Dreadnought by April Daniels is awesome. It’s about a trans girl superhero and it’s written by a trans woman.
The first chapter and a few others made me cry; it hits on a lot of things I felt as a closeted trans teenager. April Daniels does not pull any punches about what it would be like to live with an abusive transphobic father. I didn’t have to deal with that myself because I came out a little later in life but some things still ring true. Like the way he says “son” and “boy” when we meetup. The quiet wishing that he would just accept me for who I am.
The superhero part of the story is funny and action packed but also real about how messed up being a superhero would be. It reminds me somewhat of “Soon I Will Be Invincible” by Austin Grossman on that front.
It’s a good book that hit me hard in the emotions. Be warned that it doesn’t shy away from the trauma trans girls live with. Goddess, I want this to be a movie just to hear Danielle’s last line said out loud, “I’m transgender, and a lesbian, and I’m not ashamed of that.”
The sequel just came out today so I have another book to read right now. Both books are available on Amazon in paperback and kindle formats.
Rating: 5/5