None of the Above

Narrator Caitlin Davies transforms what could be a didactic novel into an emotional journey. High school senior Kristin Lattimer has an adoring boyfriend, a sports scholarship, many friends, and a surprising homecoming queen win. Then painful first sex sends her to a doctor who discovers she's intersex. At that point, Davies's initial portrayal of Kristin's confident openness crumbles to confusion. Poignancy builds as Kristin's entire school learns of her condition. Davies's depiction of the resulting high school horrors is heartbreaking--Kristin's boyfriend's homophobic rejection, the scorn of bullies who hurl the word "hermaphrodite," and a former friend who seems to use Kristin's misfortune to her own advantage. All these establish Kristin's self-imposed isolation and gender questioning and set the stage for her path to self-acceptance and stability. S.W. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Starred review from April 27, 2015
A painful first sexual experience and a visit to the gynecologist confirm high-school senior Kristin's fears that she is different from other girls. Although she appears to be female on the outside, she is actually intersex. In this provocative and enlightening first novel, physician Gregorio creates a heart-wrenching story of self-discovery inspired by one of her patients. Overwhelmed by embarrassment, Kristen (who continues to identify as female) confides in only one person outside her family, but word gets out, and she soon becomes the target of cruel taunts from many students, including her enraged boyfriend. Once a confident homecoming queen and track star, Kristin no longer knows who she is or what the future will bring. It takes a courage and support from a therapist and an intersex college student for Kristen to accept that the perception of others does not define her identity. Kristin's harrowing quest to come to terms with the insensitivity of strangers and acquaintances will strike a familiar chord with any reader who has felt estranged. Ages 14âup. Agent: Jessica Regel, Foundry Literary + Media.

January 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Kristin Lattimer embodies the all-American teenage girl. She's sporty, well-liked, cool but humble enough to be shocked when elected Homecoming Queen, with two loyal best friends and a loving boyfriend. Even in the wake of her mom's death from cervical cancer, Kristin's future is looking pretty bright. Until her first time having sex with Sam goes painfully awry, leading to a doctor's appointment that reveals she is intersex. Suddenly, Kristin's life is thrown wildly off-kilter as she struggles with her condition and its impact on her self-esteem, academic life, and most important relationships. The novel is engaging and well paced, with smart young characters. However, their witty banter and sage insights don't always seem to capture a youthful voice-the novel;s pedagogical intent threatens to overwhelm the natural rhythm of speech, making these 17 and 18 year olds sound like medical mouthpieces from time to time. Gregorio's helpful author's note explains that numerous AIS perspectives and sources were consulted in the writing process; it is evident that research was done to give this fictional account realism and nuance. Links and resources about being intersex are provided for further reading. While the text occasionally reads like a fictionalized medical record, this book serves as a useful introduction to the discussion around intersexuality, particularly from a youth viewpoint.-Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journal

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2015
Cross-country runner Kristin Lattimer is devastated when an OB-GYN diagnoses her with androgen insensitivity syndrome, an intersex condition.Exuberant after being voted queen at the homecoming dance, Kristin decides she's finally ready to have sex with her boyfriend, Sam. Their attempt at intercourse, however, turns out to be prohibitively painful, and Kristin promptly schedules an appointment with her best friend's gynecologist. Her pelvic exam and a series of follow-ups reveal that Kristin has AIS. After she confides in two friends at a party, rumors about Kristin's condition spread, and she is ostracized. The particulars of AIS are explained in matter-of-fact detail and filtered effectively through Kristin's point of view. Kristin and her bullies use the word "hermaphrodite," but the author is careful to note that the term is widely considered derogatory and that "intersex" and "disorder of sex development," or DSD, are preferred. Discussions of Kristin's gender strike an equally appropriate balance: Kristin worries that her diagnosis means she's "not exactly a girl," and Sam rejects her as a "faggot," but other voices express kinder views. A supportive and warmly drawn group of side characters rounds out the story, and the figure of Caster Semenya, a runner speculated to have AIS herself, serves as a role model and figure of hope. Sensitive, informative and a valuable resource for teens in Kristin's shoes. (Fiction. 14-18)

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