Skylar Kergil’s Before I Had the Words on: Being a Transgender Young Adult was a book that my inner child had their eyes on for some time. At first, it was difficult for me to read simply due to deeply resonating with the author’s narrative. My body expressed itself with strong somatic pain sensations as a response to the shared life experiences that accompany trauma as a fellow transgender person. It had been a very long time since I had read someone else’s personal story and found myself feeling incredibly seen, heard, and affirmed on many intricate and complex layers. Identity can be unnerving, but Skylar’s perspective and language has a grounding effect.

“Close your eyes and think about what is most important for you to focus on right now; self-care, your identity, finding words, whatever that may be.” (Kergil, 243)

As someone that lives with Complex PTSD and has experienced more trauma than support from a related community, having literary resources like Skylar’s memoir, provides another avenue for connection and belonging. Thank you, Skylar Kergil and Merced YLI!

— Mido V