Best known for her manga Terrarium, Yuna Hirasawa has written a moving autobiographical essay in which she traces her gender transition with honesty and sensitivity. It's a perfect read for pride month! I really like the title of the manga, ‘My journey to her’, which is very simple and represents the whole process of making this transition and finally being aligned with oneself. The manga is also very educational, without ever being heavy-handed. You learn an enormous amount about the stages of the transition, the types of vaginoplasty that are possible... details that are rarely covered elsewhere, but explained here with clarity and respect. I didn't knowthat there were two types of vaginoplasty and that you could choose the depth of your vagina for sex reassignment surgery!

The culture clash between Japan and Thailand is interesting even if it's not the main focus of the book. I wasn't expecting the Thai hospital staff on rollerblades, I would have panicked too. I didn't know that Bangkok wasn't the official name of the city! It's so long!

We can't fail to recognise the strength of trans people. This story is a reminder of just how courageous trans people's journeys have been. Their resilience in the face of social and medical norms (and pain) commands admiration.

This manga is a must-read because it enlightens, moves and educates, all at the same time.