Athlete Is Agender (juvenile Nonfiction)

     "There's something inherently powerful about undermining stereotypes. About celebrating queer kids as strong, athletic champions on the field, in the rink, or in the pool. There's something uniquely special about witnessing a player use they/them pronouns on an Olympic field, or watching two married teammates win an WNBA championship, or watching a soccer player open up, despite the toxic culture of his sport, to say, 'I'm gay.'

     We are everywhere, we deserve to be everywhere, and we can excel everywhere."

     That's the inspiring message of Athlete Is Agender. The profiled athletes have found joy and belonging in a wide range of sports. Some have had to fight against stereotypes and prejudice to gain the right to compete. Some of them include:

*trans track star Cece Telfer,

*first NFL player to come out as gay Carl Nassib, 

*Karleigh Webb who played football as both a male and a female, 

*nonbinary figure skater A. J. Sass

and so many others.

The athletes' narratives are very candid and vulnerable. Many queer kids will be able to see hope in them. I love this reminder in the introduction: "While these contributors are out and proud members of the LGBTQ+ community, being a queer athlete in no way means you need to feel pressure to be out, or to be a public figure or role model. Knowing that it brings you joy to put on a baseball mitt, or to tie up your running shoes for a race, or to sit on the bench and cheer for your teammates, or to climb on that horse...these are things that matter. You matter."

     Athlete Is Agender belongs in every school and public library. 

On a purrrsonal note, not all queer athletes (I'm non binary) compete against other people or teams. Since the stroke my opponent is residual brain damage. When I first tried to run nothing happened. My brain wasn't sending signals to my legs and feet. And my first running could be more accurately described as lurching. Now I can run short distances with a normal gait, something that took me over a year to achieve. When I asked my husband for a basketball he thought it would be a waste of money. It wasn't. This summer I'm working on strength and stamina to get ready for the mountain climbing event that I'm planning to raise money for Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. Nearly every day I'm walking an hour and feeling like an athlete. I'm changing my diet to keep my blood pressure under better control which means giving up the foods I really love. I am an athlete and a champion.

One of my most magical experiences this summer was when a neighbor invited me to swim in his pool whenever I wanted. I hadn't swam since before the stroke. At first I kept sinking like a stone. But every time I pulled myself back to the surface I tried again. And then I felt something waking up in my arms and legs. Like my brain was remembering and cueing the muscles in. The first time I crossed the pool, my body cutting through the water, was pure joy. I'm gonna find a way to swim during the months when outdoor swimming is not an option in Maine. 

Jules Hathaway 

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