by Sara Quin
First published 2025
Kate Bornstein presents 121 creative alternatives to suicide in this survival guide for LGBTQ+ teens and gender nonconforming individuals. The author combines humor with practical advice, offering options that range from simple self-care like moisturizing to bold acts of rebellion against conventional expectations. Bornstein structures her approach around a single rule: don't be mean. She uses graphics, checklists, and personal stories to create an accessible resource that validates readers' experiences while encouraging them to stay alive. The book includes a feelings scale, safety ratings for each alternative, and an introduction by Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara. Bornstein addresses the reality that LGBTQ+ teens face significantly higher suicide rates than their peers. Her unconventional methods invite readers to reimagine gender systems and embrace their authentic desires. This 20th anniversary edition adds twenty new alternatives and a fresh foreword. The guide serves as both practical manual and emotional support system for anyone struggling with despair or feeling like an outsider.
Genres: mental-health, gender-studies, non-fiction, biography-memoir, lgbt, alternative-medicine, gender-identity, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: self-care, survival-guide, unconventional-methods
244 pages · Kindle Edition · Triangle Square
Content warnings: mental-illness, suicide