GAY REVIEW: THIS BOOK IS GAY BY JAMES DAWSON

 
This Book is Gay
James Dawson
Publisher: Hot Key Books
ISBN: 978-1-4714-0395-8
Price: £ 7.99
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

Blurb: Former PSHCE teacher and acclaimed YA author James Dawson gives an uncensored look at what it's like to grow up as LGBT*. Including testimonials from people 'across the spectrum', this inclusive book explores everything anyone who ever dared to wonder wants to know - from sex to politics, how to pull, stereotypes, how to come-out and more. Spike Gerrell's hilarious illustrations combined with funny and factual text make this a must-read.

Review: Most self-help books come off as rather dry reading, boring and not what you expected. Comforting then that James Dawson's newest book is the total opposite with help for those who have to deal with the inner pain and suffering of whether to come out or not and trying to be the best at whatever we are, whether it is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.This Book is Gay is a collection of facts, ideas, stories from the authors own experiences of being gay and the testimonials of more than three hundred LGBT people. It starts out at chapter one with its welcome to the members club with some facts that other non-gay people might not like to address.

What is also interesting yet what many might not already have come to understand after they leave school is that teachers never taught them about what it is like to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. They simply swept it under the carpet due to Section 28 until later, yet most have never been taught about what it is like to be different.  Here Dawson offers advice for teens who are finding it hard to live their lives being different. There are hints and tips about coming-out to parents and friends which are handy to have if you are any of the gender preferences.

Juicy Bits: 
*Tips on how to pick up a potential love interest
* How to change your preferred gender if you want to take that step as a MTF(Male to Female) or FTM (Female to Male) person
* Testimonials from people who have come-out and what they discovered

After thoughts: With humour throughout, Dawson uses cartoons to make the book readable to all, comic pie charts, devils with pitchforks (no, I'm not kidding), the Identity Machine, Mars Bar/Snickers Continuum and the difference between being transgender, transexual and transvestite. Within all the fun and instructional bits, there is also some biology/science behind who we are and why which might help when coming-out to parents or friends. As Dawson shows readers, the people who have come-out can have a relatively good experience with those who have accepted their decision to be gay, but there are also sad accounts of those whose experiences have been anything but great.

Overall, Dawson's book is the ultimate help guide for anyone who wants to understand more about gay people, is lesbian, gay, bi or transgender and needs to know everything - this has it all and is written in a way that won't bore you to death!