A review of “American Teenager” in 100 words by Catherine Stover
When writing this book, Nico Lang spent a couple of weeks with each of the seven trans teenagers who agreed to participate in this project. They ate with them, went places with them, watched TV and played video games with them. This book can be called “ethnography research” or a “cinéma vérité portraits” or “case studies narratives.” I love this type of storytelling because seeing their family’s specific situations leads to understanding with greater compassion and empathy. Writers, however, need to be aware that using this approach is challenging. Lang wrote that the experience took an “extreme toll” on them (260).
Work cited:
Stryker, Susan. Foreword. American Teenager: How trans kids are surviving hate and finding joy in a turbulent era, by Nico Lang, Abrams Press, 2024, p. xvii.