Bumbling into Body Hair by Everett Maroon

The 10-year-old with a trans sister running off to tell his parents about GEORGE, GRACEFULLY GRAYSON and LILY & DUNKIN. The mother wishing she had WHEN KAYLA WAS KYLE at the time of her daughter’s coming out. The fan of “the weird stuff” geeking out over LIZARD RADIO and LOVE IN A TIME OF GLOBAL WARMING. The GSA advisor breaking out into a jig over FLUTTER and a + e 4ever because they are perfect for the graphic novel lovers in her group. The educator declaring BEYOND MAGENTA should be required reading for anyone working with youth. The friends gleefully clutching free copies of A BOY LIKE ME, I AM J and BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FOR UGLY CHILDREN to their chests and promising to swap them when they were done. The high school senior asking, “Where has this book been all my life?” after I read the opening chapter of PARROTFISH.

So many emotional moments for me, but a few highlights: When we broke for quiet reading periods, I swear there wasn’t a sound but the tick-tock of the clock. The whole day was a smashing success and I’m proud to say that the Trans Lit Storytime workshop was a particular favorite. Overall, we more than doubled the number of attendees from last year. The 2nd NJ Trans Youth Fourm maxed out on 200 pre-registrants a week before the event and had many, many more walk-ins. Merey, Ami Polonsky, Pat Schmatz, Ellen Wittlinger and Jennie Wood. Their generous contributions are the foundation of the HiTOPS Trans Lit Library. In this case, I want to give a shout-out to everyone who contributed books to 2nd NJ Trans Youth Forum: Cris Beam, Francesca Lia Block, Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Amy Fabrikant, Donna Gephart, Alex Gino, Rachel Gold, Susan Kuklin, David Levithan, Jennifer Laughran, Everett Maroon, R.I.

Bumbling into Body Hair by Everett Maroon