SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Award-winning journalist Nico Lang will read excerpts from their new book, “American Teenager,” answer questions, and sign copies from 1-3 p.m. July 26 at the South Charleston Public Library (312 4th Ave South Charleston, WV).
The book paints a vivid and moving portrait as it chronicles the lived experiences of eight transgender and nonbinary youth across the United States, including West Virginia. Lang follows their daily triumphs, struggles, and all that encompasses growing up trans in an America where the political landscape has grown increasingly hostile to the existence of gender-diverse people.
For their groundbreaking new book, Lang spent a year traveling the country to document the lives of transgender, nonbinary, and genderfluid teens and their families. The book draws on hundreds of hours of on-the-ground interviews with them and the people in their communities.
From the tip of Florida’s conservative panhandle to thriving queer communities in California, and from the hills of West Virginia to mosques in Illinois, American Teenager gives readers a window into the lives of Wyatt, Rhydian, Mykah, Clint, Ruby, Augie, Jack, and Kylie.
“Despite what some lawmakers might want us to believe, these are truly just kids looking for a brighter future,” Lang said.
The library is partnering with Plot Twist Books and the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia (ACLU-WV), which operates the annual Appalachian Queer Youth Summit, to host Lang’s event.
Reviews:
“Lang proves how rich the discourse is when trans youth take their rightful place at the center of their narratives.” —MAIA KOBABE, author of “Gender Queer: A Memoir”
“Media coverage tends to sensationalize the fight over how trans kids should be allowed to live, but what is incredibly rare are the voices of the people at the heart of this debate: transgender and gender nonconforming kids themselves.” — GARRARD CONLEY, New York Times bestselling author of “Boy Erased: A Memoir”
Lang’s accolades include ten awards from the National Association of LGBTQ Journalists; four awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, including 2023 Online Journalist of the Year; the Human Rights Campaign's inaugural Guardians of Truth Award; and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund's inaugural Visibility Award. They are also a Stonewall Book Award honoree. --30--