s.penkevich's Reviews > Us

Sara’s longterm relationship takes a turn in her adorable and informative graphic memoir, Us, when Diana breaks some big news to her. After a lifetime of trying to understand themselves, Diana has realized she is a trans woman and is ready to make the transition but is nervous how Sara will treat her as well as all the social elements that will inevitably come into play. This is a really tender and touching look at Diana’s transition as well as Sara’s journey to realizing she is bisexual, all told through Sara Soler’s cute illustrations and translated into english by Siliva Perea Labayen (Sara and Diana are from Spain). The memoir proceeds with a bubbly and boisterous energy that makes it fast-paced, humorous and very accessible while still productively covering big ideas. From social stigmas and harassment (Sara points out how misuderstandings and disinformation have allowed people to ‘opt harmful attitudes’ that can be very hurtful and dangerous) to the discomforts around how to present oneself and the oppressive weight of social gender roles, Us covers a lot of topics through the story of Sara and Diana’s relationship and experience. It is careful to make room for many different kinds of experiences as well, discussing the topics in the way they related to them but showing that everyone is unique and may have different experiences. ‘There are as many experiences as there are trans people in the world. Each person chooses their own path.’ This is a really lovely graphic memoir and truly shows how much love and support goes a long way.

’You’re not alone’ is one of the most important messages in this book.

This story covers several years and does well by showing how coming to terms and transitioning can be a big process. When Diana first brings it up it is a full two years before she is ready to make any changes and the opening of this book dives into a lot of anxieties that can keep people trapped in their own silence and afraid to be themselves. What makes Us really work is how effectively it juggles a lot of big concepts on the intersections along the spectrum of gender and sexuality. It is a good look at how society comes into play as well. For example, Diana notes how finally seeing positive trans representation in media was a big opening for her to finally start addressing what she was feeling inside and Sara discusses how the stereotypes of trans people and usually only being seen as villains or murder victims can be really harmful. Especially in a demographic that has an alarmingly high suicide rate and rate of being victims to violence. Having positive representation isn’t the only thing though, and having the support of loved ones and space to accept yourself positively have shown to be a huge mental health benefit for lgbtq+ people of all varieties. I really appreciate how this book never deadnames or misgenders Diana, even in the scenes before her transition, which shows that it is actually not that difficult to get that correct if you try. And earnestly trying is what is often most important. Through Sara’s journey the book also discusses the stigmas against bisexual people (like myself), which I appreciated being threaded in for a larger scope of discussion on these topics.

Perhaps the biggest topic discusses is gender roles and how socially enforced stereotypes around gender can be harmful to everyone. Things like “boys don’t cry” or “girls should be delicate”, for instance, are shown as harmful and how beliefs on how someone of a gender should act are increasingly oppressive if that just isn’t who you are. There are also a lot of interesting looks at how, once she presents as a woman, Diana begins to experience the harassment and misogyny faced by women and it is really eye opening for her. Something I found this book does well is offer information and ideas in a way that reach a large audience and how it applies to them. It’s just a well done book but through all of it, the most important thing we learn about Diana and Sara is:

”We’re happy!”

I really enjoyed Us by Sara Soler and I feel this is an important book that many can get a lot out of as well as just enjoy the couple’s really loving relationship and openness about their experiences. Us is fun, funny and quite effectively done while being very heartfelt.

5/5