Burn the Page

A True Story of Torching Doubts, Blazing Trails, and Igniting Change

By: Danica Roem

Narrated by: Danica Roem

An inspirational memoir-meets-manifesto by Danica Roem, the nation's first openly trans person elected to US state legislature

Danica Roem made national headlines when--as a transgender former frontwoman for a metal band and a political newcomer--she unseated Virginia's most notoriously anti-LGBTQ 26-year incumbent Bob Marshall as state delegate. But before Danica made history, she had to change her vision of what was possible in her own life. Doing so was a matter of storytelling: during her campaign, Danica hired an opposition researcher to dredge up every story from her past that her opponent might seize on to paint her negatively.

In wildly entertaining prose, Danica dismantles all the stories her opponents tried to hedge against her, showing how through brutal honesty and loving authenticity, it's possible to embrace the low points, and even transform them into her greatest strengths. Burn the Page takes readers from Danica's lonely, closeted, and at times operatically tragic childhood to her position as a rising star in a party she's helped forever change. Burn the Page is so much more than a stump speech: it's an extremely inspiring manifesto about how it's possible to set fire to the stories you don't want to be in anymore, whether written by you or about you by someone else--and rewrite your own future, whether that's running for politics, in your work, or your personal life. This book will not just encourage people who think they have to be spotless to run for office, but inspire all of us to own our personal narratives as Danica does.

Critic reviews

One of Marie Claire's Best Memoirs of 2022

“Burn the Page by Danica Roem is far from a typical politico’s book…[it] is an inspiring, fun gonzo page-turner. It’s a must-read." --Washington Blade

"A political memoir unlike any other. Inspired by the opposition research she conducted on herself during her campaign, the Virginian delegate chronicles her rise from a metalhead reporter moonlighting as a food delivery driver to a game-changing public official." --Electric Literature

“With grace and humor… this colorful, no-holds-barred account of Roem’s life and political work still delights for its unabashed candor. An inspiring story of self-acceptance and determination.” --Kirkus

Made Me Laugh. Made Me Cry.

A true story that touched my heart and made me laugh. Danica Roem is an amazing woman. I must acknowledge that she is a personal friend of mine. I was at that school board meeting. I was in Richmond fighting for Medicare Expansion. I was in Richmond fighting for the passing of the VA Values Act. I knocked doors for her campaigns. My husband and I have been in her TV ads. I do not live in her district. She is amazing. Her book is honest, compelling and emotional. Listen to her tell her story. No one could do it better.

Highly recommend, especially for Virginia politicos

I love anything related to Virginia politics, so this was going to receive five stars regardless, but Danica did a great job sharing her underdog journey to the legislature and stories from her time as a delegate!

A NoVa must read

Danica narrates and describes the setting beautifully by being very real about the uniqueness of Northern Virginia. Well done, Danica! Very proud to be your constituent.

Danica is a ⭐

I appreciate when the narrator IS the subject of the autobiography, but in this case I don't think ANYONE else could have pulled it off. I felt like she was telling her stories directly to me, like she was in the living room, making me laugh, cry and appreciate her through the narrative.

A great story about grit and resilience

I enjoy so much to know this author through her words as if o was having a conversation with her. I learned how politics are more complicated as we see them as spectators and it needs character and a sense of defiance to navigate it .

Danica has become one of my heroes, she gave herself a chair at the table and fight not only to remain there but also for all her constituents to have a voice and rights .
It’s been a real pleasure to know her and her work. This book will inspire many . Thanks Danica