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Kirja avaa hyvin Lewisin pohdintoja ja hämmennystä, mutta toisaalta antaa äänen myös hänen ympärillään olleille läheisille. Tämä on hyvä huomio, sillä muutos ja etsikkoaika ei koskenut vain Lewisia vaan myös ihmisiä hänen elämässään. I really enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane with Lewis; revisiting MySpace, MSN, CD Walkmans, quadvods and Tammy Girl (I used to love that shop!). But Hancox's graphic novel is not just about his own story of growing up and becoming who he was always meant to be, it's also a lifeline for younger readers who may feel confused about their own identities, or who are sure of their identities but feel unsure of where to get support.
This book is awesome, easy to read, sweet and sad and even funny at times. I loved following Lewis' journey and highly recommend this book. Recently shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for 2023 Welcome to St. Hell is another important account of the lived experiences of trans people. Raw, witty and occasionally very tender, this is a graphic memoir that deserves all the positive recognition it has received. The third volume in the poignant and sweet Heartstopper series, featuring beautiful two-color artwork!
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Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure – Lewis Hancox’s Graphic Memoir is a Raw, Witty and Tender Tale Fully Deserving of Its Critical Acclaim Thank goodness Lewis confided in his art teacher and was able to find the information he needed to recognise that there wasn't anything abnormal about how he felt, and that there were support options available for him. I especially love seeing how open and accepting his grandparents were. They set a real example for young readers that the overused excuse of people being intolerant should not be shrugged off as just a 'generational' thing.
This book is easy to read even though it's about the author's conflicted childhood. He had a supportive, if not perfect, family, and at least two very close female friends. But his life, especially the teen years, were full of inner discomfort about his gender. He tried to be a tomboy sometimes and to be just a girl other times. Neither of those worked, as he is a guy. I selected this on a whim and so I went in with no expectations. I feel that it was very good. I like the parts where the adult author would converse with those around them who remember what they were like as a teen. Even if you don't plan to do the challenge, it's fun to look at their suggestions.... though I'm baffled by number 11. Why anyone would want or even think of reading a cookbook cover to cover is beyond me. The Family Education Trust, a think-tank, has complained to the Reading Agency and the Arts Council England, alleging the books have “massive safeguarding red flags” by grouping 13 year olds with those above the age of consent.
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As someone who is cisgender and never thought twice about being in the wrong body or not identifying with my gender assigned at birth, reading books like this has helped me understand what it's like to be a transgender person. It has helped me more fully accept and understand the people in my life who are. Waterstones has announced its 2023 Children’s Book Prize shortlists, including works by Angharad Walker and Lee Newbery. Another book on the list, titled Queer Up, contains tips for teenagers on issues such as transgender “top and bottom surgery” and “welcomes” children to the queer “family”, with references to asexual identities and “non-binary animals”. Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a copy of 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗟 by Lewis Hancox - a fantastic graphic novel that is due for release on June 2nd 🏳️⚧️
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