Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition

I have tried to think of how to review this book without relating it directly to my own experience, and it feels almost impossible. I am a trans person and the work of Julia Kaye has had a profound impact on my personal transition and my life as a whole. This began with the early days of 2016 when I began to read her webcomic to today with this lovely book that I now have in my hands. Now that I have them all in such a wonderful package it truly allows the beautifully written and illustrated comics to shine brightly. In this book Kaye has opened herself up to the world in such a wonderfully honest and vulnerable way and I think in turn has allowed others – including myself - going through similar experiences to not feel so alone. Transitioning can be a very isolating experience. It made it clear to me just how important trans representation in the media can be and is. I am overjoyed to know that this book will be that representation that so many trans people need. You will not regret buying this book. So why not buy several copies? Spread this around, let friends borrow copies, donate it in book drives, to your local library. This story needs to be told to as many people as possible. It is that important. Thank you, Julia.

Outstanding collection! Should be part of school curriculum units on building/understanding empathy, courage, and perseverance. I can't recall a comic strip collection I've read where I've felt so much for the author. I had a positive feeling about this book once I "welled up" during the introduction and "welled up" many times during the course of reading the strips. By the way, the artistic style of her drawings are so cool. Like a combination of Charles Schultz and Crockett Johnson.

This book is a wildly honest and heartfelt documentation of Julia’s journey through her first year in transition! Her strips are articulate and drawn with care. I read the whole book cover to cover in one sitting, and I look forward to doing so again! It’s a privilege being able to read Julia’s experiences through her eyes.

I bought two of these. One for myself to understand what trans women go through and one for a friend who is a trans woman. She really enjoyed this book so she knows she is not alone with what she feels. I recommend this for anyone transitioning or for those who are just curious about the trans community. And, both the author and my friend are named Julia!

Ok, I am a big fan of Julia, and all her work, so I was PUMPED when she announced her book! This small collection of her comics focusing on her transition is very real, and honestly I re-read the book twice the day I got it XD I like it a lot, and it gives me hope for my own transition! Julia is so cool, so if you have the money you should totally show your support! Glad I can have this book on my shelf! Stay cool Julia!

Love it! This is great for everyone, as it helps anyone understand what it is like for a transgendered person to exist and live in our extremely cisgendered culture. I've been a fan of Julia's for a few years now, and she never disappoints.

Julia's comics helped me through so much when I began realizing I was transgender. Her comics are short, to the point, and all very much from the heart. Just what I need on the days when I'm not feeling myself. And now I've got them all in an adorable paperback <3

The illustrations were adorable, the little three panel stories were powerful, and overall it's one of the best things I've read in a long time. Blew through it in a night, I just couldn't put it down! Would reccomend!

While the cartoons are cute enough, they are simplistic in style which may not appeal to many readers. The author does manage to convey masculinity and femininity in his looks with a few shifts of the pen. The writing vacillates with Ms. Kaye’s mood shifts. Sometimes, they swing so rapidly from one extreme to the next you wonder if she’s bipolar or if her medication needs adjustment. The book often repeats itself, with the author brooding about a misuse of gender pronoun or the need for makeup (without it he looks too much like what people expect a man to look like). He wonders when his inner anxieties will ever stop as he gets sunk again in gloom after staring into the mirror. One strip that piqued my interest was when he went out late at night and decided to carry mace…something that undoubtedly never would have crossed her mind when she was still in the male form. Welcome to the downside of being a woman, Julia. However, that was it in terms of retaining my attention. While I’m sure Julia’s story is that of many a transgendered person in transition, it wears on the reader to go over the same ground over and over again.

This book made my heart happy and was deeply relatable.The vulnerability and poignancy of Julia's journey came through on every page and I'm grateful she was willing to share it with us. Much needed. Well done!

I have tried to think of how to review this book without relating it directly to my own experience, and it feels almost impossible. I am a trans person and the work of Julia Kaye has had a profound impact on my personal transition and my life as a whole. This began with the early days of 2016 when I began to read her webcomic to today with this lovely book that I now have in my hands. Now that I have them all in such a wonderful package it truly allows the beautifully written and illustrated comics to shine brightly. In this book Kaye has opened herself up to the world in such a wonderfully honest and vulnerable way and I think in turn has allowed others – including myself - going through similar experiences to not feel so alone. Transitioning can be a very isolating experience. It made it clear to me just how important trans representation in the media can be and is. I am overjoyed to know that this book will be that representation that so many trans people need. You will not regret buying this book. So why not buy several copies? Spread this around, let friends borrow copies, donate it in book drives, to your local library. This story needs to be told to as many people as possible. It is that important. Thank you, Julia.

Outstanding collection! Should be part of school curriculum units on building/understanding empathy, courage, and perseverance. I can't recall a comic strip collection I've read where I've felt so much for the author. I had a positive feeling about this book once I "welled up" during the introduction and "welled up" many times during the course of reading the strips. By the way, the artistic style of her drawings are so cool. Like a combination of Charles Schultz and Crockett Johnson.

This book is a wildly honest and heartfelt documentation of Julia’s journey through her first year in transition! Her strips are articulate and drawn with care. I read the whole book cover to cover in one sitting, and I look forward to doing so again! It’s a privilege being able to read Julia’s experiences through her eyes.

I bought two of these. One for myself to understand what trans women go through and one for a friend who is a trans woman. She really enjoyed this book so she knows she is not alone with what she feels. I recommend this for anyone transitioning or for those who are just curious about the trans community. And, both the author and my friend are named Julia!

Ok, I am a big fan of Julia, and all her work, so I was PUMPED when she announced her book! This small collection of her comics focusing on her transition is very real, and honestly I re-read the book twice the day I got it XD I like it a lot, and it gives me hope for my own transition! Julia is so cool, so if you have the money you should totally show your support! Glad I can have this book on my shelf! Stay cool Julia!

Love it! This is great for everyone, as it helps anyone understand what it is like for a transgendered person to exist and live in our extremely cisgendered culture. I've been a fan of Julia's for a few years now, and she never disappoints.

Julia's comics helped me through so much when I began realizing I was transgender. Her comics are short, to the point, and all very much from the heart. Just what I need on the days when I'm not feeling myself. And now I've got them all in an adorable paperback <3

The illustrations were adorable, the little three panel stories were powerful, and overall it's one of the best things I've read in a long time. Blew through it in a night, I just couldn't put it down! Would reccomend!

While the cartoons are cute enough, they are simplistic in style which may not appeal to many readers. The author does manage to convey masculinity and femininity in his looks with a few shifts of the pen. The writing vacillates with Ms. Kaye’s mood shifts. Sometimes, they swing so rapidly from one extreme to the next you wonder if she’s bipolar or if her medication needs adjustment. The book often repeats itself, with the author brooding about a misuse of gender pronoun or the need for makeup (without it he looks too much like what people expect a man to look like). He wonders when his inner anxieties will ever stop as he gets sunk again in gloom after staring into the mirror. One strip that piqued my interest was when he went out late at night and decided to carry mace…something that undoubtedly never would have crossed her mind when she was still in the male form. Welcome to the downside of being a woman, Julia. However, that was it in terms of retaining my attention. While I’m sure Julia’s story is that of many a transgendered person in transition, it wears on the reader to go over the same ground over and over again.

This book made my heart happy and was deeply relatable.The vulnerability and poignancy of Julia's journey came through on every page and I'm grateful she was willing to share it with us. Much needed. Well done!

A lovely and important book by a talented artist, author and activist. Super Late Bloomer is a wonderful first book in what I hope will be series on Julia’s experiences as a transgender woman in this crazy world. Her book is poignant and funny, her illustrations relatable and heart-warming. I so appreciate her allowing us to share her triumphs and difficulties as she embarked on her journey. I love this book and look forward to more from Julia! Buying it for friends and family!

I don't think I've seen a work on/by trans people that quite so accurately captures the day to day struggles and celebrations that being trans brings. Made me laugh and cry and remember there's hope for all of us. You don't have to suffer.

This is a great collection of personal comics that help to illustrate the artist Julia Kaye's story. It also includes a very moving foreword, and an epilogue of sorts, that help to bring everything together. My only issue was with the very minimalist presentation of the personal comics, themselves. The strips are presented by themselves on each page, with no kind of additional context or elaboration given for any of them, which I missed from Julia's social media posts of these comics. It made the experience feel lacking by comparison, so I wished some of that commentary had been included.

This one of the most beautiful and great books you can get, especially if you're trans or know someone who is. Highly recommended

This is an incredible and important snippet of the trans experience. I was so excited for this book to come out and I read it cover to cover twice as soon as I ripped it out of the envelope. Its content hits home.

All I can say is if you're a trans woman, most will see some of their own personal journeys reflected here. All the feels. For those who aren't a trans person, your eyes will be opened to a world that you've probably never questioned, your gender identity. And wonderful drawings, can't forget that part, the emotions are right there.

Funny, sad, relatable, emotions. This book has them all! It’s also wonderfully illustrated and truly a fantastic piece of work. I’ve had it out on my coffee table and everyone who’s visited has picked it up and after a few comics declares it a fantastic book.

Julia's story is amazing, and I'm so thankful she has shared so much of it. There's so much to learn from her POV - she is simultaneously relatable, while also opening my eyes to the struggles of a person in transition that I would never have known as a cis woman. I encourage everyone to read, listen & learn.

This book is an honest look into what its like to be trans. Julia's unique vision from a viewpoint most people will never fully understand or experience. This book should be on everyones reading list.

As I am early in my transition, I identified with so many of the strips in this book. Some made me laugh out loud and others made me tear up, but they are all great. I bought 2 copies, 1 to keep for me and 1 to share with others.

Too much to relate to and so much that I expect is still coming as I start my own journey at 51. Thank you for helping me accept me.

Just a great little book! Highly recommended!

Seriously this is a great book. It’s light hearted and funny and really gives great insight into the difficulties she has faced in her transition.

Out of all the books and media I've read about transitioning, this is by far and away the most relatable. Books like this are critical to both educate the public in an easy to access format, and to show young trans girls that they're not alone.

I have been pretty depressed lately and I actually forgot that I preordered this, it was a bit of an impulse buy but I'm glad I did because seeing someone go through some of the same things I am currently helped a little and that means a lot to me!

I cannot recommend this book enough!

If you're like me you'll finish this in one sitting, and love every second of it. This book is important and very meaningful to me as I start my transition.

this was a quick but very good read. super relatable for me and my experience as a nonbinary person. reading some pages it felt like Julia read my mind. it’s nice to know I’m not alone. thank you Julia <3

I wouldn't be a trans woman without this book. I'd dealt with gender dysphoria for a long time before buying this book but I would never have had the courage to be where I an without this to solidify things in my mind. Reading someone else's story and compating it to what I was dealing with was so amazing and validating. I began rereading it again aftet coming out and it's a good reminder of how we can get into our oen heads and hoe difficult transitioning can be, but also hoe worth it it is if it's truly what you want Julia, if by some happenstance you read this please know that you helped someone.

Honest, heartfelt snapshot of the trials and tribulations of early transition. It’s so endearing that you just want to hug young Julie and tell her everything will be okay

Julia Kaye is such a skilled artist and writer for her to be able to translate these experiences, even the negative ones, into a hopeful and positive but still honest final result. Beautiful in both message and execution, this book is an insightful and heartfelt read that I would recommend to anyone! This is a book I can tell I'll be rereading over and over.

Tremendously eye opening and raw, you owe it to yourself to pick this up and give it a look. Couldn't be happier with the purchase and will be passing this along to friends.

A collection of self-bio comics from my favorite comic artist. Julia's comics come off as relatable for any transwoman out there and that's something you don't see everywhere. Please give this book a look if you haven't already.

This is the story of a trans women going through a rather late transition. Her storytelling defies the typical narrative you see in most media, where all trans folk immediately know they're trans since birth. And while it may be atypical, it speaks out more to those who personally haven't had things figured out right away either. It sacrifices the need for an overarching dramatic narrative and hones in on the small, though incredibly impactful moments that help carve us into who we become. While it is less on the humorous and informative side, her brief stories still encompass the experiences most trans folk go through when transitioning, whether it be blissful or downright miserable. I implore anyone who wishes to understand trans folk better to read this book and enlighten yourself. And for anyone who might be questioning their own gender identity as well, this story might provide you with a sense of solace in knowing you aren't alone.

I was looking for books to use for a literature class that includes sexual orientation issues. The trans memoirs I found were boring. This graphic memoir is perfect. It covers the issues and problems in a sympathetic, yet slightly humorous way. Since this is for a class, I didn't want an introduction to the issue to be R-rated, and this one is not. The only problem is that it's too expensive.

This book is a beautiful validation of the trans experience. I'm transmasc, and gave this book to my transfemme friend who is beginning to transition. She absolutely loved it.

I will definitely be sharing this will all of my friends! It's an amazing book. I loved being able to read about something that i relate to, it's absolutely comforting.

This is a beautifully drawn and heartfelt view into the complexities of everyday life through the eyes of this remarkable young artist on her journey through her transition. Lovely book!

Julia's book is an amazing compilation of comics about the story of her experiences she has faced during her transition. It is honest and inspiring and a wonderful read.

Adorable, beautiful, honest. As a trans person I would 100% recommend.

Julia created an excellent book telling the story of her transition journey. Touching, funny, sad, elating.I saw myself in almost every panel. Thank you Julia! When will volume 2 appear? Hugs.

This is a good book, and it deserves to be read

This book is full of charm and sincerity in telling a very important story

This is a great collection of comics, beautifully done and heartfelt. If you're curious about transition, trying to explain it to someone else, or just want to support trans artists, this is a great book.

This is an amazing collection of comics! It's incredibly honest and full of emotion. I couldn't recommend this book enough!

Love, love, looooooove Julia’s insight and warmth in regards to a truly personal, often harrowing life experience. And goodness is it FUNNY

Julia's comics frankly convey the joys and agonies of transitioning. A must read no matter what your gender is.

Emotional highs and emotional lows all in one adorable little book. I recommend it highly!

My fiancee is a transgender woman who is in the early part of her transition, so I thought that this would be a good gift for her. She loves it so far, and has been bookmarking pages that resonate with her. I personally love the art style of the comic strips, and I think this is a wonderful gift for any young transgender woman in someone's life.

I'd recommend this book to anyone with a trans friend or family member.

I love this book very much!

Insightful, wonderful and lovely.

I couldn’t put it down! Very relatable.

This is a fun book of cartoons about Starting your Transitioning male to female, must have very likable !

This book is wonderful. I have no idea how Julia Kaye got inside my head when she wrote the introduction, but it made me feel that I wasn't alone. Very much recommended.

I currently live her cartoon. It is difficult to explain to cisgender individuals the internal torment and pain felt every day by transgender people. Julia at least made me laugh at the humor within my pain. Thank you Julia

Gives me life.

I love this book so much! It’s incredibly nice to know you aren’t alone with some of the more personal/weird feelings you have during your transition! 15/10

I'm probably not the audience this is for (cisgender woman, female), but I wanted to read it, so I know how to be a better person. This isn't a how-to guide on being a better ally and whatnot, but this collection shows what one person goes through during transition. Julia's collection provides hope for others as to what it's like to not feel comfortable in oneself and what it took for her to feel better. Julia's collection helped me understand what many may go through when transitioning. How compliments help, how saying dude is probably not a great word for people (even though I may live in California and have used it everywhere, I know I should decrease/eliminate the usage), how it's not wrong to help others when they feel uncomfortable (step in and help in anyway, even if it's small!), and so much more! It goes to show that people should be kinder, have a bit more empathy and compassion, and be respectful towards those who are transitioning. I enjoyed this collection. It is beautiful and amazing, and I recommend this to everyone!!!!

I bought this book through a local feminist bookstore and not on Amazon. This comic is absolutely phenomenal. It's honest. It's real. I found the scenarios that occurred in the daily entries to be very familiar to some experiences I have had as a nonbinary individual. This is Julia Kaye's powerful story of how she feels and deals with microaggressions, internalized transphobia, passing, representation/societal standards, and much more. The comic's unique form of daily diary entries really highlights how each day can feel different. Self-love isn't easy, nor is it always there, and that's okay. Showing her ups and her downs and how she wants to perceive internal and interpersonal interactions as more "gray", is inspiring. Overall, the comic feels relatable to me, and I'm thankful for reading it!

This book was a huge source of inspiration for me early in my transition, and I would encourage anyone who is, or thinks they might be, trans to pick up a copy and share with friends and allies. This book helped me to start a conversation with my dad that lead him to a better understanding of what I was going through. I cannot recommend Super Late Bloomer enough!

(Disclosure: I was given a review copy by the author.) Super Late Bloomer is a collection of strips that Kaye made to document her transition and help process her feelings about it. If you’re trans and you read it, certain parts of it can be a real heart-wrenching punch in the gut. Which parts exactly will probably vary wildly from person to person, because none of us walk the same journey. There were parts (mostly relating to reflections in mirrors) that I found intensely relatable, and others I could merely empathize with. If you’re a cis person, I recommend you approach this book from the point of view of “this is an autobiographical comic about a person”. That she is a trans woman is not incidental, it’s the major theme and focus of the comics. And getting insight into the life of a trans woman, any trans woman, is likely to help you relate to and understand other trans women. But you’ll be doing yourself and any other trans women in your life now or in the future a bit of a disservice if you look at the comic as a guidebook or instruction manual on The Trans. As they say dans la belle Lifetime Channel: this is one woman’s journey. And it is a herky-jerky, old-fashioned wooden roller coaster ride of a journey: even the ups and downs aren’t nice and smooth. It’s not a sob story, and there’s no cheap pathos. Just genuine human emotions in a genuine human life. Don’t read this comic expecting everything laid out in a nice, progressive story arc; it’s a journal comic, written one day at a time, each strip capturing not the entirety of a day or even its summary but something that resonated emotionally within it. Don’t read it expecting a laugh a minute or gag a day. It’s not that kind of comic strip. But, by all means, do read it. It is well worth your time for the privilege of seeing inside another human being’s head, reading her reflections at her most confident and most vulnerable moments, and going along on the roller coaster ride.

Ups and downs and everything in between, this collection from Julia Kaye's webcomic Up and Out takes readers through all the feels! How does she say so much in only three brief panels? Such a powerful memoir.

I was so excited to purchase this book as I’d been a reader of Julia’s comics for a short amount of time previously. Through her straightforward style and engaging writing, she tells a very personal story in an extremely relatable way. I think empathy is in a large part a learned trait and by reading books detailing other people’s experiences we grow as people, so it certainly helps when that growth is augmented by a delightful storyteller and artist!

This book is everything. I found Julia on twitter and fell in love with her comics instantly. Her little comics pack so much in such a few frames, and really sets a narrative any trans person finding themselves can relate to in one way or another. She helped me find and accept who I am as a trans woman despite my age and the mental struggles I've thrown myself into. I think this is an excellent tool for those who are coming out to family and friends to help explain what is going on. Thank you Julia!!!!

As a transitioning trans woman about 2 years behind Julia I find her book valuable and validation. So many experiences and feelings we have shared. I keep the book on my coffee table and try to read only a few pages at a time. I want it to last!

This is a fantastic and engaging look into the process of the author's transition. Her work is emotional, heartfelt, funny and intensely relatable. I would recommend this book to anyone.

I enjoyed the beginning of Super Late Bloomer. It was heart-wrenching and hopeful. About two thirds in, I began to feel like I was reading the same strip over and over again. I understand that, when going through this kind of transition, you run into the same obstacles repeatedly, but the repetition caused me to lose interest.

So excellent. It's funny. It's sad. It's inspiring. It's hopeful. An excellent and quick read that chronicles Julia's transition in comics form. It should be required reading for humankind.

I have no words for this book other than AMAZING! I absolutely love Julia Kaye's Super Late Bloomer! I follow her on Instagram and I always look forward to seeing what she posts. She's so honest about her experiences and the comics are nicely drawn. Absolutely flawless and an amazing read!

Amazing book, so cool to watch her go through her transition and it’s so relatable.

Such an honest and open view of Julia’s transition through the good and bad. I couldn’t love it any more than I do!

Universal in its specificity, Julia’s journey during her transition shows the messages we get from society impact how we understand ourselves. Her wisdom about abandoning black and white thinking is one I plan to hold on to.

Wonderful book :)

Quick read of a great story!

Absolutely love Julia and this book! 10/10 would reccomend!! ❤️

Heartwarmingly honest, insightful, made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me ‘aaawwwwwww’. And that was just the introduction. This arrived the day after my birthday, so turned out to be a little birthday present to myself. Thank you ! Thank you, a thousand times, thank you to Julia for opening her heart in this way.

Funny, sweet and straight from the heart. Whether you are trans or cis, it doesn't matter the barriers are brought down in a depiction of a woman showing strength, humour and grace to an often difficult process we all go through and understand - puberty.

Wonderful and oh so helpful, exactly what I needed right now

brilliant, insightful, heartwarming. I just wish it was longer

Moving, eyeopening and beautiful. Julia Kayes Book is more than needed in any Bookshelf regardless if you are part of the LGBT community or not. Thank you so much for making me cry. And thank you for giving me such a wonderful insight to myself.

read it in an evening and it made my day, I come back to it frequently

A wonderful and honest collection of comics. They helped me with my transition and I cannot recommend it enough

Just like the other book from this author, this is very inspiring!