📖 Overview
Casey Plett is a Canadian writer who has earned recognition for her fiction exploring transgender experiences and identity. Her most notable works include the novel "Little Fish," the Lambda Literary Award-winning short story collection "A Safe Girl to Love," and the Giller Prize-nominated collection "A Dream of a Woman."
Born in Winnipeg and raised in a Mennonite family in Morden, Manitoba, Plett later lived in Oregon, Portland, and New York before settling in Windsor, Ontario. Her writing career began with a column about gender transition for McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and she has since contributed to various publications including the Winnipeg Free Press, The Walrus, and Rookie.
Beyond her personal works, Plett has made contributions to the literary community as co-editor of "Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers," an anthology featuring speculative fiction from transgender authors. Her work consistently addresses themes of identity, transition, and contemporary transgender experiences with particular attention to Canadian settings and culture.
👀 Reviews
Readers highlight Plett's authentic portrayal of trans characters and experiences, with specific praise for her attention to detail in depicting daily life. Many reviews note her ability to capture complex relationships and family dynamics.
What readers liked:
- Raw, honest writing style
- Character depth and development
- Accurate representation of trans experiences
- Regional Canadian settings and culture
- Natural dialogue
- Balance of humor and serious themes
What readers disliked:
- Some found pacing slow in "Little Fish"
- Multiple narrative threads can be hard to follow
- Content warnings needed for heavy themes
- Some readers wanted more resolution in story endings
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- "Little Fish": 4.1/5 (2,000+ ratings)
- "A Safe Girl to Love": 4.3/5 (1,000+ ratings)
- "A Dream of a Woman": 4.4/5 (500+ ratings)
Amazon averages 4.5/5 across titles. One reader noted: "Plett writes with unflinching honesty about the complexities of identity and belonging." Another: "Her characters feel like people you might know."
📚 Books by Casey Plett
Little Fish (2018)
A novel following 30-year-old trans woman Wendy Reimer in Winnipeg as she discovers her late Mennonite grandfather might have been transgender.
A Safe Girl to Love (2014) A collection of short stories centered around young trans women navigating love, family, and community across North American cities.
A Dream of a Woman (2021) A short story collection exploring the lives of trans women as they pursue love, wrestle with belonging, and build connections across Canada and the United States.
Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers (2017) An anthology co-edited with Cat Fitzpatrick, compiling speculative fiction stories written by transgender authors.
A Safe Girl to Love (2014) A collection of short stories centered around young trans women navigating love, family, and community across North American cities.
A Dream of a Woman (2021) A short story collection exploring the lives of trans women as they pursue love, wrestle with belonging, and build connections across Canada and the United States.
Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers (2017) An anthology co-edited with Cat Fitzpatrick, compiling speculative fiction stories written by transgender authors.
👥 Similar authors
Imogen Binnie writes about trans characters navigating daily life and identity, with her novel "Nevada" being a cornerstone of contemporary trans literature. Her work shares Plett's focus on authentic transgender experiences and complex character development.
Torrey Peters explores trans relationships and community dynamics in metropolitan settings through works like "Detransition, Baby." Her writing examines similar themes as Plett's, including transition, family dynamics, and the intersection of trans identity with broader social structures.
Ivan Coyote writes about queer and trans experiences with strong connections to Canadian culture and rural settings. Their storytelling style connects personal narratives with broader social commentary, similar to Plett's approach to exploring identity within specific cultural contexts.
Rivers Solomon creates narratives that examine identity and belonging through both realistic and speculative fiction frameworks. Their work shares Plett's interest in exploring marginalized experiences while incorporating elements of community and transformation.
Vivek Shraya writes across multiple genres about trans identity with particular attention to Canadian cultural contexts and family relationships. Her work examines transition and identity formation within specific cultural frameworks, paralleling Plett's exploration of these themes in Canadian settings.
Torrey Peters explores trans relationships and community dynamics in metropolitan settings through works like "Detransition, Baby." Her writing examines similar themes as Plett's, including transition, family dynamics, and the intersection of trans identity with broader social structures.
Ivan Coyote writes about queer and trans experiences with strong connections to Canadian culture and rural settings. Their storytelling style connects personal narratives with broader social commentary, similar to Plett's approach to exploring identity within specific cultural contexts.
Rivers Solomon creates narratives that examine identity and belonging through both realistic and speculative fiction frameworks. Their work shares Plett's interest in exploring marginalized experiences while incorporating elements of community and transformation.
Vivek Shraya writes across multiple genres about trans identity with particular attention to Canadian cultural contexts and family relationships. Her work examines transition and identity formation within specific cultural frameworks, paralleling Plett's exploration of these themes in Canadian settings.