Transgender Representation

Abstract

With the increased publication of books featuring LGBTQ2S+ characters and issues, there is an opportunity for the reader to acquire a greater understanding of various LGBTQ2S+ experiences. This article focuses on ten books for children ages eight to twelve that include transgender characters. The books are as follows: Lily and Dunkin; The Boy in the Dress; Sapphire the Great and the Meaning of Life; George; Gracefully Grayson; Zenobia July; A Boy Named Queen; The Pants Project; The Other Boy; and My Life as a Diamond. This article offers a brief synopsis of the ten selected books and a discussion of how each book fits into transgender literature as a whole. A thematic analysis revealed six themes that occur in nearly all of the books studied: gender transition, the nuclear family, adult antagonists, bullies, resolutions, and racial diversity. This study will be useful to librarians and teachers wishing to increase their knowledge and awareness of LGBTQ2S+ literature and add to their LGBTQ2S+ collection.