Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition

I have tried to think of how to review this book without relating it directly to my own experience, and it feels almost impossible. I am a trans person and the work of Julia Kaye has had a profound impact on my personal transition and my life as a whole. This began with the early days of 2016 when I began to read her webcomic to today with this lovely book that I now have in my hands. Now that I have them all in such a wonderful package it truly allows the beautifully written and illustrated comics to shine brightly.In this book Kaye has opened herself up to the world in such a wonderfully honest and vulnerable way and I think in turn has allowed others – including myself - going through similar experiences to not feel so alone. Transitioning can be a very isolating experience. It made it clear to me just how important trans representation in the media can be and is. I am overjoyed to know that this book will be that representation that so many trans people need.You will not regret buying this book. So why not buy several copies? Spread this around, let friends borrow copies, donate it in book drives, to your local library. This story needs to be told to as many people as possible. It is that important.Thank you, Julia.

While the cartoons are cute enough, they are simplistic in style which may not appeal to many readers. The author does manage to convey masculinity and femininity in his looks with a few shifts of the pen.The writing vacillates with Ms. Kaye’s mood shifts. Sometimes, they swing so rapidly from one extreme to the next you wonder if she’s bipolar or if her medication needs adjustment. The book often repeats itself, with the author brooding about a misuse of gender pronoun or the need for makeup (without it he looks too much like what people expect a man to look like). He wonders when his inner anxieties will ever stop as he gets sunk again in gloom after staring into the mirror.One strip that piqued my interest was when he went out late at night and decided to carry mace…something that undoubtedly never would have crossed her mind when she was still in the male form. Welcome to the downside of being a woman, Julia.However, that was it in terms of retaining my attention. While I’m sure Julia’s story is that of many a transgendered person in transition, it wears on the reader to go over the same ground over and over again.

This book is a wildly honest and heartfelt documentation of Julia’s journey through her first year in transition! Her strips are articulate and drawn with care. I read the whole book cover to cover in one sitting, and I look forward to doing so again! It’s a privilege being able to read Julia’s experiences through her eyes.

I bought two of these. One for myself to understand what trans women go through and one for a friend who is a trans woman. She really enjoyed this book so she knows she is not alone with what she feels. I recommend this for anyone transitioning or for those who are just curious about the trans community. And, both the author and my friend are named Julia!

Ok, I am a big fan of Julia, and all her work, so I was PUMPED when she announced her book! This small collection of her comics focusing on her transition is very real, and honestly I re-read the book twice the day I got it XD I like it a lot, and it gives me hope for my own transition! Julia is so cool, so if you have the money you should totally show your support! Glad I can have this book on my shelf!Stay cool Julia!

Outstanding collection! Should be part of school curriculum units on building/understanding empathy, courage, and perseverance. I can't recall a comic strip collection I've read where I've felt so much for the author. I had a positive feeling about this book once I "welled up" during the introduction and "welled up" many times during the course of reading the strips. By the way, the artistic style of her drawings are so cool. Like a combination of Charles Schultz and Crockett Johnson.

Love it! This is great for everyone, as it helps anyone understand what it is like for a transgendered person to exist and live in our extremely cisgendered culture. I've been a fan of Julia's for a few years now, and she never disappoints.

Julia's comics helped me through so much when I began realizing I was transgender. Her comics are short, to the point, and all very much from the heart. Just what I need on the days when I'm not feeling myself. And now I've got them all in an adorable paperback <3

Heartwarmingly honest, insightful, made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me ‘aaawwwwwww’. And that was just the introduction. This arrived the day after my birthday, so turned out to be a little birthday present to myself. Thank you ! Thank you, a thousand times, thank you to Julia for opening her heart in this way.

Funny, sweet and straight from the heart. Whether you are trans or cis, it doesn't matter the barriers are brought down in a depiction of a woman showing strength, humour and grace to an often difficult process we all go through and understand - puberty.

Wonderful and oh so helpful, exactly what I needed right now

brilliant, insightful, heartwarming. I just wish it was longer

Moving, eyeopening and beautiful.Julia Kayes Book is more than needed in any Bookshelf regardless if you are part of the LGBT community or not.Thank you so much for making me cry. And thank you for giving me such a wonderful insight to myself.