First published 2025
Erica Skyberg stands in her classroom in Mitchell, South Dakota, hiding a secret that could upend her carefully constructed life. At thirty-five, recently divorced, she has begun transitioning but hasn't told anyone in her conservative small town. She teaches English by day and directs community theater by night, keeping mostly to herself. Then seventeen-year-old Abigail Hawkes disrupts her quiet existence. Abigail serves as Mitchell High's outspoken political rebel and the school's only openly trans girl, a role she performs with skill but growing weariness. Despite her initial reluctance, Abigail finds herself quietly mentoring Erica through the uncertainties of transition, remembering her own struggles with loneliness and self-doubt. Their unexpected friendship draws unwanted attention from their community. Both women carry the burden of others' expectations while wrestling with their own desires for authenticity. As pressure mounts, they must confront fundamental questions about identity and belonging. The story explores what it costs to hide yourself and what happens when you try to blend into the background. This debut captures the awkwardness of personal growth and celebrates the transformative power of friendship between women finding their way.
Genres: drama, literary-fiction, friendship, coming-of-age, contemporary, adult-fiction
Vibes: authentic, emotional, intimate, introspective, tender, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, mentor-mentee, unlikely-friendship
Setting: Mitchell, South Dakota, Mitchell High
Period: 21st-century, contemporary
368 pages · Paperback · Crooked Media Reads
Content warnings: transphobia