by Chelsea Cain
First published 2019
Twelve-year-old Maude faces an impossible situation. Her body transforms into a panther when puberty strikes, a condition called pantherism that affects girls her age. Her friend has disappeared without a trace. Her detective father believes she might be responsible for killing someone. Her mother guards a dangerous secret that could change everything. A unicorn lives hidden in Maude's bedroom, the one bright spot in her chaotic life. But Maude refuses to accept the world as it is. She develops a bold plan to challenge the system that oppresses girls like her. The patriarchy has controlled their lives for too long. This collection gathers the second story arc of Maude's unconventional journey into adolescence. It includes a satirical mental health guide titled "What's Happening to Me and How Can It Be Stopped?" that addresses the unique challenges girls face. Maude must navigate family secrets, police suspicion, and her own dangerous transformations while fighting for a better future.
Genres: gender-studies, feminist-theory, coming-of-age, fantasy, magical-realism, adolescence
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, gender-identity, social-justice
119 pages · Kindle Edition · Image
Content warnings: body-horror, sexism