Janet Mock

A journalist and activist who was profiled in a 2011 Marie Claire feature outlines bold perspectives on the realities of being young, multi-racial, economically challenged and transgender in today's America, recounting her disadvantaged youth and decision to undergo gender reassignment surgery at the age of 18 before pursuing a career and falling in love.

My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More

Redefining Realness

Abigail

Athena Eloy

Janet Mock’s memoir is so damn necessary. She pours her heart and life, her pain and sorrow and happiness and joy into every page and it is equal parts beautiful and brilliant. Her journey becoming who she had always been is a story that is not heard enough and should be. We need more trans stories; this memoir is a testament to how powerful telling our stories can be.

cossette

trigger warnings for: self-harm (chapter 1), pedophilia / assault / child molestation (ch 2 & 3), alcohol, drugs & addiction (ch 4, 11), emet (ch 4), shooting (ch 5), mentions of death (ch 5), homophobia, racism, transphobia, gender dysphoria

Erin 

I find it so hard to review memoirs because I feel like I'm rating the person's life or journey, and I am in no position to do that. I recently watched The Out List on Netflix, and was intrigued by the fact I had hardly heard of Janet Mock, much less knew anything about her. So I decided I owed it to her to read her book and story. And what a story it is. It took me awhile to get into it, but it made me think and realise how easy a life I've had being cis, and that I can't even begin to comprehend what trans people have gone through their entire lives. This book really made me open my eyes and forced me to recognise the struggles others have gone through and the sacrifices they've had to make.

Caitlin Berger

What a book. It is beautifully written (and read by the author in the audiobook version) and 110% worth the read. The content is at times dark and potentially triggering but if you can, I would pick this up and read it. It is such an important story.

New York Times Bestseller • Winner of the 2015 WOMEN'S WAY Book Prize • Goodreads Best of 2014 Semi-Finalist • Books for a Better Life Award Finalist • Lambda Literary Award Finalist • Time Magazine “30 Most Influential People on the Internet” • American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book In her profound and courageous New York Times bestseller, Janet Mock establishes herself as a resounding and inspirational voice for the transgender community—and anyone fighting to define themselves on their own terms. With unflinching honesty and moving prose, Janet Mock relays her experiences of growing up young, multiracial, poor, and trans in America, offering readers accessible language while imparting vital insight about the unique challenges and vulnerabilities of a marginalized and misunderstood population. Though undoubtedly an account of one woman’s quest for self at all costs, Redefining Realness is a powerful vision of possibility and self-realization, pushing us all toward greater acceptance of one another—and of ourselves—showing as never before how to be unapologetic and real.

Redefining Realness My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More

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