Trans Voices & Stories at Book Club

This month, Spark Book Club took the decision to centre Trans and gender non-conforming voices for our next book club read. For ease, we will use the term "Trans" going forward to include both trans and gender non-conforming people.

It feels like it's never easy to experience the world as a trans person, and in the UK, things in the last few months have been particularly dark. From the ineffective and dehumanising Supreme Court Ruling in 2025 and subsequent EHRC code of practice, to the recent blanket cancellation of gender affirming surgeries in Wales. We see so much debate on "trans issues" and often the voices that are missing in these debates are trans voices. One result is that the complexities of fully formed humans are narrowed down to one aspect of their existence.

Books by trans writers will of course continue to be suggested and included in book club meets with other themes, but for this month, we want to bring them to the forefront and dedicate time and space to one of the missing voices and celebrate the creativity of a person, rather than bring focus in on one particular aspect of an entire group of people.

The book we have chosen to read is Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt. This will be discussed on 17th September, please do feel free to come and join us, even if you haven't read the book.

Of course, trans people are first and foremost, people! And the complexities and diversities of human existence cannot be represented by a single book. The suggestions were as diverse as the people who have written them. This was also the first time that graphic novels were suggested, and we're quite keen to try them!

The suggestions brought by the group are listed here:

  • Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
  • A Guest In The House by EM Carroll
  • When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris
  • Unlearning Shame by Dr Devon Price
  • Welcome to St Hell by Lewis Hancox; plus a sequel, Escape from St Hell
  • Bellies by Nicola Dinan
  • Nevada by Imogen Binnie
  • According to Plan by Christen Randall
  • Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Jeremiah Moss
  • The Queens of Sarmiento Park by Camilla Sosa Villada
  • Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
  • Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H

Plus, Special mention: Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson. This was read shortly after the book club was formed and very well received. It is an incredible, tense, dark, magical book!

All of these books are are going on our 'To Read' lists and we can't wait to read them. Hopefully, there a few here you enjoy too.

We'll be back to let you know what we thought about Tell Me I'm Worthless after the 17th September!