‘An uplifting, hopeful, empowering memoir that celebrates self-discovery and self-love’ – Alice Oseman, creator of the bestselling Heartstopper collection
An unmissable graphic novel excellent for followers of the worldwide hit Heartstopper and Juno Dawson’s What’s the T?
Whats up! I’m Theo. I like cats, Dungeons & Dragons . . . and I’m trans and non-binary.
Ever since I used to be younger, I’ve been on a journey to discover who I’m. To find the issues that make me . . . me.
Typically it might really feel just like the world is attempting to fit your needs right into a field, to label you a technique or one other, however there may be nothing extra great than discovering your true genuine self, whoever you’re. Whether or not you’re transgender or cisgender, we’re all trying to find methods to make our homes really feel like houses . . .
In Homebody, Theo tells the heartwarming story of discovering find out how to stay life on their very own phrases by lovely illustrations and lyrical textual content.
The best way Theo seems to be again on their life to date is so trustworthy and eloquent, determining how they really feel about themselves in addition to find out how to current themselves to the world on their very own phrases, and will actually assist teenagers and adults not solely empathise however replicate on their very own path and the journey they’re nonetheless on. I completely *adored* this e book and want everybody that has “considerations” about trans youth would learn it to actually take into consideration what it means to be comfy in your self, one thing that many individuals take as a right particularly as they get additional away from the rising pains of their teen years. Some folks will know themselves and hardly change, others will undergo plenty of totally different outward expressions earlier than they really feel that the world’s view of them matches their very own, some are scared to specific themselves truthfully, whereas others nonetheless will assume that they know themselves till they arrive throughout one thing new to them that opens their eyes to a facet of themselves they’d uncared for.
A lot of it resonated with me: Once I was a young person I used to be ceaselessly mistaken for a boy due to my quick hair and dishevelled garments and I had conversations with household and mates (not all, however sufficient) about how nobody would ever love me if I didn’t change the way in which I regarded…all of the ideas about what women and boys ought to like and never becoming in and figuring out that it *shouldn’t* matter what your hobbies are or what you put on put on or the way you model your hair however that society will inform you that you simply’re getting it fallacious as a result of for some motive it *does* matter. I preserve going again to the e book as a result of there are such a lot of lovely, insightful pages. Anyway, a boy did (does) love me, quick hair and all, so take heed to Theo’s recommendation under.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to be given the chance to share some pages from the e book, and in addition ask Theo a number of questions:
Inform us about your new graphic novel
Homebody is an uplifting and affirming graphic memoir about life outdoors of the gender binary. An trustworthy and heartwarming have a look at the enjoyment and fantastic thing about discovering your self and the constructive impression of residing as your genuine self. Homebody speaks to a common expertise of exploring what makes us who we’re, how we categorical that to the world and of the connection all of us have between our minds and our bodies. Whether or not you’re transgender, cisgender or nonetheless figuring it out, we’re all trying to find methods to make our homes really feel like houses, and to come back to a spot of ease inside ourselves.
Which recommendation would you cross on to your youthful self?
Discover the individuals who love and settle for you for who you’re, precisely as you’re, you don’t have to alter something about your self to be favored. As an alternative of attempting to determine what different folks need or anticipate you to be, give attention to being the individual that you wish to be and the remainder will fall into place.
Homebody is such a singular e book, however do you could have any titles you can suggest for teenagers that devour your story?
I’ve an extended checklist of graphic novels I really like! However my high picks for teenagers who loved Homebody could be: ‘The Woman From the Sea’ by Molly Knox Ostertag- a candy coming of age sapphic romance with a sprinkle of fantasy.
‘Deadendia’ by Hamish Steele – a humorous and imaginative collection set in a theme park that’s linked to demonic realms, with a trans protagonist and nice LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent illustration.
‘Welcome to St Hell’ – a hilarious, trustworthy and relatable autobiography from trans creator Lewis Hancox about his time at highschool and determining his trans id.
Have you ever some other tasks on the go which can be creating into full books? After such a private debut, what would you most like to write down about?
I’m presently engaged on my second graphic novel, which goes to be one other pretty private e book really! It’s primarily based on my experiences of transferring by the world as neurodivergent however not realising that till a lot later in life. Past that I might love to write down fantasy because it’s one in every of my favorite genres to learn.
Homebody is revealed at this time by Macmillan, geared toward age 14+
