Transjoy Stories

Summer 2000. Adam Chandler is a competitive cheerleader who just wants to do what he loves. But when he moves to rural Missouri and tries out for River Run High's squad, the administration makes him an offer: present as a girl, or no cheerleading. He says yes. What begins as a compromise for the sake of the sport becomes a journey of self-discovery as "Amber" navigates high school, first love, heartbreak, and the realization that maybe the girl she's pretending to be is who she actually is. Featuring: → Small-town Missouri, early 2000s (flip phones, AIM, mall culture) → Trans joy and authentic struggle → Sapphic romance (childhood sweethearts) → Found family and fierce friendships → A cheerleading squad that protects their own This is a story about gender identity, first love, and the radical act of being yourself-even when you don't have the words for it yet. CW: Transphobia (discussed/challenged), family conflict, parental abuse (not graphic), mentions of car accident/hospitalization [#OwnVoices trans narrative | Slow burn romance | Coming of age | LGBTQ+]

Liam is seven, quiet, creative, and not quite sure how to explain the truth he's only just starting to understand-that maybe he isn't a boy at all. The only place he feels safe being himself is with his cousin Leanne or his best friend Adam. But when Adam moves away and Liam's secret is discovered by his father, everything changes. Faced with threats of conversion therapy and a home that no longer feels safe, Liam's older brother Kyle makes a choice: they run. On bikes, with a backpack and a plan held together by hope, the two brothers flee north to find Adam-and maybe a new beginning. As the police search for them and the adults scramble for control, only Leanne knows where they might be heading. She must choose whether to protect a secret or save two boys who are just trying to be free. By Your Side is a heartfelt, coming-of-age adventure about identity, loyalty, and the people who stand by you when the world won't. A story for anyone who's ever felt different-and dreamed of being loved exactly as they are.