First published 2004
Liam waits for darkness to fall. Only then can he become who he truly is, slipping into dresses and makeup with his sister's careful assistance. These nighttime transformations offer precious hours of authenticity, but they also highlight the painful divide between his inner truth and outer life. His sister serves as both accomplice and witness, helping him navigate the complexities of his identity in secret. The evening rituals that once provided comfort now feel insufficient. Liam yearns to live openly as his true self, to show the world the girl he knows himself to be. Yet the thought of revealing this truth to his family fills him with dread. He imagines their shock, their questions, their potential rejection. The weight of hiding grows heavier each day, while the desire for honesty grows stronger. Liam stands at a crossroads between the safety of concealment and the risk of living authentically.
Genres: contemporary, young-adult, lgbt, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, identity-exploration
248 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown Young Readers