This Is How It Always Is

Story mirrors our life -- to a point -- spoilers

My transgender daughter transitioned between first grade and kindergarten, just like Claude/Poppy in this book. I couldn't believe someone had written a story about a situation like ours -- although we know many families with trans kids, I had never read a work of fiction like this. So, to Laurie Frankel, thank you.

The book rang true on many, many levels. The effects of the transition on siblings, the struggle with secrecy. But in some ways, it was different from our story. For example, my child never said she "wanted" to be a girl. She was adamant from as soon as she could talk that she "is" a girl. "I is a girl, mama." Laurie Frankel hit the nail on the head with the depression and the trepidation of the parents.

That's where our stories diverge. My child is 100% a girl. But this book portrays a child who is a little more on the gender spectrum. That is, not 100% girl or 100% boy. Somewhere in the middle. I find that a great number of the kids we've come to know are on that spectrum. So kudos for shedding a light on those who don't fit into a bucket.

The characters rang true, and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what they would do. The Thailand part is a little far-fetched, although also educational.

Thank you again, Laurie Frankel, for legitimizing (but not sensationalizing) the world of those who do not quite/yet fit with society's norms.

123 personnes sur 131 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

I liked this novel about a non-traditional family

This novel is a about a family with four boys, with the mother a doctor and the father a writer/poet. The fifth child is also a boy, but at age three, Claude just wants to wear dresses. This novel spans Claude / Poppy's life from age 3 to 10, as the child and parents struggle with issues of gender identity. I was a little hesitant about this when I noticed most reviewers seemed to be female. I am a male father of three sons, and a teacher who teaches transgender kids. There was a lot attracting me to this novel. The start of the book felt more like a chick lit romance, and I almost stopped. I am glad that I continued, though. This book and family slowly grew on me, and was filled with many painful and touching moments. This also had flaws. For one thing, I felt like the characters were fictional. They never transformed into the real people who come alive in great novels. Nevertheless, I still cared about them and about the situations I found them in. The "fairy tale" thread, especially at the end, seemed over the top to me. Still, as a whole, I was entertained and drawn in by this family story, and I feel I better understand the issues of transgender children. The story mostly stopped short of being too preachy.

64 personnes sur 69 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Beautiful story. Beautiful performance.

This book has enlightened me and given me courage to stand firm in what I know to be the most important thing I can do in the face of "different," show love. Be love.

29 personnes sur 32 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Great story but poor choice of narrator

I almost returned this book because the narrator was so bad. She constantly mumbles and whispers and really takes away from the feeling and emotion of the book. I’m glad I suffered through it because it’s a wonderful story and so eloquently written.

17 personnes sur 19 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Amazing story

I listen to a lot of books and this narration and story are so amazing. Very enjoyable and worth your time!

16 personnes sur 18 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Didn't think I would like it but loved it instead!

Magical and eye opening and should be mandatory reading for the whole hunan race. I especially liked the story within the story.

25 personnes sur 29 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Change is hard, especially if it's your child

This Is How It Always Is is a novel about a transgender child, Claude/Poppy, born into a large and loving family, how that family comes to accept that Claude wants to be a girl when he grows up, what they do to help that happen, the missteps they make, and secrets they try to keep.

"This is how it always is. You have to make these huge decisions on behalf of your kid, this tiny human whose fate and future is entirely in your hands, who trusts you to know what’s good and right and then to be able to make it happen. If…you make the wrong call, well, nothing less than your child’s entire future and happiness is at stake."

I'm not sure your child's entire future and happiness is at stake with parental wrong calls (at least I hope not), but parenting is full of tough calls, and dealing with transgender issues must be one of the toughest. That's part of what makes writing this book so brave; it's a reality for Laurie Frankel.

Frankel has made it clear in interviews that this book isn't specifically about her daughter, but it does present in fictional form issues and feelings that parents of a gender dysphoric child may have to deal with. I wish this novel had been slightly less preachy, and there is a therapist character that I'm not sure provided any useful therapy, but I enjoyed reading This Is How It Always Is mainly because it made me think and delve further. Is gender dysphoria a sort of spectrum, ranging from people who simply enjoy dressing in clothes of the opposite sex, to people who truly want to be the opposite sex? I don't know, nor am I sure there are really answers to that question, but this novel made me want to find out more, and also hope that I've been an accepting, loving, and protective parent myself.

29 personnes sur 34 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

This is Me

Would you listen to This Is How It Always Is again? Why?

Yes. Narration was perfect. Story touching in so many ways.

What other book might you compare This Is How It Always Is to and why?

This book stands proudly alone, no comparison. Must be experienced.

Which character – as performed by Gabra Zackman – was your favorite?

Penn

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Cry, laugh, often

Any additional comments?

This is a wake up call for happiness, truth, and life as it is.

8 personnes sur 9 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Beautifully written

The moving story of coming to terms with personal identity within the backdrop of family + friends.

7 personnes sur 8 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

One of the Most Important Novels of Our Time

'This is How It Always Is' is an odd title for a book about a young boy who has a gender identification issue. But it's actually the perfect title. 'This Is How It Always Is' refers to a beautiful sentiment- as it's an expression the father of five boys uses when it comes to putting his children first... always..

Claude is five years old, the brother of 4 older male siblings, and the son of a Doctor (mom) and a literature professor (dad). When Claude decides to wear bikinis to the neighbourhood pool, and wants to wear dresses to Kindergarten, his parents are surprised and worried, but very supportive. When Claude becomes Poppy, his family is very supportive. This novel tells about the trials and tribulations of a transgender person who has to deal with prejudice, stares, hatefulness and eventually acceptance. The beautiful part of this book is.. everything.

This story should be a must-read for all parents, not children, who ever need to know how to exhibit unconditional love to their child. It should be a must read for children who want to understand how a transgender person feels. It's like a guide on how transgender people, even at a young age, just act like themselves and they only get confused when society tells them it's not acceptable.

What a beautiful book. I am so glad I listened to it. Beautiful narration. One of the most touching stories I've ever heard.

-Wendi

9 personnes sur 11 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente