawson takes the time to educate us on everything we need to know, with her signature style and wit.

She discusses everything from identity, transitioning, sexuality, gender politics, and battling all the misconceptions surrounding it all. It was great to read a clear and compassionate book on everything you need to know about being transgender.

It doesn’t matter if you’re transgender, a parent of a trans person, or interested in the topic, then this is perfect for you. It’s easy to read, it’s fantastic, and you can’t go wrong with Juno Dawson’s books.

Brilliant!

4.5/5🌟
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital copy my way!

One of the greatest thing about this book, and I say it first because that is the first thing to come to my mind, is how it could be put into anyone's hand. Like, really. Because every information is destined not only to young (or not) transgender and non-binary people but also to their parents, to their loved ones, to anyone who would like some information. There are multiple ways to educate yourself on a topic and I do believe reading books about it, written by people involved in the theme/topic you are interested in, is one of the best ways to do so. Because the people writing about it do it so other people can learn, other people can maybe relate, or find themselves in a book. Which can help a lot when you know how many rude questions are asked to transgender or non-binary (or even demi-gendered) people.

I am cis, so I read this book as the cis ally I want to be to transgender people. That also means my review isn't going to be the same as a transgender or nonbinary person, since I am not directly involved in the topic. I did not have a lot of questioning about the trans community because I used to question my gender a lot and made a lot of research, to part into non-profits and stuff. But still, I learned stuff reading this book. Stuff I didn't know. Stuff I never noticed, such as certain micro-aggressions cis people can't possibly be aware of at the first sight. So now, I let you imagine how wonderful this book would be between the hands of a person who knows nothing of the trans community. A person who's child or sister or brother or best friend or whatever just came out to, who might ask the wrong questions, who might be rude because of the lack of education.


I read This Book is Gay some times ago, and this book made me very happy. I couldn't wait to read more non-fiction books by Juno Dawson, and I am equally happy about this one. Maybe more, because the research behind it and the interviews and the illustrations are very amazing. The content is highly interesting to me, as I discovered so many new trans and non-binary voices through those pages. But I also got some information on the law and how it works, on the deeper issues trans and non-binary people have to face that I had no idea of. I think it can also be very helpful to trans and non-binary people or even people questioning their gender. As I told you, I am cis, so I can't really tell you much more, but I do recommend this amazing non-fiction to you guys.

As someone with a transgender sibling and many transgender friends, reading this was definitely a must. The book is an easy read so that younger readers (maybe around 12 or 13) can still understand it as well as people who may have difficulty in reading. There was a little bit of satire in the books and some jokes that older readers may understand. It may have been just me being over-perceptive and over-analytical but there were a few digs towards people in the media and their stance on the LGBTQIA+ community, in particular those that identify as transgender and non-binary.

This book helped me understand how I can better support my sibling and friends. This is a must have for those who are confused, who want to be an ally or people who want to learn more.

This is the perfect book for those seeking further information or wanting to learn about the subject. It is a brilliant guide to understanding transgender and non-binary identities as well as pronouns, The book is helpful, informative, funny with laugh out loud moments but all realistic. The author also touches on the moments that happen and are applicable to the subject that aren't as light hearted but issues that are important. The author appears to be kind, supportive, and very honest. An enjoyable read with an attractive book cover.

I absolutely loved this book. Honestly, 10/10 absolutely amazing.
As a CisHet person who tries to continuously educate herself on trans matters, I am beyond thankful this book exists. It's easily written, in a language that everyone can understand and it is a mixture of information for trans teens, family and allys, history lessons and trans people talking about their own experiences.

It was incredibly beautiful to read all the testimonials and to learn about trans historic figures. It was less beautiful to read about all of the hatred and prejudice the trans community still has to endure and I just wish that every single person on this planet would read this book. I am sure that if they would, nobody could even find a shred of a reason as to why being trans is anything less than.

I hope that it is as helpful to people who are questioning themselves or who have just realised or accepted their being trans as it was to me. I feel like I understand body disphoria and the struggle to live in this insane binary world a bit better now.

This is such an informative and educational book! If you're questioning your gender, this book is for you. If you know you're trans or nonbinary and just need some advice or want to know more about transitioning, the law, relationships, etc., this book is for you. If you are a friend, relative or coworker of a trans person and you want to understand what they're going through, this book is for you. I genuinely believe that everyone will benefit from reading What's the Tea? regardless of their circumstances. There are many things to be learnt from this book, for both trans and cis people. A lot of the time hate comes from fear, which comes from misunderstanding. If the population read this book, they'd have a much better understanding of trans people and would almost certainly be more accepting of us. If this book had existed a decade ago when I first started questioning my gender, my life would have been a lot less complicated. I just hope this book reaches everyone who needs it.

It makes me so sad that this book has "14+" scrawled all over it, there's nothing here that couldn't be in any generic puberty book. I loved how Juno was able to reflect on her own experiences whilst acknowledging how others may vary and the challenges faced by transitioning under different circumstances. Her comments on the gender binary, and her privilege of being a "binary woman" were very powerful. There's a reassurance in this book, everything will be ok in the end, alongside a very honest recognition that things may be very much not ok right now. As a follow on from This Book is Gay, she nails that balance between writing for minority audiences and for allies. This is not all encompassing, but is so kind.

I want to purchase so many copies of this book and give them to That Author and all her supporters. In the first chapter alone, Juno unintentionally wipes That Author’s argument out the water. The best thing? Its one thing about this book that truly ensures as an ally, I know I’m on the right side. Juno insists she’s not the overriding authority on the topic. That very admission that it is an open topic and there are multiple views, opposed to That Author who is adamant she is an absolute authority on the topic.
I absolutely love Juno’s voice in this book. While is remains anecdotal, there’s still that teacher charm that lets you know that she is an open book, laying out her truth, but its so that you learn something.
The discussion of identity, social conventions and gender is what I was hoping to find here. As a teacher myself, and a teacher of RE, I discuss gender prejudice and discrimination as part of GCSE. While it does focus on the role of women within a Christian community, there is room to explore the topics relating to everything queer (As someone who grew up in the 90s, I’m finding it absolutely glorious that queer is back in its rightful place and not the slur you heard on tv). Not only has Juno given me an insight as to how I can approach this; she’s given me the confidence.
Honestly, the one thing this book did was make me get back to regular teaching instead of supply. This is a book I want to have multiple copies of, not sitting on a shelf in my classroom, but in student’s bags with students talking about how good it is.

PS- if you want someone who would be amazing at promoting this book, check out @softboyuk He’s an openly gay primary school teacher who went viral a few days ago. I had a nosey at his feed and this tweet just resonated with me because of reading What’s the T? :
“My class is about 80% boys. They were very laddish at the beginning of the year. Gated anything pink or frilly or deemed as girly in any way. After a term with them, I overheard some of them talking about how they like ALL the colours because strictly coy/girl colours don’t exist”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read a digital advanced copy of this book.

'What's the T?' is an accessible guide for teens and young people to the full spectrum of gender with particular focus on transgender and non-binary identities; from definitions of terms (both outdated and current), to short biographies of notable trans and/or non-binary people.

Like Juno's companion YA non-fiction 'This Book is Gay', 'What's the T?' is written with great balance of humour and information; framed perfectly for a teen audience. I finished this in one sitting- it was frank, refreshing, and no-nonsense and thus immensely enjoyable. I appreciated that Juno herself recognised that 'This Book is Gay' was a very binary look at LGBT+ identities and sought to be much more inclusive with this book. I particularly liked the inclusion of a diverse range of trans and/or non-binary voices and the discussions of their experiences as well as a look at trans and/or non-binary people throughout history.

This book could be a crucial resource for young people. I'm very glad that younger people will have access to a book like this, whether they be trans, queer, questioning, or just want to keep informed and be a good ally. This is a book I would recommend to everybody.

‘What’s the T’ is a brilliant guide to understand transgender and non-binary identities. This is an informative and well written guide for teens and adults alike, and is written much in the same way as Juno Dawson’s ‘This Book is Gay’.

With her own experiences as well as other’s from across the who spectrum of trans identities, this book will help trans and cis (those who identify with their assigned gender at birth) people to understand a little more about the confusing world of gender identity.

This book is written with Juno Dawson’s usual wit and it feels more like a conversation with a close friend than a non-fiction book. The writing is clear and easy to understand. Within the book, the author answers some questions from trans and cis people, which I think was a really good addition.

Whether you’re trans, a parent with a trans kid, know someone who is trans, or just an ally wanting to understand more about trans identities, this provides an excellent starting point to understanding more.

What's the T? is a guide for teenagers about being transgender, aimed at both trans and non-binary teens and those who want to support them (though addressed much more to the former). Juno Dawson applies her wit and friendly, candid tone to a range of areas including terminology, coming out, relationships, sex, and growing up, whilst also including contributions from trans and non-binary people and highlighting the work of others in the public eye.

I've not read Dawson's previous guide, This Book Is Gay (it came out too late for me to be a teenager and too early for me to have discovered her YA books separately), but have read The Gender Games and quite a lot of her fiction, and this book has a similar tone, funny and no-nonsense, but with an understanding of how to frame things for teenagers. Particularly notable for me was the way she has to navigate a lot of the current debate and legal challenges around trans issues, trying to give teenagers information in an ever-changing (and often depressing) landscape, and she does it well, directly addressing some of the common "concerns" found online but without pulling the focus away from what trans teenagers actually experience and need to know. The inclusion of snippets of others' perspectives is nice too: there's other books that are more like a collection of essays, but this isn't that, and instead these are used to get across the more general advice and give insights into how things are different for different people.

Not being the target age range of the book, I can't say for sure the impact it could have for actual teenagers, but I can say that it would've been great personally to have as a teenager, making it easier for asking yourself questions about your own gender whilst learning about what it might mean, and then what might happen later. I know it would've been the sort of book I would've been nervous to have or read, but which would've been really important and would've allowed me to explore who I am/was much earlier. The fact it covers the difference between sexuality and gender and gives some information about both and how they connect is also really crucial, and again is something I can now see I would've benefited from as a teenager.

This is a book that needs to be in libraries, both school ones and otherwise, so that people can access its information, both teenagers who need it and adults who need to support these teenagers (it has a small section at the end addressing parents). Hopefully it'll be useful to a lot of people as it provides a starting point for some and a way of bringing together information for others.

I received the ARC of their book from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

A very anticipated follow up to This Book is Gay. Juno Dawson talks you through the T in the LGBTQ+ community. Her voice is strong, witty,knowledgeable, compassionate, and truthful. A must read for parents, teachers, and everyone who stands for equality.
Pick it up if you are confused/curious
Pick it up if you know someone who needs the support and understanding.
Pick it up if you want to be an ally

I was put on the spot once for not using the correct pronouns on one of my students, and I admitted right then and there that I was ignorant and that I needed to be educated, lucky for me they saw my honest embarrassment and will to learn that we agree on being lecture after a lesson. I wish this book was publish earlier, but I'm not complaining, things have been changing and perhaps today was a better time for it.

Having read it in a ARC and not seeing the final version I can only ask for a better Glossary, i felt few terms were left out, like the whole acronym (LGBTTTQQIAA) by that I mean what ever comes after the Plus symbol (+) for when we say LGBTQ+ I was given that one from my Canadian student, so I'm not sure if the term is same for everyone. The author mentions TERF at some point so I would've like to see it on the glossary.

Juno Dawson’s This Book is Gay was my biggest ally when coming to terms with my sexuality. I am so pleased therefore that my trans siblings now have something to help them - whether they be questioning, curious or ready to transition.

This book is well researched covering all aspects of trans identity from the social, to the medical. It covers legalities in various countries and includes helplines and information as well as a book list for future research.

Juno writes with engaging humour and frankness in a way that doesn’t talk down to or infantilise the teenage audience. She is the literary best friend and fairy godsister every queer teen needs.

This book would be excellent for anyone on a gender journey, or someone who loves them - I know I feel more like an ally having read Juno’s advice. And the sheer wealth of figures featured throughout in the trans hall of fame serves as a particularly lovely reminder of the existence of trans folk in all walks of society, and gave me some new people I want to learn more about. Thank you Juno for writing this book, it couldn’t come at a better time.

I heard about this book when Juno talked about it on The Great Scottish Bookclub on BBC Scotland so I was pleased to get an advance copy from Netgalley. Juno gives no nonsense advice about transgender issues aimed at teenagers but I think this book would be useful to anyone wanting to learn and support trans and non binary people.
I found it really readable and gave me a good insight into the process of transitioning. It also taught me how to be a good ally.
With such a lot of discrimination against trans women on the internet I found this book to be refreshing and informative.
I think it is really useful for people working in front line services too so that you feel you can help and support trans people in your job.
I would recommend schools and libraries to purchase this book. It's essential reading.

Juno Dawson is amazing and has done a fantastic job once again!
This is the perfect companion book to 'This Book is Gay' and is pitched perfectly to help young people and adult alike understand the issues Trans people are facing today and what we can do to be the best allies we can be!

As a fan of Juno Dawson from both her YA novels and her other titles such as 'This Book is Gay' and 'The Gender Games' - her new book 'What's The T?' doesn't disappoint.

It is informative, helpful, optimistic, and funny but with a good dose of reality and some of the things that can downright suck too. I love this about Juno, she is HONEST, kind and supportive.

As a cisgender ally to the LGBTQ+ community Juno has taught me so much. This book has made me question things about my own gender identity (I've realised there is much about myself which is gender-nonconforming), made me think about how I can be a better ally and as a parent how best I could respond if one of my own children came out as trans.

It is rare for me to re-read a book but I feel this may be one of the few exceptions, I feel that I should, and need, to read it again! Both because it is amazing and because I want to make sure I have truly taken in everything Juno has to say and understand it in the best way I can.

I hope this book finds it's way into as many hands of young trans people as possible.

Being a school librarian I will be purchasing this book for our shelves and promoting it to all students to read (to be fair it will probably not need promoting, Juno's books don't tend to stay on the shelves long, I may need two copies)!

A very thorough, funny and kind guide to the experience of being trans/non-binary. Would recommend this to everybody, trans and cis, young and old, to get a better understanding of what it's like to explore your gender identity.