Public library advertises to teenagers in Texas with breast-bound books

According to the Texas Scorecard, the Austin Public Library promotes a book about breast binding on its nonfiction reading list for teens:

The book is available to teens at libraries at 11 locations throughout Austin.

APL categorizes the book as a graphic novel and advertises Breathing – Journeys to healthy bondingby Maia Kobabe and Sarah Peitzmeier, PhD, as a “graphic guide for people interested in breast binding as a form of gender reassignment care.”

The School Library Journal, a popular resource for librarians, recommends making the book accessible to young people and points to Breathe as an “essential purchase for all secondary and public library collections.” SLJ says the book “provides health information in an accessible manner that is otherwise difficult to find in scholarly sources.”

Kirkus Reviews describes the book as a book that focuses on personal stories and mental and physical health issues related to lactation.

According to Kirkus, while the authors of Breathe advocates choosing a “binding method that is ‘gentler to your body,’” the review states that “readers will have to rely on self-reflection or review the interviews to determine exactly how to follow this advice.” Kirkus also recommends Breathe for readers aged 14 and over.

However, in a post on X, detransitioner and child protection activist Chloe Cole explained that breast binding is unsafe. “There is no such thing as a ‘safe binder,'” she said.

To read the entire Texas Scorecard article, click HERE.