HOMEBODY

A gender-focused graphic memoir ideal for fans of Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer (2019).

Parish breaks the fourth wall, introducing themself as a cat owner, a novelty teapot collector, and a transgender and nonbinary person. They employ the metaphor of a hiking trip, sharing their perspective on what gender means and feels like to them: “It’s okay…to make my own path.” The winding, meditative narrative recounts their upbringing, how they found belonging through art school, comic conventions, and tabletop role-playing games and their ever-evolving gender journey. The British artist thoughtfully reflects both gratitude for their body and feeling as if “it could do with some redecorating…renovating…trying things out…and seeing what works.” Thick, flowing strokes of color in pastel hues create a cozy and accessible vibe. Parish sometimes depicts themself with their torso drawn in the shape of a small house, representing moments of euphoria, growing understanding, and feeling at home in their body. They also show their own reflection in mirrors as a technique for illustrating deep introspection and perception. They take care to acknowledge that this is just one story of many, and that different possibilities for readers abound. Parish reads white; the pages feature people of varying racial identities, sizes, abilities, and gender presentations. The open-ended conclusion reminds readers that “we are all deserving of comfort and safety…a place to call home.”

An accessible, affirming story that models how anyone—cis or trans—can take steps toward self-knowledge and gender freedom.