Continuum

Do you believe in fate? I was working at the library one evening last week and I noticed a customer had left this book on a staff desk. I immediately noticed the 'I love you' sign on the front of this teeny book and snapped it up for myself without knowing really anything about what was underneath the cover.

Am I ever glad I did!

This nonfiction Teen read is short, but it is full of poignant moments as author/model/activist Chella Man discusses snippets from their own life. As a Deaf/trans/genderqueer/Jewish/biracial person, Man shares their experiences with gender identity, gender dysphoria, family and falling in love. 

Favourite Quotes:

Identity: The truth is identity isn't a monolith. It exists on a continuum, reflecting our own specific experiences and personhood.

The stigma of disability left me fearful of holding open conversations, especially within new relationships. I realize now - it is not my disability that is uncomfortable. It is others' obliviousness about navigating and supporting those with a disability that created the conflict. 

Healing too, lies on a continuum. 

This is a powerful and inspirational Own Voices read that packs a lot of feelings into its 64 pages and I hope it will enlighten readers to the power of inclusivity, understanding and respect. 

My Rating: 5 stars

Author: Chella Man

Illustrator: Ashley Lukashevsky

Genre: LGBTQIA2S+, Teen, Memoir, Nonfiction

Type and Source: Paperback from public library

Series: part of the Pocket Change Collective series

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

First Published: June 1, 2021

Read: January 28, 2025

Book Description from GoodReads: In Continuum, fine artist, activist, and Titans actor Chella Man uses his own experiences as a deaf, transgender, genderqueer, Jewish person of color to talk about cultivating self-acceptance and acting as one's own representation.

Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists.

What constructs in your life must you unlearn to support inclusivity and respect for all? This is a question that artist, actor, and activist Chella Man wrestles with in this powerful and honest essay. A story of coping and resilience, Chella journeys through his experiences as a deaf, transgender, genderqueer, Jewish person of color, and shows us that identity lies on a continuum -- a beautiful, messy, and ever-evolving road of exploration.