Did this book have me at the first chapter about queer penguins? Indeed, it did! Queer Ducks is a well-researched nonfiction novel about the exploration of queer behaviour in the animal kingdom.
What makes Queer Ducks such a charming read is, of course, its author. Schrefer almost holds a conversation with the reader throughout presenting the scientific evidence of queer behaviour in animals—and added to that, there are little intermissions between the chapters in which the reader gets to learn more about Schrefer himself through biographical stories, fun anecdotes and just general wonderments that make you think about how you see the world through a very biased lens based on what you’ve learned in school (and life so far) in terms of heteronormativity. There are also fun cartoons and sweet drawings that make this nonfiction feel almost interactive. If you’re hesitant to pick this up because you think nonfiction can be dry sometimes, rest assured: none of that dreariness resides between these pages. Instead, Schrefer offers readers a witty, humorous and thought-provoking exploration of the very not unnatural but totally normal queer behaviour of animals throughout history.
What I love most though about Queer Ducks is its message to us humans who belong to the LGBTQ+ community: queerness has always existed, even in the world of animals, even when it has been pushed under the rug, hidden from the public eye or been explained away. Schrefer manages to offer readers subtle validation and hope while talking about how normal it is to be queer – both as an animal and as a human (yes, we are also animals but you get the point) living in the 21st century. Claims that queer behaviour is unnatural are eschewed in this book and instead proven wrong with insightful research and riveting interviews with specialists (who are mostly part of the LGTBQ+ community themselves!) in the field that I hope will help its audience understand just how perfectly okay it is to be queer.
Well-researched, charmingly illustrated and infused with humour, Queer Ducks is a fantastic nonfiction work about the prevalence of the vast variety of queerness in the animal kingdom. Whether you want to learn about the diverse and complex queer behaviour in animals or just want to read about bisexual penguins, this book’s sure to keep your attention!
Queer Ducks is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
This groundbreaking illustrated YA nonfiction title from two-time National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer is a well-researched and teen-friendly exploration of the gamut of queer behaviors observed in animals.
So. Just how queer are ducks?
We’re taught the natural order means male-female pairs for each animal on Earth. Darwin’s theory of natural selection only seems to confirm it—aren’t heterosexual pairings the best way forward for any species? But there’s more to the story than most of us know.
A quiet revolution has been underway in recent years, with study after study revealing substantial same-sex sexual behavior in animals. Join celebrated author Eliot Schrefer on an exploration of queer behavior in the animal world—from albatrosses to bonobos to clownfish to doodlebugs.
In sharp and witty prose—aided by humorous comics from artist Jules Zuckerberg—Schrefer uses science, history, anthropology, and sociology to illustrate the diversity of sexual behavior in the animal world. Interviews with researchers in the field offer additional insights for readers and aspiring scientists.
Queer Ducks (and Other Animals) puts to rest any tired claims about the “unnaturalness” of queer behavior. Schrefer argues that the diversity of sexuality that links humans to the animal world can also be a source of great joy, wonder, and self-acceptance. Queer behavior in animals is as diverse and complex—and as natural—as it is in our own species. It doesn’t set us apart from animals—it bonds us even closer to our animal selves.
