Barbara's Reviews > Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure

WOW! This graphic novel [3.5 for me!] truly is groundbreaking as it's the memoir of author-illustrator Lewis Hancox as he looks back on his formative years in St. Helens, and offers advice and encouragement to the younger version of himself, Lois. Because it's so personal and written from his perspective after the passage of some time, the story is particularly important, filled as it is with humor, pain, and ultimately, hope. From grandparents who easily accept that Lois is trans, supporting his journey, to a mother who sometimes blames herself for this to a father who simply cannot be bothered to use the name Lewis prefers and continues to deadname him, this book has it all--budding romances, clothing choices, clueless doctors, supportive friends. It doesn't get much realer than this. YA books featuring trans characters are still quite rare, and true stories about trans teens even rarer, making this one quite important and essential for a library or home collection. Plenty of readers will see themselves in Lewis's journey while others will gain insight into one man's trans journey by reading it. Clearly, it may take some time, but it DOES get better. I loved the artwork, which consists of detailed black and white panels, just as much as the story.