Apparently Alex Bertie is well-known via YouTube - I'm fairly old, so this doesn't mean a great deal to me, and I hadn't watched any of his videos prior to reading Trans Mission (great title, by the way). Although I hadn't heard of Alex before, the book - largely a lively personal account of his life so far - sounded intriguing and I was happy to be given the opportunity to read and review.
Alex is still a very young man - 22, I think - but he has no shortage of experience to write about, as Alex is transgender, having been designated female at birth. The book recounts his journey through realising he was trans, coming out and undergoing hormone therapy and surgery as well as the effect on his relationships with family, friends and partners. (His Nan's reaction, in the form of a letter, is truly beautiful.) He also discusses some general issues about gender identity and issues for trans people, particularly those who are FTM (female to male).
Although there is much more awareness nowadays that some people are transgender, Alex's voice, as a transgender man, is one that is not all that commonly heard, and this is an important book in that respect.
Alex tells his story candidly and comes across as likeable and engaging. He acknowledges that his experiences are his own and not all transgender people will have the same experiences, but nevertheless I think many people (trans and otherwise) will relate to aspects of his story. The bullying he faced at school is heartbreaking to read.
I suspect "trans issues" are more high profile now than they have ever been and many people on all sides have some strong views. Alex is not afraid to engage with difficult and thorny issues and his opinions always come across as rational and considered. (He's often quite funny, as well.) It's clear that his high profile as a trans person, through his YouTube channel, is something of a mixed blessing as it makes it much harder for him to fly under the radar on occasions when he might want to do that.
The section written by his Mum, Michelle, describing how things were from her perspective, is fascinating and invaluable, highlighting the mixed emotions of a parent faced with a situation few parents would expect.
Ultimately this is an interesting and enlightening read from a young man who seems intelligent, insightful and very resilient. I might even go and watch some of his YouTube videos...
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