Beyond the Binary: Shapeshifting and Nonbinary Identity in Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction

Drawing on posthumanist and queer perspectives, Candice Lemon-Scott argues that the shapeshifter can disrupt binary gender norms.

Abstract

Middle-grade speculative fiction provides a unique space for exploring nonbinary identity through the trope of shapeshifting. Historically, gender-complex characters in fantasy have been positioned as “Other,” with transformation linked to monstrosity or marginalisation. However, contemporary works, such as Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard and Yoon Ha Lee’s Tiger Honor, offer contrasting portrayals of nonbinary shapeshifters. Magnus Chase foregrounds gender fluidity through Alex Fierro, whose ability to shift between male and female forms parallels nonbinary identity but is at times framed as an exception within a cisnormative world. Tiger Honor, by contrast, integrates the protagonist, Sebin’s, nonbinary identity seamlessly within a setting where gender complexity is accepted without question. This article examines how these portrayals inform the creation of Val Silver and the Dragon’s Secret, a novel that reclaims shapeshifting as a metaphor for empowerment rather than othering in my creative practice. Drawing on posthumanist and queer theoretical perspectives, I argue that the shapeshifter archetype can disrupt binary gender norms, offering young readers inclusive and affirming representations of nonbinary identity. By situating shapeshifting within a framework of self-discovery, rather than isolation or trauma, speculative fiction fosters a space where nonbinary characters can thrive.