• Tomboy Survival Guide

  • By: Ivan Coyote
  • Narrated by: Ivan Coyote
  • Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (151 ratings)

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Tomboy Survival Guide  By  cover art

Tomboy Survival Guide

By: Ivan Coyote
Narrated by: Ivan Coyote
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Publisher's summary

Stonewall Book Award Honor Book winner

Ivan Coyote is a celebrated storyteller and the author of 10 previous books, including Gender Failure (with Rae Spoon) and One in Every Crowd, a collection for LGBT youth. Tomboy Survival Guide is a funny and moving memoir told in stories, in which Ivan recounts the pleasures and difficulties of growing up a tomboy in Canada's Yukon, and how they learned to embrace their tomboy past while carving out a space for those of us who don't fit neatly into boxes or identities or labels.

Ivan writes movingly about many firsts: the first time they were mistaken for a boy; the first time they purposely discarded their bikini top so they could join the boys at the local swimming pool; and the first time they were chastised for using the women's washroom. Ivan also explores their years as a young butch, dealing with new infatuations and old baggage, and life as a gender-box-defying adult, in which they offer advice to young people while seeking guidance from others. (And for tomboys in training, there are even directions on building your very own unicorn trap.)

Tomboy Survival Guide warmly recounts Ivan's adventures and mishaps as a diffident yet free-spirited tomboy, and maps their journey through treacherous gender landscapes and a maze of labels that don't quite stick, to a place of self-acceptance and an authentic and personal strength. These heartfelt, funny, and moving stories are about the culture of difference - a "guide" to being true to one's self.

©2016 Ivan Coyote (P)2017 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

Featured Article: Audible Essentials—The Top 100 LGBTQIA+ Listens of All Time


While LGBTQIA+ creators have been around for millennia, it’s only recently that we’ve been hearing more diverse, more queer-authored, and more queer-performed stories about the entire spectrum of LGBTQIA+ experiences and identities. This list—just like the community it represents—is meant to be fluid. But most importantly, it’s meant to celebrate and reflect on the issues faced by LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.

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What listeners say about Tomboy Survival Guide

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From a self-proclaimed Tomboy

I loved this book! Listened to it all in one day while driving. It's funny in places, touching, and I cried a handful of times. Stories narrated by the author imo can go either way, but Ivan's accent, tone, and performance really added to the book for me. It felt genuine and personal.
It's also so uplifting to read about trans adults, AND trans adults who speak to their families. I spent the entire book either living vicariously through their wonderful life, or relating deeply to their discussion of gender, dysphoria, and navigating the world as a tomboy. I'd recommend this especially to trans young adults, anyone coming out later in life, and parents + friends of trans people looking to learn.

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4 people found this helpful

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Just Beautiful!!

This book is such an eye opener. My daughter is married to a transgender and when she came out, I supported her no matter what. I knew it had to be hard for them, but I never really knew if that makes sense. The public bathroom situation makes me so sad. Your right, we do have a gender neutral bathroom in our homes. Why can't we have them in public? I guess I'm one of the exceptions, because I always ask what pronoun do they want to use. I ask because I want to make sure I'm calling them what they want, not what I want to call them. I am a member of the Mamma Bear group in my community, because everyone needs to feel like they belong and are loved!!

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2 people found this helpful

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relatable

This book touches my soul, unlike any other book I've ever read or listened too. I bought a copy so I can re-read and listen to it anytime I need too.

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1 person found this helpful

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I am left breathless

I am feeling like I wish it could go on. These stories told with Ivan’s vocal input have taught me so much. This book has educated me from a perspective that I had not anticipated. I cried quite a bit and a lot of it was because I realized I am not quite as educated as I once believed. I have recommended this book to many people—and I will continue to do so!

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Amazing

This is so far my favorite book of 2018. Ivan reads with such passion and truth.
Thank you!
Lisa

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Listen to the kindness

I get a bit cynical. The world swims in a soup of complicated ideas, thoughts and actions. Sometimes, I just crave simplicity even though I know that this is not possible. Coyote’s book touches on some of the complications of the world but in a way that pares things down. There are also pretty basic things in our world: love, compassion, family and community. This books celebrated these basics within the complications of being human. This book brought me to tears multiple times for the intense displays of kindness. Coyote’s words are beautiful. Their reading is beautiful. It is simply beautiful.

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Funny and Touching Memoir.

I loved the humor and honesty of this book. Ivan has a very personal and vulnerable way of storytelling. "AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY".

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It's all true

I loved the whole book. It was exactly how I saw thing as a tomboy all my life.

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Incredible

I could write paragraphs on this book. Unfortunately I’m too wrapped up in thought, emotional response, drive, and admiration from reading this book to do so. Must read.

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fantastic!

I wish I had this book 10 years ago! thank you for all that you wrote, I'm inspired beyond words ❤️❤️❤️

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