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"a mind-blowing treatise"

  • -San Francisco Chronicle

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"Employing conversational humor and personal anecdotes, interviews with a variety of scientists, and detailed information about the intersections of human bias and animal research, Schrefer deconstructs commonly held beliefs to reveal the world of queer animal behavior." 

  • -Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

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"A fun exploration of same-sex behavior across the animal kingdom, Queer Ducks (and Other Animals) will have dry biology textbooks shaking in their book covers."

  • -BookPage (starred review)

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"This is a groundbreaking young adult publication that documents new insights into animal behavior, including research previously repressed or ignored. It also reassures readers that same-sex attraction, interaction, and sexual intercourse is completely natural, both in the animal and human realms."

  • -Booklist (starred review)

 

"Mind-expanding, guffaw-inducing, and truth-telling—Schrefer’s title guides readers to a frontier where no STEM curriculum has gone before."

  • -Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

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"A thoughtful, thought-provoking, and incredibly fun study of queerness across the animal kingdom." - Kirkus

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“Eliot Schrefer takes us on a groundbreaking journey of discovery into the sexual ways of animals. I laughed, cried, cheered and learned so much—about animals, sex, science and yes, even love. This book is a must-read for every teen.” 

  • -Deb Heiligman, award-winning author of Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith

 

“In this deeply researched and necessary book, Schrefer takes readers through the scientific record of same-sex partnering in the animal kingdom. Species by species, study by study, coupling by coupling, he shares the data and shines a light on the human assumptions and cultural biases that have kept the natural diversity of animal sexual behavior under wraps for too long. Queer Ducks may be the most important book you read and share this year.”

  • -Loree Griffin Burns, Ph.D., award-winning author of Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion

Queer Ducks

Recipient of a Printz Honor from the American Library Association

 

Named an "essential read" by Psychology Today

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One of the Top 10 Teen Books of 2022 from the New York Public Library

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5 Starred Reviews!

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Listen to my discussion of the book on All Things Considered with host Sacha Pfeiffer (8 mins)

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Or listen to my conversation with Jonathan Van Ness on their "Getting Curious" podcast!

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“In this hilarious, inviting, brilliant, absolutely revelatory book, Queer Ducks introduces us to new science and cool animals that show us that lovemaking is far more varied, far more exuberant, and far more useful than two opposite sex creatures simply making a bunch of babies. Thank you, Eliot Schrefer, for showing us a natural treasure trove of glorious ways to love, bond, and be.”

  • -Sy Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of How to be a Good Creature

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"One of the most fun books I have ever read!"

  • -Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show & New York Times bestselling author of Born a Crime

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This groundbreaking illustrated nonfiction title from two-time National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer is a well-researched and teen-friendly exploration of the gamut of queer behaviors observed in animals.

 

A quiet revolution has been underway in recent years, with study after study revealing substantial same-sex sexual behavior in animals. Join celebrated author Eliot Schrefer on an exploration of queer behavior in the animal world—from albatrosses to bonobos to clownfish to doodlebugs.

 

In sharp and witty prose—aided by humorous comics from artist Jules Zuckerberg—Schrefer uses science, history, anthropology, and sociology to illustrate the diversity of sexual behavior in the animal world. Interviews with researchers in the field offer additional insights for readers and aspiring scientists.

 

Queer behavior in animals is as diverse and complex—and as natural—as it is in our own species. It doesn’t set us apart from animals—it bonds us even closer to our animal selves.

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