Apr 23, 2025 - Culture

New book follows lives of transgender teens

Carrie Shepherd

Book cover: American Teenager: How Trans Kids are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era — Photo of book cover: Courtesy of Nico Lang.

Writer Nico Lang's new book aims to show the multi-faceted lives of transgender teens in America today.

Why it matters: As the Trump administration continues to attack transgender rights, Lang's book "American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era" profiles teenagers who want to be seen as more than victims of anti-trans hate.

Flashback: In 2022, Lang embedded with families across the country to follow eight teens — Wyatt, Rhydian, Mykah, Clint, Ruby, Augie, Jack and Kylie — to show their joy, sadness, friendships and other teenage experiences while some were living in states enacting anti-trans legislation.

Lang followed the families before President Trump was elected.

What they're saying: "I didn't want the book to mention Trump very much, just because I think he takes up so much space in the news cycle," Lang tells Axios. "These kids' lives are so much bigger than that man. Of course, he came up every once in a while, but I kind of wanted to talk about all the other stuff."

Driving the news: Lang is doing readings this week in Chicago.

The author will be at DePaul's Schmitt Academic Center in Lincoln Park on Wednesday, in Bucktown Friday and Elmhurst on Saturday.

What's next: Lang is adding a chapter to the paperback edition of the book that delves into the teens' lives since Trump was elected.

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New book follows lives of transgender teens

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