This Is How It Always Is
April 27, 2023
By Barbara Monk
A book review for This Is How It Always Is, a novel by Laurie Frankel.
This family of boys readily accept all their children’s quirks and comical antics, even when their youngest child, Claude, at a very young age has a preference for girl toys and clothing over the usual boy stuff. The family comes to realize that Poppy (Claude) is not going through a phase, and they and their community accept her for who she really is, a transgender child. After a traumatic experience, the family moves across country, and for the good of their family, they keep Poppy’s previous gender identity (male) a secret. This completely changes the family dynamics, which causes turmoil, conflict, and emotional issues they never faced when they could be open and honest about their transgender child.
The author is a parent of a transgender daughter, but this story is purely fiction, and not her family’s story. Though her own family has not lived this story plot, it is her voice of being a parent of a gender dysphoric child that gives this novel it’s strength. Currently on Amazon there are over 35,700 reviews with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
A book review for This Is How It Always Is, a novel by Laurie Frankel.
This family of boys readily accept all their children’s quirks and comical antics, even when their youngest child, Claude, at a very young age has a preference for girl toys and clothing over the usual boy stuff. The family comes to realize that Poppy (Claude) is not going through a phase, and they and their community accept her for who she really is, a transgender child. After a traumatic experience, the family moves across country, and for the good of their family, they keep Poppy’s previous gender identity (male) a secret. This completely changes the family dynamics, which causes turmoil, conflict, and emotional issues they never faced when they could be open and honest about their transgender child.
The author is a parent of a transgender daughter, but this story is purely fiction, and not her family’s story. Though her own family has not lived this story plot, it is her voice of being a parent of a gender dysphoric child that gives this novel it’s strength. Currently on Amazon there are over 35,700 reviews with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
