Uncomfortable Labels

Not a light read by any means -- the content warnings should likely include, at minimum, sexual assault and suicide -- and yet I found it an uplifting and affirming book. In part this is a result of the chronological nature of a memoir; a lot (though certainly not all) of Laura's struggles come earlier in life, while the second half of the book, post-transition and post-diagnosis, felt more optimistic.

This is a very personal journey through the early life of someone that experiences the act of living very differently from many of us. It provides some level of insight into an experience that we can't actually imagine what is like on our own. At the same time it illustrates why it's so important to focus on trans-rights, and how much is still left of that fight, as much as we might like to believe our society to be open and welcoming to people that live their life differently from the majority.

I whole-heartedly recommend reading this book. Some parts might be a bit heavy to read, but overall it's a positive story about being who you are, regardless of the expectations society might try to enforce upon you.