8 Books to Read for Transgender History Month

So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro De Robertis

In this essential oral history, queer elders of color share stories of self-discovery, activism, resistance, and survival. Their testimonies are a necessary record of lived experience and hard-won progress, a love letter to queer history, and gorgeous reminder to treasure the wisdom of those who’ve witnessed history, helped shape it, and allowed us to imagine brighter futures. There is so much beautiful humanity in these pages, so much laughter and joy even in periods of profound struggle and loss. That joy is resistance, that joy is protest, that joy is unshakable. I need everyone to read this book. —Vanessa Diaz

Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline

I’m having trouble trying to summarize Tourmaline’s accomplishments: TIME 100 Most Influential Person in the World awardee, Guggenheim Fellow, award-winning filmmaker, a permanent art installation in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and so much more. Now, she’s written the “first definitive biography” of one of the most prominent figures in LGBTQ history: Marsha P. Johnson. Published simultaneously is a picture book version: One Day in June: A Story Inspired by the Life and Activism of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline and illustrated by Charlot Kristensen. —Danika Ellis

Transgender History by Susan Stryker

This is a sprawling account of transgender history in the United States beginning in the mid-20th century. Throughout the book, we follow a timeline of trans history, focusing on well-known points in history like World War II. Transgender History is a seminal work covering everything from history to identity politics, to musings on the future. It’s a true must-read for those within and outside of the community. —Mara Franzen

Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett

This is an excellent introduction to trans history in comic format, from ancient history to interviews with trans people today. It’s a broad yet thorough glimpse into the myriad ways gender has been expressed throughout time, and the ways trans people have been oppressed and erased from history. The beautiful illustrations enhanced and made the details more accessible. While listed as young adult, I would recommend it for anyone who wants to better understand the history of gender expression and transness, no matter their age. My only complaint is that I wanted an entire book for each chapter! I didn’t want it to end! —Margaret Kingsbury

The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar

A closeted trans Syrian American begins seeing his mother’s ghost after her suspicious death in a fire five years ago. Now, his grandmother’s sole caretaker, his only source of solace comes from painting murals in his Manhattan neighborhood at night. But when he discovers the journals of a Syrian American artist whose pages reveal not only surprising connections with his mother and grandmother but also the hidden reality of queer and transgender people in his community throughout history, he finally finds the courage to claim a new name for himself: Nadir. —Rachel Brittain

A Lady For A Duke by Alexis Hall

Need a book that will smash you to pieces and put you back together again? This sweeping, tender romance with a trans woman main character does just that. After faking her own death, Viola is free to live as herself, but without title or her best friend, Justin de Vere, Duke of Gracewood, at her side. When they reconnect years later, Gracewood is a shadow of himself. As Viola and Gracewood get reacquainted, their care and respect for each other blooms again. Filled with beautiful friendships, hope, and heart-aching yearning, this book is one you won’t want to put down. —Courtney Rodgers

Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg

A notorious thief by the name of Jack Sheppard and a modern-day trans professor’s obsessive search to discover his last confessions drive this propulsive story about identity, love, and liberation. When Dr. Voth uncovers a manuscript about an orphan sold into servitude in the eighteenth century, an orphan who desires to be called “Jack,” he’s certain he’s found the writings of Jack Sheppard. But even as he learns Jack’s tale and feverishly works to authenticate it, other powers are hard at work to steal it away. —Rachel Brittain

The Lilac People by Milo Todd

Berlin in the 1930s is a good place to be queer — until the Nazis rise to power. Now, queer and trans people are being rounded up. In one fell swoop, Bertie loses his job at Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld’s renowned Institute of Sexual Science and the Eldorado Club, where the once thriving queer community spent their nights. Bertie barely manages to escape with his life and his girlfriend, Sophie, fleeing to a farm where they pose as an elderly couple until the end of the war. But the Allied victory poses a new threat because while they’re liberating everyone else, queer prisoners are being arrested. So when a young trans man still wearing prison clothes from a concentration camp collapses in their yard, Bertie and Sofie know they’ll go to any length to protect him from the very people who claim to be rescuing the nation. —Rachel Brittain

Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu (Sapphic Fiction)

We Are The Match by Mary E. Roach (F/F Mafia Romance)

The Elysium Heist by Y.M. Resnik (F/F Sci-Fi Romance)

Astrolabe Rebirth by Fei Tian Ye Xiang (M/M Sci-Fi Romance)

The Memory Hunters by Mia Tsai (Sapphic Science Fantasy)

The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J.R. Dawson (Queer Fantasy)

The Needfire by MK Hardy (Sapphic Gothic) (UK Release)

A Raging Heart (A Ruinous Fate #3) by Kaylie Smith (Bisexual YA Fantasy)

Snotgirl Volume 4: Make It Make Sense! by Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung (Sapphic Graphic Novel)

Simplicity by Mattie Lubchansky (Trans Guy Dystopian Graphic Novel)

Heaven Official’s Blessing Box Set (1-6) by Mo Xiang and Tong Xi (M/M Fantasy Manhua)