First Year Out

Sabrina Symington’s First Year Out is a gorgeous graphic novel about the main character, Lily’s, experiences through her transition. It’s a warm and moving story, beautifully illustrated, that will resonate with many people. I loved the inclusion of a diverse cast of characters who experienced their gender in different ways, as well as the focus on Lily in particular. It was good to see Lily and her friends answering some of the questions trans people hear a lot, in ways that should be accessible to anyone. This would be a useful book for parents, partners, friends, and colleagues of trans people to read to gain a better understanding. I expect that First Year Out will end up being a good friend to many trans people embarking on their own journeys. – Meg-John Barker, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Open University and Co-author of How to Understand Your GenderI laughed and I cried. I personally identified with many of the situations … This is not only a great guide for transgender people, but for allies as well. – Carla Lewis, Transgender AdvocateSabrina Symington’s work is beautiful but she isn’t afraid to show the ugly side of transition too, making this a story all trans girls can relate to. – Charlie Craggs, Transgender Activist and #1 on The Observer’s 2016 New Radicals listThis intimate and witty book is a testament to being who you are and a celebration of gender diversity. – Gscene

Lily’s clear explanations of how she tucks in her pre-op genitals or how she copes with dysphoria and dysmorphia, her mother’s realisation that her unconscious bias sounds like Transgender Exclusionary Radical Feminism (TERF), and the stories of other transitioning women whose appearance will never reach the delicacy they feel is authentic, inspire great empathy and visceral emotion.Much of this is due to the art, which is vibrant in style and colour.

Sabrina Symington is an illustrator, graphic novelist, and blogger from Vancouver, working to normalize transgender issues. First Year Out is based on her own personal experiences and those of her friends.