finished reading

This is a novel that will stay with me for a while. It's a poignant exploration of the trans experience, following the lives of trans women at different stages of their journeys and offering an appreciation for the trans community. There are rich, fully developed characters—even the secondary ones—the book explores themes of living authentically, the search for connection, and unlikely friendships.

The narrative is primarily woven through two distinct voices. Erica's sections are marked by a tentativeness as she navigates the uncertain first steps toward her transition. In contrast, Abigail's voice bursts with the raw, contemporary intensity of a typical teenager, grappling with identity and belonging. This dual perspective provides a compelling and layered look at the diverse journeys of self-discovery and acceptance.

From the publisher:

An unforgettable and heartwarming debut following a trans high school teacher from a small town in South Dakota who befriends the only other trans woman she knows: one of her students.

Erica Skyberg is thirty-five years old, recently divorced—and trans. Not that she's told anyone yet. Mitchell, South Dakota, isn't exactly bursting with other trans women. Instead, she keeps to herself, teaching by day and directing community theater by night. That is, until Abigail Hawkes enters her orbit.

Abigail is seventeen, Mitchell High’s resident political dissident and Only Trans Girl. It’s a role she plays faultlessly, albeit a little reluctantly. She's also annoyed by the idea of spending her senior year secretly guiding her English teacher through her transition. But Abigail remembers the uncertainty—and loneliness—that comes with it. Besides, Erica isn’t the only one struggling to shed the weight of others’ expectations.

As their unlikely friendship evolves under the increasing scrutiny of their community, both women—and those closest to them—will come to realize that sometimes there is nothing more radical than letting the world see who you really are.