Books › Welcome to St. Hell
Welcome to St. Hell
304 pages
A funny, tender, and unflinchingly honest look back at the messy, awkward crucible of growing up trans in a small town.
What it feels like
Reading this graphic memoir feels like sitting down with an older, wiser friend who is generously walking you through their most awkward teenage years with a self-deprecating smirk and a heart full of grace. The pacing is brisk and conversational, driven by expressive, cartoonish art that perfectly captures the chaotic, claustrophobic energy of small-town adolescence. It balances the heavy, isolating weight of gender dysphoria with a wry, laugh-out-loud humor that keeps the narrative from ever feeling bogged down in despair. The mood shifts from the cringe-inducing confusion of puberty to a warm, sunlit sense of arrival. It is an absolute delight for anyone who loves earnest, messy coming-of-age stories that ultimately radiate hope, self-compassion, and the joy of finally feeling at home in your own skin.
- Mood
- nostalgic
- awkward
- warm
- hopeful
- Tone
- wry
- candid
- self-deprecating
- earnest
- humorous
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- navigating gender dysphoria · small-town claustrophobia · the awkwardness of puberty · finding authentic identity · self-compassion through hindsight
- The writing
- The visual and textual narrative is snappy, conversational, and deeply expressive, using humor to cut through heavy emotional truths.
- The arc
- Moves from the confusing, claustrophobic depths of adolescent dysphoria toward a bright, hard-won sense of self-acceptance and joy.
- Who it's for
- Readers looking for a funny, deeply relatable, and ultimately uplifting exploration of queer adolescence and the messy journey to becoming yourself.
Content notes
- gender dysphoria
- transphobia
- bullying
- mental health struggles
About the book
"Welcome to St. Hell" is the title of a critically acclaimed graphic memoir by author and illustrator Lewis Hancox, which chronicles his experiences growing up as a trans teen in the UK. The 2022 book explores Lewis' teenage years, when a younger Lewis, named Lois, found out she was a male. It captures the challenges and experiences of growing up in a small town, navigating identity, and the complexities of adolescence. The narrative is both humorous and heartfelt, providing a relatable perspective on the struggles of being true to oneself.
Description from Open Library.
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