Athlete Is Agender: True Stories of LGBTQ+ People in Sports

by Katherine Locke (Editor), Nicole Melleby (Editor)

Overview

Athlete is agender. Athlete can mean anyone. "Part memoir, part manifesto" (Booklist) this book revels in the achievements of strong, passionate, and determined LGBTQ+ athletes across every age, level, and field of sports.

Find your strength in: Adam Rippon’s unbelievable journey from figure-skating Olympic alternate to the first openly gay Olympic medalist in his sport; CeCé Telfer’s career as a trans track star and her unwavering commitment to run for the future freedom of trans athletes; em dickson’s relationship to eir gender identity and how sailing, a sport that doesn’t categorize athletes by gender, helped em embrace eir power and identity, and many other invaluable true stories. Featuring testimonies by world-class athletes and award-winning children’s book authors, as well as profiles on culture-defining figures like Megan Rapinoe and Billie Jean King, Athlete Is Agender is a lifesaving book not to be missed.
 
This book is for:
·         LGBTQIA+ kids, teens, tweens, and adults
·         Athletes and sports fans
·         Readers looking to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community
·         Parents of gay kids and other LGBTQIA+ youth
·         Educators looking for advice about the LGBTQIA+ community
TITLE IX UPDATE
Laws are constantly being debated, repealed, and fought for. On January 9th, 2025, a federal court in Kentucky argued that transgender and nonbinary students should not be covered by Title IX protections, rolling back the 2021 order from then-Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Right now, schools are currently required to follow the old version of Title IX, which does not include a section on transgender athletes. It's up to us to keep pushing to get those protections back for transgender students. For transgender athletes reading this, the most powerful thing you can do is to be true to yourself, stay informed, and be sure to vote in every election you are eligible for. 

★ A Junior Library Guild Selection

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316572019
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	05/13/2025
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	9 - 14 Years

About the Author

Katherine Locke lives and writes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with their feisty felines. They are the award-winning author of many books for kids and teens, including Gender Rebels and What Are Your Words?; they are also the co-editor and contributor of This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them and Us. They can be found online at KatherineLockeBooks.com and @bibliogato on X and Instagram.

Nicole Melleby, a New Jersey native, is the author of highly praised middle grade books, including the Lambda Literary finalist Hurricane Season, ALA Notable book How to Become a Planet, Camp QUILTBAG (co-written with A. J. Sass), and The House on Sunrise Lagoon series. She is also the author of the picture book Sunny and Oswaldo. Nicole lives with her wife and their cats, whose need for attention oddly aligns with Nicole’s writing schedule. She invites you to visit her online at nicolemelleby.com.
 

Editorial Reviews

★ “[Locke and Melleby] profile impactful figures in this affirming sports assemblage. Quotes from contemporary and historical athletes that highlight the importance of finding a welcoming space within sports.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Locke and Melleby deliver a high interest, meaningful, and hopeful title about athletes and sports....A must-purchase not just for sports fans but any reader looking for hope and stories of belonging."—School Library Journal, starred review

“Readers will learn about the barriers and sense of belonging queer people face in pursuing athletics and the importance of representation. Authentically illustrates the challenges and hope LGBTQ+ athletes find in the world of sports.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Part memoir, part manifesto. . . The overall tone is inclusive and reassuring, and a common theme is how being on teams created a sense of belonging for people who felt uncomfortable in their assigned societal roles (especially as kids). This inspirational compilation will surely resonate with many.”—Booklist

From the Publisher

2025-02-15
Profiles of notable queer sports figures paired with essays written by queer, trans, and nonbinary athletes, including popular authors for young people.

This work introduces people who helped pave the way in their respective sports for other LGBTQ+ athletes, such as Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, NFL player Carl Nassib, tennis legend Billie Jean King, and soccer champion Megan Rapinoe. In personal essays, contributors reflect on their journeys as queer people in sports. Dutch author Marieke Nijkamp describes being a nonbinary, disabled archer, Olympic medal–winning figure skater Adam Rippon writes about notions of masculinity in skating, and author Erik J. Brown emphasizes the importance of having fun, not just winning. Contributors who have experienced gender dysphoria write about creating healthier relationships with their bodies through sports. While many of these essays are largely hopeful and inspiring, the work doesn’t avoid difficult topics. For example, Jamaican American runner CeCé Telfer writes about being prevented from competing against other women at Nationals because of anti-transgender rulings. These stories from people with diverse backgrounds and identities reinforce the importance of having safe spaces to pursue one’s passion for sports. Vosseteig’s slightly stiff color portraits of the subjects and contributors are interspersed throughout. Readers will learn about the barriers and sense of belonging queer people face in pursuing athletics and the importance of representation.

Authentically illustrates the challenges and hope LGBTQ+ athletes find in the world of sports. (note on pronouns, about Title IX, contributor bios, support and advisory materials, selected sources)(Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews