Structure

In terms of both structure and content, the book is defined by its central thematic consideration – the exploration of different aspects of living as transgender (that is: of someone being one gender genetically and anatomically, but feeling and behaving as though s/he is the other gender). Each of its 11 chapters considers one such aspect – sometimes from the perspective of a particular individual, sometimes including the perspectives of other individuals, and sometimes including scientific research and analysis. Almost always, there is the suggestion that the author is learning as much about such experiences as one suspects the reader is.

All that said, the book as a whole places the experiences of a particular individual at the center of its considerations – specifically, those of Christina, originally Eduardo. In Part One, the author describes the beginnings of her relationship with Christina, a relationship that began, the author suggests, as...