Teen Review: Girlmode

The graphic novel, Girlmode, by Magdalene Visaggio and illustrated by Paulina Ganucheau, showcases teenage Phoebe Zito attempting to navigate her new way of life as a transgender woman. She experiences joyful moments throughout the story, including finding comfort in femininity, but also deals with a lot of unwanted negative attention regarding her gender identity.  

Some topics in the book may make certain readers uncomfortable, such as transphobic and patriarchal comments, sexual harassment, discussions of sex, and swearing. While it is important to teach young audiences about real-life issues, such as gender-based oppression, this graphic novel brings up the issues constantly, thus revoking a pleasant reading experience. For reference, Mackenzie repeatedly tells Phoebe that as a girl, she has to get used to boys trying to oppress or paw at her, which has a negative connotation. Oppositely, when Mackenzie advises Phoebe to be tough or realizes that she doesn’t have to always appeal to men, it is a positive message about fighting against misogynistic behaviors, empowering young readers like me.  

Another sensitivity is the repeated transphobic comments made throughout the story. This is realistic to many transgender people’s daily experiences, but reading through so many of these moments can weigh on the audience. As saddening as transphobia is, it does reflect many transgender teenagers’ lives. For this reason, I commend the author for a realistic story, but it will be a hard read for sensitive audiences.  

Keeping the content warnings in mind, this book would be enjoyable for those who enjoy quick reads, thought-provoking reads, or anyone who is looking to get a glance into queer culture. It’s not a perfect fit for me, so I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars for the issues I brought up in previous paragraphs.