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Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir

Walela Nehanda

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[Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/84139/9780593529492)

100% of affiliate revenue supports Celestial

A searing debut YA poetry and essay collection about a Black cancer patient who faces medical racism after being diagnosed with leukemia in their early twenties, for fans of Audre Lorde's _The Cancer Journals_ and Laurie Halse Anderson's _Shout_.

When Walela is diagnosed at twenty-three with advanced stage blood cancer, they're suddenly thrust into the unsympathetic world of tubes and pills, doctors who don’t use their correct pronouns, and hordes of “well-meaning” but patronizing people offering unsolicited advice as they navigate rocky personal relationships and share their story online.

But this experience also deepens their relationship to their ancestors, providing added support from another realm. Walela's diagnosis becomes a catalyst for their self-realization. As they fill out forms in the insurance office in downtown Los Angeles or travel to therapy in wealthier neighborhoods, they begin to understand that cancer is where all forms of their oppression intersect: Disabled. Fat. Black. Queer. Nonbinary.

In _Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir_, the author details a galvanizing account of their survival despite the U.S. medical system, and of the struggle to face death unafraid.

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Posts about this title from Celestial

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jun 20](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[🏳️‍🌈🔮look into my eyes …. i know what you want to read.](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/QYzqVZBBMGZ2z5hQKQ1U/)

🏳️‍🌈🔮look into my eyes …. i know what you want to read.

here are some mind reader queer book recs for pride!

📚 books mentioned:
\- Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
\- Fawn’s Blood by Hal Schrieve
\- The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
\- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
\- Station Six by S.J. Klapecki
\- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
\- The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez
\- Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin
\- On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah-Yah Scholfield
\- This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
\- In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
\- The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
\- Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
\- Blood Orange by Yaffa As
\- Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda
\- Death’s Country by R.M. Romero
\- Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart: And Other Stories by GennaRose Nethercott
\- Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic: An LGBTQ+ Young Adult Fantasy Anthology of Unforgettable Adventures edited by g. haron davis
\- Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction edit by Joshua Whitehead

#pridemonth #pridemonthbookrecs #lgbtqbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram
.
queer books • queer book stack • Pride Month 2026 • books to read for pride • trans books • nonbinary books • sapphic books • achillean books • memoir book recs • literary fiction books recs • fantasy book recs • fantasy book recs • horror book recs • sci fi book recs • unique books • diverse books

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21 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 21](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[trans+ books for you (from the bookish community) \| trans rights readathon 2026!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/gIthp7nVQheqheBFlLLh/)

☆ official trans rights readathon website (with TONS of resources): https://transrightsreadathon.carrd.co/
☆ official trans rights readathon auction: https://www.32auctions.com/transrightsreadathon

please feel free to recommend your favorite trans+ book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!

let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.

in this video, I recommended Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda!

☆ the wonderful creators who participated & their recommendations (in video order) ↓

☆ Rachel Skye
https://www.instagram.com/rachelskyereads/
https://www.youtube.com/@rachelskyereads
https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelskyereads
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
Volatile Memory by Seth Haddon

☆ Kenzi
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
https://www.youtube.com/@kenzidid
https://www.tiktok.com/@kenzibooks
https://www.instagram.com/kenzibooks/

☆ Aaliyah & Johnna (Lit & Loud Podcast)
House of Rayne by Harley Laroux
https://www.youtube.com/@LitLoudPod
https://www.instagram.com/litandloudpod
https://www.tiktok.com/@litandloudpod

☆ Alex
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
https://www.tiktok.com/@cemeterygay
https://www.instagram.com/cemeterygay
https://www.youtube.com/@cemeterygay

☆ Carmen
The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis
So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro De Robertis
https://www.tiktok.com/@tomesandtextiles
https://www.instagram.com/tomesandtextiles/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9uZ-cnZGz6oQl\_CKG15Xag
https://www.threads.com/@tomesandtextiles
https://bien-leidos.binderybooks.com/

☆ Amanda
The Lilac People by Milo Todd
https://www.instagram.com/its.amandas.bookshelf/
https://www.tiktok.com/@its.amandas.bookshelf

☆ Krystal
Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
https://www.tiktok.com/@krystallotuslang
https://www.instagram.com/krystallotuslang/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrDKiY2FhrXSjQkkNIcNi6g

☆ Deedi
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
https://www.instagram.com/deedireads
https://deedireads.substack.com

☆ Jacob
A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff
https://www.tiktok.com/@theveryqueerlibrarian
https://www.instagram.com/theveryqueerlibrarian
https://www.youtube.com/@theveryqueerlibrarian

☆ featured links ☆
💫 join me on bindery (celestial - exclusive content, discord, book club, and more): https://celestial.binderybooks.com/

↓ find me in more places ↓
🎵 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starrysteph
📸 insta: https://www.instagram.com/starry.steph
💋 shopmy (links for my makeup, clothing, etc. recs): https://shopmy.us/shop/starrysteph
📚 storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/starrysteph
🦋 bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/starrysteph.bsky.social
📖 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/147956803-steph-starrysteph
💌 email: starrystephbooks@gmail.com
more (news articles, discount codes, etc.): https://beacons.ai/starrysteph

☆ resources ☆
🇵🇸 learn more about the history of Palestine: https://decolonizepalestine.com/
🇨🇩 learn more about what's happening in the DRC: https://friendsofthecongo.org/
🇸🇩 Sudan Solidarity Collective: https://sudansolidarity.com/

Trans rights readathon \| trans books \| books by trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, genderfluid authors \| books with trans and nonbinary main characters \| trans books recs \| queer book recommendations \| fantasy books \| sci fi books \| horror books \| speculative books \| diverse books \| bindery books \| celestial community and book club \| starrysteph

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1 book

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[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 10](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[💭 what’s a book on your TBR for the 2026 Trans Rights Readathon?](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/4L5i8k6DiCuX06oRzvRn/)

💭 what’s a book on your TBR for the 2026 Trans Rights Readathon? @transrightsreadathon

here are some that I wish I saw recommended more frequently!

📚 books mentioned:
\- Fawn’s Blood by Hal Schrieve
\- Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda
\- Warm-Blooded by J Greene
\- Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir by Akwaeke Emezi

👗💄:
\- dress is from Kachel, rented from Nuuly
\- eyeshadow is Ellis Atlantis Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics and The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite
\- eyeshadow shimmer is Mirage from Ourbella Cosmetics
\- mascara is Cloud Mascara from Sweed Beauty
\- lip is combo is Staining Lip Liner (Chori Chori) from Kulfi Beauty and Gloss Up Sheer Finish Lip Gloss (Quiet Luxury) from The Lip Bar
\- (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Seven Stories Press, Kokila / Penguin Teen, and Ingram Sparks for the gifted copies!

#transrightsreadathon #trr26 #bookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @7storiespress @penguinteen @ingramsparkbooks @riverheadbooks @kachelclothing @blendbunnycosmetics @glamlite @ourbella.us @sweedbeauty @kulfi.beauty @thelipbar

.

trans rights readathon • books by trans authors • books with trans main characters • nonbinary books • agender books • genderfluid books • gender expansive book rep • queer books • diverse books • Triangle Square • Liana Ink • Riverhead books

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4 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Dec 1 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[💭 do you have a favorite memoir?](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/QnnPOY6T9MFurwUNilix/)

💭 do you have a favorite memoir?

✨memoir recommendations by nonbinary & agender authors!
📚 books mentioned:
\- Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda
\- Heavyweight: A Family Story of the Holocaust, Empire, and Memory by Solomon J. Brager
\- Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir by Akwaeke Emezi

👗💄:
\- hair gems are from Hally Hair
\- eyeshadow is the mermaid palette from Ourbella
\- (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Kokila Books/Penguin Teen and William Morrow for the gifted copies!

#memoirrecs #memoirbookrecs #nonfictionbooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #penguinteenpartner #williammorrow @kokilabooks @penguinteen @williammorrowbooks @riverheadbooks @ourbella.us @hallyhair

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3 books

1

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Sep 21 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

["booktok destroyed literature!"](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/RGlhkzSfTCN48oidpTJ6/)

i know that it sometimes feels like you’re struggling against the tide, but your feed is what you make it! here’s a little reset for you all the same.

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20 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jul 18 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[the BEST books for disability pride month](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/JLEjBECZC7EpbsVtBTeA/)

we love a disability pride month roundup!

* * *

10 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 26 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[trans rights readathon check in!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/NhlDirzSij9WCPFPFF2Z/)

time for a Trans Rights Readathon Tuesday check in! tell me EVERYTHING!

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1 book

Posts about this book from across Bindery

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jun 20](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[🏳️‍🌈🔮look into my eyes …. i know what you want to read.](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/QYzqVZBBMGZ2z5hQKQ1U/)

🏳️‍🌈🔮look into my eyes …. i know what you want to read.

here are some mind reader queer book recs for pride!

* * *

21 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 21](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[trans+ books for you (from the bookish community) \| trans rights readathon 2026!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/gIthp7nVQheqheBFlLLh/)

please feel free to recommend your favorite trans+ book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!

let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.

in this video, I recommended Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda!

☆ the wonderful creators who participated & their recommendations (in video order) ↓

☆ Kenzi
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
https://www.youtube.com/@kenzidid
https://www.tiktok.com/@kenzibooks
https://www.instagram.com/kenzibooks/

☆ Alex
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
https://www.tiktok.com/@cemeterygay
https://www.instagram.com/cemeterygay
https://www.youtube.com/@cemeterygay

☆ Amanda
The Lilac People by Milo Todd
https://www.instagram.com/its.amandas.bookshelf/
https://www.tiktok.com/@its.amandas.bookshelf

☆ Deedi
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
https://www.instagram.com/deedireads
https://deedireads.substack.com

☆ featured links ☆
💫 join me on bindery (celestial - exclusive content, discord, book club, and more): https://celestial.binderybooks.com/

* * *

1 book

2

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 10](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[💭 what’s a book on your TBR for the 2026 Trans Rights Readathon?](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/4L5i8k6DiCuX06oRzvRn/)

💭 what’s a book on your TBR for the 2026 Trans Rights Readathon? @transrightsreadathon

here are some that I wish I saw recommended more frequently!

thank you to Seven Stories Press, Kokila / Penguin Teen, and Ingram Sparks for the gifted copies!

.

* * *

4 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Dec 1 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[💭 do you have a favorite memoir?](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/QnnPOY6T9MFurwUNilix/)

💭 do you have a favorite memoir?

thank you to Kokila Books/Penguin Teen and William Morrow for the gifted copies!

* * *

3 books

1

[Sapph-Lit\\
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Nina\\
\\
• Aug 4 2025](https://sapphlit.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Sapph-Lit in Conversation with Walela Nehanda, author of BLESS THE BLOOD](https://sapphlit.binderybooks.com/item/SrjbYkFaWKhmkIIA7EQ9/)

Walela Nehanda spoke with our founder Nina Haines all about their debut BLESS THE BLOOD, published February 2024 with Penguin Teen.

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[Sapph-Lit\\
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Nina\\
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• Jun 27 2025](https://sapphlit.binderybooks.com/)

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[ANNOUNCING Sapph-Lit's July book pick 💗🩸 BLESS THE BLOOD by Walela Nehanda](https://sapphlit.binderybooks.com/item/Oc9wNHb10vsaAGiZDsms/)

Our July book pick is BLESS THE BLOOD by Walela Nehanda in honor of Disability Pride Month 💗 Get your copy so you can read along with all us Sapph-Litties next month 🫡 Tag @sapphlit to be featured 💅🏼

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[chronicallybookish\\
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Kaley\\
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• Jan 29 2025](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Hello and welcome to my Bindery! One of the things I am most excited to bring you are monthly round ups of upcoming book releases with disability, chronic illness, and mental illness representation. Disability representation has always been at the heart of my platform, and I thought this would be a great way to get these books onto people's radar.\\
\\
In the future, each round up will come at the end of the month, and will let you know about every book with disability representation that will release in the coming month (or at least all of them I can find! I spent hours scouring for releases, but I'm sure I won't always manage to catch every single one). This first one is a _little_ different, since I didn't want to leave out all of the amazing January releases!\\
\\
That all said--let's get into it!\\
\\
**January Releases**\\
\\
_Title:_ **The Holiday Switch** by Torie Jean\\
\\
_Representation:_ endometriosis and adenomyosis\\
\\
_Genre:_ Contemporary Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 1, 2025\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 5 stars\\
\\
_Title:_ **An Honored Vow**(The Halfling Saga #4) by Melissa Blair\\
\\
_Representation:_ addiction, PTSD\\
\\
_Genre:_ Romantasy\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 7, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **For One Night Only** by Jessica James\\
\\
_Representation:_ anxiety and panic disorder\\
\\
_Genre:_ Contemporary Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 7, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Once Smitten, Twice Shy** by Chloe Liese\\
\\
_Representation:_ mixed connective tissue disorder, autism, celiac disease\\
\\
_Genre:_ Contemporary Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 14, 2025\\
\\
_My Rating: 4.5 stars_\\
\\
_Title:_ **Death of the Author** by Nnedi Okorafor\\
\\
_Representation:_ paraplegia, wheelchair user, PTSD\\
\\
_Genre:_ Literary Fiction\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 14, 2025\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 4 stars\\
\\
_Title:_ **About the Boy** by Leah Nicole Whitcomb\\
\\
_Representation:_ autism\\
\\
_Genre:_ YA Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 14, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **How to Survive This Fairytale** by S.M. Hallow\\
\\
_Representation:_ mental illness, limb difference\\
\\
_Genre:_ Fantasy Horror\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 16, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Secret Shadows** by J.J. Otis\\
\\
_Representation:_ vision impairment\\
\\
_Genre:_ Romantasy\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 17, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **The Broposal** by Sonora Reyes\\
\\
_Representation:_ autism\\
\\
_Genre:_ Contemporary Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 21, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Onyx Storm** by Rebecca Yarros\\
\\
_Representation:_ EDS (ehler's danlos syndrome), POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)\\
\\
_Genre:_ Romatasy\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 21, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **The Man for You** by Nikki Grant\\
\\
_Representation:_ depression, anxiety, reynaud's syndrome\\
\\
_Genre:_ Contemporary Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 23, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Artifice and Access**(A Disability in Fantasy Anthology) edited by Ella T. Holmes\\
\\
_Representation:_ several\\
\\
_Genre:_ Fantasy\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 25, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Searching for a Valentine** by Alice Dashwood\\
\\
_Representation:_ anxiety, PTSD\\
\\
_Genre:_ Contemporary Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 27, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Carving Shadows Into Gold**(Forging Silver into Stars #2)by Brigid Kemmerer\\
\\
_Representation:_ amputee, mobility aid user, PTSD\\
\\
_Genre:_ YA Fantasy\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 28, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **A Merry Murderous Midwinter**(The Skeleton Crew #3) by Dahlia Donovan\\
\\
_Representation:_ autism\\
\\
_Genre:_ Cozy Mystery\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 31, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **So Right** by Abby Millsaps\\
\\
_Representation:_ PMDD (pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder)\\
\\
_Genre:_ Why Choose Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ January 31, 2025\\
\\
**February Releases**\\
\\
_Title:_ **Lilith Mason Takes on the Everlore**(Wretched Daughters #2) by Wendolyn Baird\\
\\
_Representation:_ dysautonomia, depression, anxiety, c-PTSD\\
\\
_Genre:_ Fantasy\\
\\
_Release Date:_ February 1, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Unloved** by Peyton Corinne\\
\\
_Representation:_ dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD\\
\\
_Genre:_ Contemporary Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ February 4, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Bless the Blood**(A Cancer Memoir) by Walela Nehanda\\
\\
_Representation:_ leukemia\\
\\
_Genre:_ YA Poetry and Essay Collection\\
\\
_Release Date:_ February 6, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Can't Help Falling in Love** by Mariah Ankenman\\
\\
_Representation:_ ADHD\\
\\
_Genre:_ Contemporary Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ February 13, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Setting Up Love** by Rose Santoriello\\
\\
_Representation:_ endometriosis\\
\\
_Genre:_ Monster Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ February 14, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **The Incident at Ingleton**(Beau Monde Secrets) by Anne Rollins\\
\\
_Representation:_ migraines\\
\\
_Genre:_ Historical Romance\\
\\
_Release Date:_ February 20, 2025\\
\\
_Title:_ **Guard & Guise**(Faeted Hearts #2) by Laura Winter\\
\\
_Representation:_ chronic pain, chronic fatigue\\
\\
_Genre:_ Romantasy\\
\\
_Release Date:_ February 20, 2025\\
\\
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[EVERY January and February Release With Disability Representation](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/item/dhk5MCiLL46GG86XEOtS/)

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23 books

2

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Sep 21 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

["booktok destroyed literature!"](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/RGlhkzSfTCN48oidpTJ6/)

i know that it sometimes feels like you’re struggling against the tide, but your feed is what you make it! here’s a little reset for you all the same.

* * *

20 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jul 18 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[the BEST books for disability pride month](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/JLEjBECZC7EpbsVtBTeA/)

we love a disability pride month roundup!

* * *

10 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 26 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[trans rights readathon check in!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/NhlDirzSij9WCPFPFF2Z/)

time for a Trans Rights Readathon Tuesday check in! tell me EVERYTHING!

* * *

1 book