Once a Girl, Always a Boy

A Family Memoir of a Transgender Journey

By: Jo Ivester

Narrated by: Jo Ivester, Jon Ivester, Jeremy Ivester, Sammy Ivester, Jenn Ivester

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Jeremy Ivester is a transgender man. Thirty years ago, his parents welcomed him into the world as what they thought was their daughter. As a child, he preferred the toys and games our society views as masculine. He kept his hair short and wore boys’ clothing. They called him a tomboy. That’s what he called himself.

By high school, when he showed no interest in flirting, his parents thought he might be lesbian. At 20, he wondered if he was asexual. At 23, he surgically removed his breasts. A year later, he began taking the hormones that would lower his voice and give him a beard - and he announced his new name and pronouns.

Once a Girl, Always a Boy is Jeremy’s journey from childhood through coming out as transgender and eventually emerging as an advocate for the transgender community. This is not only Jeremy’s story, but also that of his family, told from multiple perspectives - those of the siblings who struggled to understand the brother they once saw as a sister, and of the parents who ultimately joined him in the battle against discrimination. This is a story of acceptance in a world not quite ready to accept.

It has received starred reviews from Kirkus Review and the Library Journal. It has been featured on reading lists in Ms. and Parade magazines. It was included in USA Today's list of the 10 best LGBTQ reads for Pride Month.

The audiobook was recorded by the author and her family.

©2020 Jo Ivester (P)2020 Jo Ivester

so good!

I absolutely loved this book!!! even though I'm not transgender but instead gender fluid I took so much away that made so much sense. I laughed and cried so many times. 100% recommend!

In love with a trans man

Having fallen in love with a trans man, I chose this book in the hopes that it would provide some insight into his childhood and struggle to become the amazing person he is. I will continue to learn both from my partner and from other sources, this was an incredible start. What I did not expect was to be provided with such an incredible lesson on parenthood. Thank you so much for showing us a way to love, not just those near and dear to us, but all.

I needed this

This book was a perfect beginning to this journey I am on a proud but worried Mama of a transgender son. Thank you to the whole Ivester family. I have learned, grown and have even gained a bit of peace from listening to this book.

Insightful view of a trans person’s journey - told by the person and their family

I loved this book. I didn’t know a lot about the trans experience before reading this book. I felt I learned so much - albeit from one person/families journey. Beautifully written and told in their voices.

Perfect!

This book is woww perfect for anyone discovering themselves and families that are right besides them! It’s a journey I’m the life of those who are just like him! I’m starting the transition and this explain alootttt about what I go through and helps me see how others around me are feeling! Thank you!

Thanks for taking me along on your journey.

I laughed and cried with you along your journey.

My daughter is in the process of transitioning. He is 13 years old. Listening to your story let me know that we are not alone. Things are going to be ok. Our new son has all our support and we will be with him along the way, always with a smile on our faces. He has 2 dads which you would think would make it easier. It doesn’t. We worry. There is always an adjustment.

There are so many similarities in their stories. The messy hair. The notebooks full of doodles. The way they feel about their breasts. Listening made me smile.

In short, I really want to just say THANK YOU to you and Jeremy, and your entire family. You really helped to let me know everything is going to be ok. I wish I knew you personally. I feel like we would be good friends.

A book I can relate to

I loved this book and how relatable it is to my own journey. So similar to so many experiences in my own childhood and signs and thoughts and feelings all make more sense now. Thank you for sharing your story.

Intimate, honest story generously shared by family

Riveting story-telling and compelling performance, especially mom's. Definitely recommend 12/10. The story of a strong, beautiful family supporting each other through one member's quest to really discover himself.

Wow. Life-changing story

I absolutely loved everything about this audiobook. I loved that each person in the family read their section. I loved hearing their voices. I loved hearing the different perspectives on the same events. This book is about now, right now. Thank you for making this story visible, opening up the conversation. I've never cried so much when reading a book. There was so much joy in hearing someone else verbalize experiences that I relate to and had never put into words. there are also differences in our experiences and identities but hearing this story told without shame opened me up to exploring my own story.

Amazing

As a transgender man myself, this book is absolutely amazing. I finished this book in about three days, I couldn’t stop listening. I love that all of the family is included in this. Jeremey’s story is a lot like my own, so it was so nice listening to the whole thing and being able to relate. Thank you for being so vulnerable. I needed to hear this story