A Quick & Easy Guide to Asexuality

by Molly Muldoon, Will Hernandez (Illustrator)

Overview

"An engaging and essential handbook for anyone interested in gaining insight into an oft-misunderstood community." — Library Journal

This book is for anyone who wants to learn about asexuality, and for Ace people themselves, to validate their experiences.

2023 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens

2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist Selection

2022 Chicago Public Library Best Book

Asexuality is often called The Invisible Orientation. You don’t learn about it in school, you don’t hear “ace” on television. So, it’s kinda hard to be ace in a society so steeped in sex that no one knows you exist. Too many young people grow up believing that their lack of sexual desire means they are broken – so writer Molly Muldoon and cartoonist Will Hernandez, both in the ace community, are here to shed light on society’s misconceptions of asexuality and what being ace is really like. This book is for anyone who wants to learn about asexuality, and for Ace people themselves, to validate their experiences. Asexuality is a real identity and it’s time the world recognizes it. Here’s to being invisible no more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620108598
Publisher:	Oni Press
Publication date:	03/29/2022
Series:	Quick & Easy Guides
Pages:	72
Sales rank:	519,734
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Molly Muldoon is a former scholar and bookseller, current librarian and writer, and always demisexual fanfiction enthusiast. Her works include The Cardboard Kingdom, Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom, and the forthcoming The Cardboard Kingdom: Roar of the Beast. Although she’s spent the past ten years globetrotting, she currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her ridiculous cat, Jamie McKitten.

Will Hernandez is a lifelong artist, and a first-time published comic creator/ co-author. Though a passionate storyteller and draftsman, Will is also on an endless journey of discovery, looking to learn more about the world and, in turn, themself. Through ups and downs, they've discovered themself to be on the asexual spectrum, growing ever more curious of the role sexuality and gender play in society, and fond of the culture it creates.

Editorial Reviews

12/06/2021

The latest installment of the Quick & Easy series delivers a welcoming and informative guide for “asexual people, folks questioning whether they might be ace, and anyone hoping to understand more about asexuality,” from cocreators (themselves “two rad aces”) Muldoon (the Cardboard Kingdom series) and Hernandez. Hernandez’s cheerful, cartoony art is well-suited to the lighthearted tenor of the series, and their expressive characters underscore the absurdity of some misconceptions about the asexual (or “ace”) community, such as when deconstructing “Ace Stereotypes,” exemplified by the robotic “asexual genius type” of Star Trek’s Data character, or detailing “The Spectrum of Asexuality” with an unexpectedly nuanced and extended metaphor about cake. The team follow the series format, providing a trim but informative package, and do an excellent job moving from a big picture definition of asexuality to more insightful discussions, including discovering one’s sexual identity or facing challenges that can arise, whether it’s dating or disbelieving doctors. A useful resource list is included to help address some of those deeper questions. This is a clear-cut primer for readers looking to support an ace person in their own life or those questioning their own identity. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"Full of good humor and positivity, A Quick & Easy Guide to Asexuality delivers on its promise to be an insightful introduction."

Booklist

"Addresses myths, misconceptions and tropes about asexuality while reminding readers that they aren't broken if they don't experience sexual attraction."

2023 Great Graphic Novel for Teens YALSA

"This short comic gives a comprehensive guide to orientations under the asexual umbrella including asexuality and demisexuality."

2023 Rainbow Booklist Selection

12/01/2021

Muldoon (The Cardboard Kingdom #2: Roar of the Beast) and Hernandez (Black Crown Omnibus, Vol. 1) both of whom identify as being on the asexual spectrum, or "ace," present this informative guide for "asexual people, folks questioning whether they might be ace, or anyone hoping to understand more about asexuality." After clarifying that "[asexuality] has nothing to do with romance…[or] actually having sex," and is simply "not feeling sexual attraction," the authors discuss a range of topics including the rich spectrum of asexual identity, the sense of isolation and misunderstanding that can accompany growing up as an asexual, and much more—often illustrated with examples from Muldoon and Hernandez's own experience. A chapter devoted to how entertainment media frequently perpetuates the stereotype of asexual males as highly capable and intellectually gifted, and ace females as reacting to some kind of trauma, proves particularly enlightening, as does a section covering dating and relationships. VERDICT The playful illustration and casual tone struck by the creators result in an engaging and essential handbook for anyone interested in gaining insight into an oft-misunderstood community.

Library Journal