Title: Becoming Tamara: My Story of Transition From Male to Female
Author: Tamara Rivera
Publisher: MainSpring Books
ISBN: 979-8891141551
Pages: 127
Genre: Non-fiction / Biographies & Memoir
Reviewer: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
While there are many reasons behind the current political and social divide in the world, one of the leading discussions around the world is around the rights and freedoms that transgender people should be allowed. From their ability to perform in a sport that matches their gender identity to protections from violent acts – and so much more, the discussion around transgenderism has become more complex as people either come out as transgender or support the LGBTQ+ community, while others are driven by fear and faith to lash out against the transgender community.
The difficulty and struggles which come with not only identifying as transgender but accepting oneself when the world around them lashes out is the driving force behind author Tamara Rivera’s Becoming Tamara: My Story of Transition From Male to Female. A blend of memoir and non-fiction storytelling, the author not only captures the heart of transgender rights and culture, but takes readers on a personal journey of self expression, transformation, and acceptance of their identity in a gripping tale that really hones in on what it truly means to be transgender in this world.
A short yet powerful read, the author expertly crafts a narrative which lances historical fact with personal expression and a journey that honestly catalogues the emotional process of transitioning and accepting one’s identity as transgender. The way the author writes each chapter makes it feel very conversational in tone, almost as if listening to the author speak in an intimate interview on a podcast. The chapters are straightforward in detail, and yet convey a wealth of deep, emotional undertones that speak to the shocking realities of what it’s like to go through the transition process.
For readers who enjoy non-fiction reads, especially those that delve into biography or memoir style writing, and speaks on issues related to the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender rights and activism, and the psychology and emotional journey that accompanies that process, this book will really speak to them. The author covers so many aspects of being transgender, from the realities of making the decision to transition to the emotional aspect of relationships changing with friends and family who cannot accept them and then discovering their found or chosen family, to the first time experiences that come with becoming a woman like the first time they visited a gynecologist or matching their gender identity to their ID at the DMV. A heartfelt and compelling story of identity and the contributions that have been made to the transgender movement, the book not only sheds a light on what it means to be transgender, but dispels some of the outdated and harmful rhetoric surrounding transgenderism and allows those who are not well versed in this subject matter to get a fresh and heartfelt perspective on the transgender movement overall. Her story will inspire anyone who has ever struggled to be seen, accepted, or loved for who they are.
