Very rarely do you come across a book that stays with you long after you have read the final page. I read this book in January and I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time yet.

I picked up This Book is Gay after noticing a buzz about it online and wanting to prepare myself for any questions on identity future students might have. I came to the simple conclusion:

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone working with young people.

James Dawson answers all the questions you might be afraid to ask with a warm, comfortable attitude. There is no room for embarrassment or coyness where this book is involved. No dancing around topics with tenuous analogies and awkwardly false scenarios – just straight to the point, no nonsense facts whilst maintaining a comfortable and relaxed tone. And that is exactly how it should be. At some points, reading this book took me back to late-night chats I’d had with friends when we were teens – reading this book is just like talking to a good friend. This Books is Gay addresses every topic under the LGBT umbrella (and what a wonderful brolly that would be!)

Now, this book might not be suitable for those of us working in Primary education, however, for those working in Secondary schools I cannot recommend this book enough. As teachers, it is our duty to provide support, care and guidance for our pupils whenever and however they need it. In today’s times, where sex, sexuality and gender are talked about more openly than ever, it is important that us teachers arm ourselves for any discussions students might need. When I was in Secondary school, I certainly don’t remember any support for students discovering their identity – just a lot of emphasis on heterosexuality and cisgender. In modern times, we need to be there for our students who are finding out who they are – to remind them that however they identify, that’s OK! – and This Book is Gay is an exceptional tool for support.

This book is not just for gay students – in fact it can be of value to anyone regardless of how they identify. Dawson blends factual info and personal stories from contributors around the world with his wonderful quick wit and humour. A former PSHCE teacher, I have a feeling his former students were very lucky to have him on their side. As a writer and a teacher he is an inspiration to those pursuing either career and, as an NQT, I have added him to my growing list of role models.

In short, buy this book!! Dawson has earned that space on your shelf. This Book is Gay not only provides teachers with a handy go-to for support in answering any tricky, unanticipated questions but is also a vital tool for helping students find comfort in their own skin and recognise that it is OK to just be themselves.