Tristan Jimerson

Archie  Bongiovanni

A quick, easy and important educational comic guide to using gender-neutral pronouns. "A great, simple look at the importance of using correct pronouns; extremely accessible to those for whom gender-neutral language is a new concept." –– School Library Journal (starred review) Archie, a snarky genderqueer artist, is tired of people not understanding gender neutral pronouns. Tristan, a cisgender dude, is looking for an easy way to introduce gender neutral pronouns to his increasingly diverse workplace. The longtime best friends team up in this short and fun comic guide that explains what pronouns are, why they matter, and how to use them. They also include what to do if you make a mistake, and some tips-and-tricks for those who identify outside of the binary to keep themselves safe in this binary-centric world. A quick and easy resource for people who use they/them pronouns, and people who want to learn more! 2018 Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year - Teen Nonfiction Publishers Weekly Favorite Reads of 2018 Autostraddle 20 Best LGBTQ Graphic Novels of 2018

A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns

Kritika Narula

I have been trying to explore books that talk about gender-neutrality and gender-fluidity in a very elementary, rudimentary manner- so this one comes as a great recommendation for that.
As a cisgender, I have wondered myself how awkward and uncomfortable conversations about one's gender identity could be, and how tricky it is to use words, and to try and use them in the right manner- I have imagined the best of intentions go to waste because of the uncertainty of 'what should I say that it doesn't offend them' or 'how should I say this without sounding mean'. If anything, I have to thank this book to address this issue. Not just by giving healthy ways of going about these apprehensive conversations, but also addressing how these can get awkward- but change is awkward and uncomfortable and if we are to be advocates for inclusion, we have to be companions in this discomfort. 

"This book exists to educate and inform people on gender neutral pronouns--specifically they/them*--so that you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting yourself. We want to keep this book short and affordable, so you can give it to friends, family, co-workers, or random people on the street.Also, if education fails and folks are being jerks, you can just throw this book in their face."

I like the fact that even when the book uses humour, it doesn't try to be sarcastic- it is rather the plain, good ol' humour and I believe that is how such issues need to be discussed.

Caroline Lewicki

A great introduction to using they/them pronouns! I really appreciated that the authors addressed both cisgender allies and non-binary folks in their own voices. It's important for genderqueer/non-binary people to have a voice in the conversation and I think Archie Bongiovanni is proving to be that voice.

Grace O'Callaghan

I received this as an arc from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

‘A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns’ does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a really simple guide to those who don’t know about or understand they/them pronouns. It’s really short and a sort of graphic novel which was unexpected and something I really loved about it.

This is the kind of book that you give to the ignorant cis-gendered people in your life who just can’t seem to wrap their heads around the concept of they/them pronouns. It gives tips on how to ask someone what their pronouns are as well as how to come out as non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid etc. You cannot get more simple than this book and I’d even argue that it’s great for kids to understand that there are more than just she/her and him/his pronouns.

I also really loved the format of it. By being a graphic novel it’s not your typical non-fiction that you have to dedicate hours to just to read a few pages. It’s fun, engaging and doesn’t feel like non-fiction at all. I read it in under an hour.

The art style is very simplistic but I think it really suited this book. It was more about the information being told than how extravagant the illustrations were but they still made it a lot more enjoyable.

I’m really glad to see a little book like this out there in the world. It’s so refreshing to see more and more LGBTQ+ books being published and showing just how diverse the world really is. 

Overall, a fabulous little book for anyone who doesn’t know how to use they/them pronouns.

A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns

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