5 YA book series by trans authors to read right now

J.K. Rowling recently shattered the hearts of loyal Harry Potter fans with transphobic comments, so we’ve decided to shed some light on other YA series written by talented trans authors.

Being transgender in the world today is hard. It can even be downright deadly at times, with a record number of trans-related murders having occurred in 2019. While society has, at times begrudgingly, finally begun to make room for gay people at the table, trans individuals are still fighting to have their voices heard (particularly in this current presidential administration).

In 2017, statistics from GLAAD reported that 3 percent of the US population identifies as transgender across various age groups. While this might not sound like a lot, it’s actually well over 2 million people. Imagine having 2 million people’s medical, professional and personal needs not only go unmet, but unacknowledged by their own government.

However, trans people are thriving more than ever in the arts. Television shows such as The L Word: Generation Q , Pose and Transparent regularly feature trans characters played by trans actors. The publishing industry, which is becoming more accessible to everyone thanks to new techniques in self-publishing, has a growing LGBTQ author base with works such as 10,000 Dresses and Long Black Vail.

But last month, J.K. Rowling voiced support for a researcher who lost an employment tribunal case over “offensive and exclusionary” tweets that were transphobic, causing a massive backlash from Harry Potter fans from around the world who felt betrayed by a favorite author.

In an effort to balance the scales, we’re highlighting some of our favorite young adult book series written by trans authors, and we hope you’ll give them a look!

Not Your Sidekick, by C. B. Lee

Taking place in the 22nd century, Lee’s series introduces us to a world where solar flares have ignited humanity’s latent superpowers. The premiere book centers around Jess, a bisexual high school student, who interns at a giant tech company run by her parents’ archenemies.

Jess is joined by her friend Bells Broussard, a trans teen that has the ability to shape-shift. Though this is the start of his story, Bells has a more prominent role in the second book, Not Your Villain, in which he and his friends uncover a widespread superhero cover-up.

The Red Threads of Fortune, by JY Yang

As part of an experiment for Tor’s novella imprint, the first two books (of three so far) in the Tensorate Series were released at the same time. Written by queer, non-binary author JY Yang, both The Red Threads of Fortune and The Black Tides of Heaven can be read interchangeably.

The series takes place in the lavish silkpunk fantasy world of Ea, and each centers on a different child of the kingdom’s ruler, the Protector. Black Tides follows Akeha as he abandons his family to become a rebellious outlaw, while Red Threads is more action-packed and focuses on Mokoya, a hunter of the fierce, winged naga. What makes this world so special is that the role of gender isn’t assigned at birth. One may decide at any later time in life, or not at all, to take on a particular gender and, if desired, the corresponding physical characteristics.

Full Fathom Five, by Max Gladstone

Part of Gladstone’s popular Craft sequence, this is the third book in the series, although it takes place fifth chronologically. However, each installment stands alone for the most part, and fans typically have their own idea about where to start and in what order to read them. The fast-paced book series follows Kai, who builds gods to order, in a time where humans have thrown off the yoke of the old gods by killing them, and worked to master their magic, referred to as the Craft, themselves. The normal everyday world of magic is very much in flux, with different cultures adapting to the changes differently. Full Fathom Five features a badass transgender protagonist who uncovers a conspiracy when her godly creations start to die off.

Treason of Hawks, by Lila Bowen

Treason of Hawks is the fourth and final book inThe Shadow series by Lila Bowen, the weird pen name for bestselling author Delilah S. Dawson. The story follows a young trans man coming into his destiny in the gritty state of Durango, which is filled with shapeshifters, sasquatches, and unicorns.

During the first book, Wake of Vultures, we’re introduced to Nettie Lonesome, a black and indigenous slave who escapes her horrific life and joins up with the monster-fighting Rangers. In the process, Nettie takes on the guise of the Shadow, a chosen protector that whispers to her of dark threats on the horizon. SPOILER ALERT: while the character originally uses female pronouns in the first book, Nettie’s journey inspires him to a greater level of understanding about himself, along with acceptance and power. She then changes her name to Rhett Hennessey, and now identifies as “he”, while continuing his interior journey across the rest of the series. Rhett eventually becomes an integral member of the Rangers crew that also includes queer individuals of all kinds, as well as heroes with disabilities.

Provenance, by Ann Leckie

A standalone sci-fi novel set in the same universe as Leckie’s award-winning Imperial Radch trilogy, Provenance has an extremely inclusive concept of gender identity. A minor planet in a galactic network of worlds linked by interstellar gates called Hwae, gender is wholly self-determined. Despite physical characteristics, gender is treated as neutral until a person decides what gender they wish to identify as (if at all).

Leckie, whose first novel generated a lot of buzz around the fact that she chose to use the pronoun “she” to identify every character, regardless of gender, continues the discussion by building her own non-gendered pronouns (e/eir/em) for those characters who have yet to decide on a gender, or who are indeterminate. The book is a cozy little sci-fi murder mystery-cum-political thriller, complete with ancient artifacts, a case of mistaken identity, and a complex plot to shake up the political status quo.

What are some of your favorite books written by trans authors? Let us know in the comments section below.