Matt and Jane are leaving Texas to move back to Matt’s hometown of Atwood, Wisconsin. He has taken a job as headmaster of a prep school, and they’ve moved into an infamous old mansion in town. Jane hopes the move will be good for all of them.
Their six-year-old son Charles insists he’s a girl. He likes wearing his older sister’s hand-me-downs and watching Julia Child videos. Jane and Matt have indulged Charles’ desires and let him dress as he wants. But once Matt has settled into his new job, he wants his family to fit in.
Jane starts to realize that Charles isn’t going through a phase; he might be transgender or intersex. But Matt insists that Charles dress like a boy and cut his hair, which only makes him sad and withdrawn. When tragedy strikes, Jane knows her priority is to fight for her child to live the life she wants—before it is too late.
Many people in their lives—family, friends, teachers, doctors—weigh in with their opinions. And the more Jane stands up for her child, the angrier Matt becomes, until he realizes Jane will choose their children over their marriage.
I liked the realism in the book, that everyone didn’t suddenly do a 180 about Charles being transgender. Matt is very hard to like and it was good when Jane stopped being a doormat for everyone. But this is one of those books that definitely makes you think while it makes you feel.
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