It
Book not yet available in English
Summary:
With her short hair and boyish clothes, Joséphine has often been mistaken for a boy. Some of her classmates teasingly call her “it”, but Jo actually likes the neutral pronoun which suits her fine. Ill at ease in a body that creates an image that does not match her identity, she seeks refuge in drawing. Her quiet life is blown apart when her family’s flat is destroyed in a fire she fears she caused. The shock lets her shake off her lingering doubts and she is at last ready to announce to the world that she is a boy.
Edited by: Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
Comment:
Catherine Grive handles the issue of gender and trans identity with great sensitivity. Jo’s quest for identity is framed very naturally and without exaggeration. The author dwells on how Jo’s parents react, as their harmonious relationship with Jo comes under strain when he comes out as trans. The impact of his announcement is described realistically and directly, as Jo struggles to convince his parents and other loved ones of his decision. The legal and psychological process of transitioning is also described in detail, and the author underlines their complexity. Jo has to go to court and talk to a psychologist, and is lost when he learns he has to prove he has been living as male. The subplot over what caused the fire creates suspense and symbolises the revelation of Jo’s true identity: at the end of the novel, he changes his name to Adrien.