Beyond Magenta: Transgender and Nonbinary Teens Speak Out

Susan Kuklin’s Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out (2014) is a nonfiction book about trans (transgender) teenagers and young adults. It contains six interviews with six different trans and nonbinary youths who discuss their transitions. Each chapter focuses on a different interviewee and (with the exception of Chapter 3) includes a photo essay. This guide uses Candlewick Press’s 2014 Kindle edition of the book.

This book is both highly decorated and highly controversial. It has won multiple awards and honors, including in 2015 both the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Children’s/Young Adult Literature and the Stonewall Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. In the same year, the American Library Association listed it as the fourth most banned book in the United States; in 2019, it was the second. While many reviewers praise Beyond Magenta for its detailed and empathetic exploration of transgender adolescence, others have questioned its practical use as a resource for trans teens and their parents.

Content Warning: This book contains sensitive material, including discussion of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, and substance); bullying; discrimination; mental health; suicide; and surgical procedures.

Summary

Chapter 1 (“Jessy: The House of My Soul”) features an interview with a young transgender man named Jessy. Jessy describes a stable home life; an accepting family; and a childhood marked by international moves, in particular between Thailand, where he was born, and the United States. He felt like a boy from a young age and feels that his transition from female to male has been successful. He is proud to be transgender and expresses appreciation for his unique perspective, which grants him insight into both men and women. At the time of writing, Jessy is a confident college student with a long-term girlfriend. Jessy’s photo essay includes pictures of himself pre-transition, professional headshots of himself post-transition, and a picture of him posing with his girlfriend.

Chapter 2 (“Christina: Every Girl is Different”) features an interview with a young transgender woman named Christina. Christina’s story is marked by resilience in the face of frequent harassment and sometimes violent bullying. She expresses deep frustration with the challenges that come with being a woman who is transgender. The chapter ends with an interview with Christina’s mother, who went from rejecting her queer children (Christina’s brother Jonathan is gay) to accepting and supporting them. Christina’s photo essay includes pictures of herself shopping for clothes and posing with her mother.

Chapter 3 (“Mariah: The Real Deal”) features an interview with a young transgender woman named Mariah. Mariah was raised largely by her grandmother in an impoverished neighborhood. She describes a difficult childhood and youth, marked by neglect that led to state involvement—she had extended stays in a series of placement homes, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, and juvenile detention centers. She describes many sexual experiences, which started early in her childhood, that affected her transition and self-actualization. She elects not to include a photo essay.

Chapter 4 (“Cameron: Variables”) features an interview with a transmasculine nonbinary teenager. They describe growing up with civic-minded parents in a progressive community. They had a sturdy support system that allowed them to transition easily and with confidence. Cameron’s manner throughout the interview is optimistic and enthusiastic. Their photo essay includes pictures of them posing in eclectic “gender fuck” outfits.

Chapter 5 (“Nat: Something Else”) features an interview with a transmasculine nonbinary young adult. Nat was assigned female at birth, but they discovered that they are intersex as a teen. Their childhood was marked by social isolation and educational difficulties. They detail their passion for music and learning to play instruments. Their relationship with their family is strained. Their photo essay is a series of black and white portraits of themself. In most of these photos, they are shot at a distance in urban environments, holding or playing a violin.

Chapter 6 (“Luke: Untouchable”) features an interview with a teenage transgender man. At the request of his family, “Luke” is used in place of his real name. Luke describes his transition in tandem with his experiences at Proud Theater, a local theater collective for LGBTQ+ teens. He experienced a revelation while playing a transgender man in a skit. His photo essay features pictures of himself with his face out of frame or obscured, as requested by his family to protect his identity.

The book concludes with an Author’s Note, wherein Susan Kuklin acknowledges the people who helped make Beyond Magenta possible. It also includes a section describing the process of researching and creating the book, as well as an interview with an LGBTQ+ adolescent health expert.