Summary:
In this young adult novel, Kristin Lattimer is a high school
senior who seems to have everything – good looks, two best friends Vee and
Faith, excellent athleticism especially in hurdles, a scholarship to State
University, and a hunk of a boyfriend. She and her boyfriend are even voted
Prom Queen and King. Kristin’s dad is a single parent, as her mother died of cervical
cancer when Kristin was in 6th grade. Hence Kristin’s primary
sources of knowledge of adolescent changes are her Aunt Carla and her peers,
and she is able, at age 18 to chalk up her lack, not only of menstruation, but
also of menarche to her running practice. But when she experiences painful and
incomplete intercourse, she seeks the advice of a friend’s gynecologist.
Dr. Johnson quickly diagnoses “androgen insensitivity syndrome”
and explains that AIS is “a unique genetic syndrome that causes an intersex
state – where a person looks outwardly like a female, but has some of the
internal characteristics of a male.” (p. 37) The gynecologist then stumbles
through further explanations and concludes, “Miss Lattimer, I think that you
might be what some people call a hermaphrodite.” (p. 38) To the now stunned
teen, the physician further explains karyotypes, hormone levels and the “better
term” intersex. Since Kristin has undescended testes, the discussion includes
possible cancer risk, and Kristin’s dad is called into the doctor’s office as
well.
The reader follows Kristin’s journey of discovery – meeting
a ‘specialist,’ urologist Dr. Cheng, who provides the definitive diagnosis of
AIS and explains that “chromosomal sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation
are all separate concepts.” (p. 59) Issues of privacy, friendship, betrayal,
sexuality, community, ostracism, social media, athletic rules vis-à-vis gender,
and support groups are woven into the story and Kristin learns to cope with her
new diagnosis and self-awareness.
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