Books like This is how it always is by Laurie Frankel
When Rosie and Penn, parents of four boys, welcome a fifth child, they expect another baby boy. But the new baby, Claude, immediately shows signs of being different: he wears a dress, carries a purse, and wants long hair. As Claude grows, he confesses that he wants to be a girl. The family, initially unbothered, gradually keeps the secret, hoping the child will change. Their quiet tolerance turns chaotic when Claude’s identity becomes impossible to conceal. The novel explores the complexity of parenting a transgender child, the impact on sibling dynamics, and the fragile honesty that underlies family life.
First publish date: 2017
Genre: LGBTQ+ Fiction/Transgender Fiction
Authors: Laurie Frankel
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