• How to Be a Girl

  • A Memoir by Marlo Mack
  • By: Marlo Mack
  • Narrated by: Marlo Mack
  • Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (189 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
How to Be a Girl  By  cover art

How to Be a Girl

By: Marlo Mack
Narrated by: Marlo Mack
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

What’s it like to parent a child in transition? 

Inspired by the acclaimed podcast How to Be a Girl, this is a highly personal and beautifully narrated memoir by Marlo Mack recounting the journey she’s been on since her three-year-old declared he should have been born a girl. And Mack agrees to the child’s request to be a girl.  

But getting the world to go along is another story. Putting the listener in her shoes, Mack takes us through how she explained it to her parents, found common ground with her ex, convinced educators, and developed radar for judgy parents who just didn’t understand. She builds out her network of LGBTQIA+ support for herself and M. But the biggest motivation for this "mama bear" is her wonderous child who sings "Frozen", giggles through conversations about her favorite fairy toys, and offers us bits of wisdom and insight well beyond her years. 

This is an unforgettable narrative of a remarkable child, a truly devoted parent, and what it means to practice motherhood in transition. 

Note from the author: The story I am sharing is about real people - me and my daughter and those who have lived through this very interesting time with us. To preserve the privacy of my child and others, I’ve changed nearly all of the names, including my own and that of my child. 

©2019 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.
  • Original Recording Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

About the Creator and Performer

Marlo Mack is a writer and producer as well as a single mom raising a young transgender daughter in Washington state. With her daughter's help, she produced the podcast, How to Be a Girl, about their life together and the challenges they often face. In 2017, How to Be a Girl was a Peabody Finalist. It has been honored with a Webby Award and was also selected as the 'Best International Podcast' by the British Podcast Awards. Her blog, gendermom, covers her daily life of raising a trans daughter. Her work has been a beacon of insight and wisdom for the trans parenting community.

Featured Article: Stirring Audiobooks Guaranteed to Make You Cry


When life gets overwhelming, there’s nothing more comforting than getting lost in an emotional listen and having a good cry. Whether a novel or a memoir, listens that make you cry are always a good thing: it means you’ve connected with the characters, become invested in the story, and truly feel the feelings—heartache, regret, betrayal, grief—the author intended to convey. Listen in to one of these audiobooks that will leave you reaching for the tissues.

What listeners say about How to Be a Girl

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    184
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    160
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    159
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Life-saving story well worth a listen

It is tender and beautiful and important. It will save lives. How To Be A Girl has changed my life and has made me a better and more loving counselor and person.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Deeply moved

A beautifully told story of a remarkable little girl. This is an essential book for those who seek to understand the transgender experience. It is even more essential for those, like myself, who thought they understood but clearly did not. I am inspired and humbled.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

<3

thank you for sharing your story. your daughter is so lucky to have you as her advocate.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Such a powerful story. I am so inspired by the author’s courage, clarity and humanity. We are all as God made us. This book is one small step toward the world seeing this truth.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent description of someone transgendered.

excellent story. My cousin is trans and having a very difficult time in transitioning from Caleb too Kayleigh I wish her all the problems would just disappear but, there are new trials and tribulations she faces every day. She was raised Mormon and I am a devout Catholic. So her parents have discussed sending for conversion Therapy since on top of all this she does feel more comfortable with a female partner. She has a long tough road ahead of her. God bless my sweet adorable little cousin Kaliegh. Sincerely, Danielle

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I’m jelly of M

What a brave little girl and what a wonderful mother 🥰🥰🥰 i i i i i

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Recommended

Amazing story of a transgender little girl and her mother as they come to understand being and loving a transgender child and advocating for her

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!

Today I found out I was pregnant and to have such an awe inspiring mother to look up to is incredible. This book is educational, emotional and beyond brave! We all have something to learn from Marlo and Em. Love love love Od really all we need!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Touching, Real Story

Such a touching story that does not hold back on the highs and lows of raises a trans-child. Hope more people can read and learn from this story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very emotionally impactful

Wow, I felt like I was going on the journey with the author and her daughter. My heart was warmed by the love of the parents for their child, soared with joy over triumphant moments, and broke with the pain caused by hateful people. I look forward to the day when trans folk are accepted for the wonderful people they are.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!