A random collection of over 1910 books and audiobooks authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I read some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender biography that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
Full title: "Passing Cars: Internal Monologue of a Neurodivergent Trans Girl" by Marissa Alexa McCool.
Passing Cars, published in November 2017, is a captivating collection of introspective essays by Marissa Alexa McCool, a transgender, neurodivergent activist and storyteller. Throughout 196 pages, McCool revisits pivotal moments from her life through the lens of a maturing self, while weaving in narratives from diverse individuals. This multi-voiced approach offers a panoramic view of resilience, identity, and belonging.
The book is structured around the five stages of grief, a concept suggested by her publisher, Wyrmwood Publishing, and features contributions from several writers, imbuing the collection with layered perspectives and emotional depth.
In Passing Cars, McCool doesn’t merely recount life’s significant moments; she juxtaposes her teenage mindset with her present-day understanding. One powerful essay explores her past resistance, which now reads as early manifestations of autistic traits and gender exploration. She writes:
“The struggles I had as a teenager make a lot more sense when viewed through the lens of trying to discover my gender identity and being untreated for autism… so it came out as being rebellious and unwilling to cooperate.”
2017,
English,
Interview,
Marissa Alexa McCool,
Full title: "Shiny New Science Vagina: How I Got My Vagina 33 Years Late" by Marissa Alexa McCool.
Marissa Alexa McCool’s Shiny New Science Vagina is a no-holds-barred memoir detailing her journey through gender confirmation surgery, an experience she delivers with unfiltered honesty, humor, and surprising depth. Published in 2018, the 178-page paperback chronicles everything from navigating insurance battles to postoperative recovery, with no shy topics, including “the sexy parts.”
Her story begins with the labyrinthine process of getting approved: consultations, psychological evaluations, insurance clearances, and emotional preparation. McCool recounts each step with a sharp wit, poking fun at awkward medical jargon and bureaucracy. She frames this as the intro to the main event: “going under” and what follows, those intimate days, weeks, and months that come after waking up with a “shiny new science vagina.”
McCool blends radical vulnerability (“I was scared, but also excited”) with timely cultural commentary. As she recovered, global conversations about trans healthcare and surgical access were evolving fast, in the U.S. and abroad. She reflects on this with remarkable honesty, noting how her physical transformation paralleled changes in societal awareness.
2018,
English,
Interview,
Marissa Alexa McCool,
