Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition by Julia Kaye

Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition Reviews

• 
  Sarah Andersen

  Heartfelt and hopeful. I loved it.
• 
  Carmen

  This is a collection of comics about Julia Kaye being transgender and transitioning.
  
  It's fine.
  
  Most of the comics are simple three-panel layouts. They are too short to get into anything in much detail. Most revolve around Kaye's gender dysphoria. Being misgendered by both friends and strangers. Having high levels of anxiety about being misgendered. Feeling like everyone is staring at her and judging her all that time. Hating herself on some level constantly.
  
  I can't say this is the best book about being transgender. I think the three-panel comic style is too shallow. It doesn't give Kaye enough room to explore and analyze. I understand these were personal comics she wrote during her transition in order to better deal with life and her feelings, but as something to be consumed by the public I found it unsatisfying. Then again, I'm not transgender, so take this with a grain of salt.
  
  There's also this idea - not only in this book, but in responses to Kaye's art I've seen on the Internet - that being a woman or being female means living in this constant state of anxiety, worry, self-hatred, feeling 'unpretty' and dealing with hating yourself and your body. I'm not sure I really am comfortable with this kind of thinking. Is it true? Untrue? Everyone has their own experiences. The patriarchy exists. But it's not exactly uplifting. Saying "Life as a woman is a life in misery" is... one way to view things. I'm not sure it's particularly helpful or what women should be bonding over, but I could be wrong. Depressing.
  
  
  TL;DR This isn't the a book I'd recommend wholeheartedly. Then again, I'm not a transgendered person, so perhaps transgendered readers of this book get more out of it than I do. I understand Kaye wrote this for herself as a form of therapy while transitioning. I'm only writing this review as a book that's meant for public consumption. I don't think the three-panel comic format allows room enough for exploration and analysis of the transgender experience.
• 
  Laura

  This is a very personal, very cut to the bone series of strips about transitioning from male to female, along with all the good and bad days that go along with it. Julia is writing an autobiographical strip, and does not hold back anything. When she sees herself as still looking like a man, she mentions it. When she thinks that everyone is looking at her because they think she is a man in drag, she writes about it.
  
  It is not easy reading these. It makes you want to be able to reach out and hug her, and tell her it will be ok. But that is the way it is with strips written about your life. You let everyone know your deepest thoughts, no matter how bad they might be.
  
  As I said, it is not a fun journey, but that is not why one reads autobrigraphic comic strips.
  
  Here are some sample strips.
  
  
  
  
  Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
• 
  da AL

  Julia's honest comics about her transition resonate in ways I wouldn't have gotten with other story telling styles. Supremely brave and optimistic to the max, I wish everyone would read this, trans or not!
• 
  Kirsten

  This is an affecting daily chronicle of the first few months of one transgender woman's transition. It's an unvarnished glimpse into the daily triumphs and tragedies of becoming who one is meant to be. Highly recommended to folks who want to better understand transgender lives, as well as those who might be going through something similar.
• 
  Stewart Tame

  As the cover promises, this is a diary in comics form about Julia’s transition from male to female. She did one cartoon per day. The book is really more about the mental transition than the physical. Despite the physical changes, looking in the mirror and seeing a woman isn’t as easy as it sounds. There's a lifetime of conditioning to undo.
  
  Although there is some humor in this book, it's not constant, gag-a-day material. It's more about introducing you to Julia and her life and building moments of shared humanity and detail until you see yourself reflected in the book. Or at least that was my experience. I’m not female or trans, but, last I checked, I am a human being. I may not have had Julia’s exact experiences, but I’ve had enough similar ones to feel a certain level of kinship. Thanks for sharing this bit of your life, Julia! You are an amazing person!
  
  On the downside, the book is short. I was sorry to see it end. With only one strip per page, it looks deceptively thick. Honestly, though, that's the worst I can say about it.
  
  So: really short, but really good. Recommended!
• 
  Molly

  This is a nice collection of brief, autobiographical comics documenting Julia Kaye's thoughts and feelings as she transitions to living full-time as a woman. Some of the comics are happy and hopeful, while others deal with the more complicated feelings around transitioning and passing (or not passing) as female - and a small subplot addresses the hurt she feels when a family member pretends to be okay with the transition and then proceeds to shut her out almost completely.
  
  It's a great collection that I can imagine will reflect the experiences of many trans folks and can serve as a friendly introduction to the trans journey for people who might not otherwise be inclined to read about it.
  
  I received access to this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  
• 
  Ray Flores

  Julia Kaye documented her early days when she was transitioning in touching, realistic pages that show the perks and the struggles of being a transgender person.
  
  I really liked this book because it is not offensive in any way, and even if I’m not trans, I am queer, so I get that in life we meet people who are insulting without meaning to, but there are also folks that really understand our struggles and somehow, they help us see the better parts of us.
  
  I wish more people would see this because I think that we should educate ourselves so we don’t offend others with our words or actions. You truly don’t know how whatever you say out of fear, or hate or ignorance, may might affect others. This world would be a hell a lot better if we’d have more empathy and respect towards our own kind.
  
  We all deserve respect and love and the feeling of appreciation.
  
  It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, remember that you’re not alone and there are people out there that can give you a hand, because they know how it feels. You’re not broken, you’re not something to be fixed, you are you and that’s OK.
  
• 
  Maia

  A wonderful collection of Julia Kay's webcomic Up and Out Comic, which can be read on tumblr and instagram. These strips span the first year of Julia's transition including a cross-country move and many other new starts. I had previously read most of this material online but it was great to be able to hold the book in my hands.
• 
  Laura

  Really lovely! Straightforward, deceptively simple (all in the same 3-panel structure) and honest. A great combination of being truthful about the hard things and hopeful.
• 
  Stacie

  You can feel how open, real, and raw the author was when creating these comics. She has such a beautiful story and this little collection should get more attention because of it. Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition is equal parts enlightening, hopeful, and encouraging. I'm so glad that Kaye decided to share her story. It will serve as support for young queer folks, but also as an education tool for someone who might not fully understand what it's like to be transgender. Would definitely recommend this if autobiographical comic strips are your thing.
• 
  Maxine

  Very nice book, especially if you’re trans/know someone who is trans and just starting to transition. I believe everyone can get something from these great comic strips, but as someone who started HRT the same week the book came out, I found it amazing.
  
  The strips are very relatable. Sometimes sad, but ultimately very positive. Always entertaining. Great book.
• 
  Rod Brown

  Take keen insight into the emotional rollercoaster of gender transition, mix with humor and grace, and you have a pretty amazing book.
• 
  Mehsi

  I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
  
  I have been following Julia Kaye for quite some time now, first on Webtoons around 2015 and later on Twitter when she stopped her Webtoon (which I still think is sad, but I can totally understand the whys).
  
  So most of the comic is not new to me as she has been posting them on Twitter regularly, but I still very much wanted to read them all again. See how it all began. See the process of transitioning, changing her name and getting assigned the right gender, make-up, shaving woes, moments of doubt, misgendering (please people… it is not that hard), and much more. At times I was just tearing up, not only during the sadder moments, but also tears of happiness for her.
  
  I still love her art, it is also very fun to see how much they improved. Not saying they were bad, but these days they are even prettier.
  
  I am happy that I had the opportunity to read these comics bundled as an ARC, I will be buying the book when it comes out in May, I need to have this comic on my bookshelves.
  
  I would like to talk more about the book, but I am still worried that I may say something wrong/make a mistake, so I will just keep it to what I have written so far. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
  
  Review first posted at
  https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
• 
  Shaun

  I've been following Julia's work when I found her gag comics online before she came out publicly. What came next were these highly personal strips about her experiences transition. The simple black and white doodles really carry a lot of weight and make something that seems to foreign to many, cis people like me, come across as relatable in a way. I have no doubt. This comic dictionary is valuable not for those who know all too well what she has been going through but also to those who are clueless as to what trans people go through. There are ups and downs, good days and bad. This is a powerful piece that I would recommend to anyone.
• 
  Cassandra

  A touching non-fiction graphic novel/comic book about the day to day realities of a recently out trans woman. I found this to be emotional yet beautifully written. This will help so many transgenders realize that they're not alone in how they're feeling. Its hard at first, but it will get better. This is such an important book, and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves. Beautiful!
  
  A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate it!
• 
  Yaritza

  A powerful comic that lets us experience all Julia went through with her gender transition through out a year. This comic collection gives you first hand account of how a transgender view themselves, struggle, worry but through it all they stand strong and help others see they can to. You see the happy moments and the sad moments that can bring you down. Julia is a strong women who stood tall and did what makes her happy. Thank you for sharing you story and please continue to share it.
• 
  Cathi

  My favorite thing about graphic novels is how immersive they feel- with illustrations, I feel more a part of the world than I do with other books. I appreciate Julia's candor sharing a part of her transition and honest experience, with all of the ups and downs. Grateful for this book, and glad to have found it at my local library.
• 
  Jeimy

  Kaye offers a raw look at how transitioning felt as she no only dealt with the traitorous biological processes that reminded her of who she was, but also with how people treated her as she underwent her transition.
• 
  Brittany

  This is a very quick, slice-of-life collection of comics the author wrote nearly every day following the start of her transition. I appreciate her raw vulnerability and feel like I have a bit of a grasp on what that must feel like. I’m grateful to have read it.
• 
  Kathryn Kania

  Oh my gosh, this is such a cute comic series and also, Julia is super cute herself. The end.
• 
  Becca

  This graphic novel memoir chronicles the first year after a woman’s transition - both the joys and challenges.
  
  Some things Julia journals about:
  * the indignities of being misgendered
  * often being stared at, people assuming she’s a man in drag
  * her internalized transphobia
  * how time-consuming shaving and facial hair lasering are… and makeup but she feels like she has to. “unless i wear obvious gender signifiers I’m read as a man.”
  * trying to start online dating
  * all the paperwork of a name change
  * the anxiety of coming out to various people in her life
  *** being increasingly at home in her body and with herself, and about often being supported in her journey.
• 
  Jessica Haider

  A collection from the author's web comic Up and Out which is a diary of sorts of her first year of transition to female.
• 
  Sally

  As Julia Kaye explains in her preface to Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition, the comics here were drawn daily, one per day, during the early days of her transition. They were both a coming out and a form of therapy, a creative outlet for a transgender soul without a supportive community on which to rely.
  
  The first few comics are both sad and sweet, a portrait of a woman happy with herself, even if society struggles to accept her. There is a conflict here in Kaye's sense of self, a battle between who she was, who she is, and who she wants to be. Some days are better than others, with small victories celebrated, but others are sad and lonely, with impatience over the process and a need for external validation a common theme to them all. Those little moments are my favorite, capturing things that most people take for granted, but which are pivotal for someone in transition.
  
  It is interesting to see some comics censored, with names and faces disguised, presumably to protect friends and family. It reinforces the fact that these were cartoons drawn for Kaye, with the decision to publish coming later. Her coming out - to friends and coworkers - is a powerful moment. I loved the panels where she sings along with Against Me in the car, because I can so relate (True Trans Soul Rebel is actually my ringtone!), and her inability to accept compliments, reading veiled insults into them, is so familiar. The comic about seeing her life in black and white was particularly interesting, since I struggle to find those shades of grey as well. There are so many comics here that speak to me, moments with which I can relate, but it is the progression of her transition - physically, emotionally, and mentally - that draws them all together into a coherent narrative.
  
  It is not a perfect story, no fairy tale with a happy ending. Kaye is honest with herself, and that means she is honest with us, sharing her fears and doubts, even late in transition. The comics are simple, line drawings like you would see in the newspaper, but they have style and energy to them that allows her talent to shine as bright as her identity. A delightful read.
  
  
  http://bibrary.blogspot.ca/2018/05/su...
• 
  Rebekah

  Book provided by Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
  
  My partner found Julia’s comics on Instagram during her transition. We both started following Julia and would often discuss the daily comic and how it related to what my partner was feeling. Julia was often a few months ahead of my partner’s transition so it was helpful to see the future reflected in her art, so to speak.
  
  This book is a compilation of daily diary entries in three-panel comic form as Julia goes through her mtf transition. The simple panels so clearly relate the everyday feelings a trans person experiences—body dysmorphia, hormonal changes, misgendering, coming out, and slowly seeing how the outside of the body begins to match the inward feelings.
  
  I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to understand more about life as a trans person, for anyone who loves a trans person and wants to begin to understand a bit of what it feels like to be trans, and to any trans person who doesn’t want to feel alone during the transition.
• 
  Jay

  This is the book I recommend to anyone wanting to explore transitioning. The beautiful truth, Julia so vulnerably puts in her work, is that some days are better and some days are harder and there's a whole lot of mixed days.
  
  As a society we put so much pressure on minorites to understand themselves. If you affirm your gender, you may feel like you have to be 100% confident and sure 24/7. Julia shares that some days the female box feels tight/limiting as well.
  
  I love that. The rollercoaster is real.
  She maintains that the outcome is worth it, *and* shows the struggle. Thank you, Julia!
• 
  Geoff

  Checked this out (along with a bunch of other comics) from my local library branch’s surprisingly extensive graphic novel section. Yay libraries!
  
  I don’t usually like diary comics, but this was a look at the experiences of someone transitioning their gender, and the insight into their anxieties, experiences, and day to day life was really affecting. Making a big life change is *hard* and I felt like I got a better understanding of just how it’s hard for a trans woman in the first year of her transition.
• 
  ashes ➷

  This was so cute! Interesting, informational, and engaging-- Kaye has a gorgeous style and I especially loved her depiction of herself. It was such a great idea to do this in comic format; it allows Kaye to show herself as she really is instead of having to rely on description or photos. Just felt like a great journey overall; I'm so glad I got the chance to read this.
• 
  Kris

  This really helped give me a window into so of the struggles and joys of accepting who you are, not as a child or adolescent, but as an adult. Julia is vulnerable and open, and for someone who has not experienced gender dysphoria and is cis, I appreciate so much this chance to understand a little better.