| Biography & Autobiography |
| Young Adult Nonfiction |
| Social Activists |
| LGBTQ+ |
Summary
Summary
In 2013, Orange Is the New Black began captivating audiences with its cast of female characters representing diverse strata of society. Perhaps no star on the show has inspired as much as Laverne Cox, who plays the black transgender inmate Sophia Burset. Cox's work, both as an actor and off-screen, has brought attention to the risks faced by vulnerable populations, particularly racial minority transgender individuals. This biography documents Cox's triumphant life and work as an activist, documenting her own growth from troubling times she recalls as a teenager to becoming the first openly transgender actor nominated for an Emmy.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-Details about the subjects' lives are carefully woven around narratives of their challenges and milestones in understanding and transitioning to their gender identities. Sidebars sensitively treat issues such as the complications of gender pronouns and showcase prominent transgender figures in related fields, such as film composer Wendy Carlos in Wachowski and tennis star Renée Richards in Jenner. Occasional photos of the subjects before transition, coupled with captions using preferred pronouns, may be jarring for some readers. Each title concludes with an annotated time line, further reading recommendations, and extensive bibliography, as well as references to organizations serving and advocating for transgender people. VERDICT The series is highly recommended: sensitively yet uncompromisingly presented, clearly and comprehensively written, while covering intriguing and current subjects. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Best known for her role as Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black, Cox is the first openly trans person to receive an Emmy nomination. This volume in the Transgender Pioneers series tells the story of her sometimes troubled, always inspiring life. Cox herself sums it up: I'm an African American transgender woman from a working-class background, raised by a single mother. While she is open about the sense of shame she began feeling as a child, she chooses not to discuss her own transition in public. Her advocacy for the trans community is no secret, however, nor is the array of impressive firsts that have visited her career. The book is enriched by numerous sidebar features providing contextual information about being transgender. A valuable contribution to the slender but growing body of transgender literature.--Cart, Michael Copyright 2016 Booklist
