The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
A MICHAEL L. PRINTZ HONOR BOOK AND KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE CENTURY
“A fantastical, transcendent memory collage that shirks convention in search of what is real and true about familial bonds.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Part memoir, part speculative fiction, The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be tells the true story of author Shannon Gibney’s experience growing up as the adopted Black daughter of white parents in America alongside the fictional story of Erin Powers, the name Shannon was given at birth by the white woman who put her up for adoption.
At its core, the novel is a tale of two girls on two different timelines, occasionally bridged by a mysterious portal and their shared search for a complete picture of their origins. Gibney surrounds her stories with reproductions of her own adoption documents, letters, family photographs, interviews, medical records, and brief essays on the surreal absurdities of the adoptee experience.
Strikingly honest and beautifully written, this speculative memoir explores the rarely depicted experience of transracial adoption first-hand, and offers an insightful look into the discovery of one’s own identity.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption appropriate for a 7-year-old?
No violence detected in the search results. No scary content detected in the search results.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have violence?
No violence detected in the search results.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have scary content?
No scary content detected in the search results.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have religious themes?
No religious content or themes detected in the search results.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have racial/cultural content?
The book is centered on the experience of a mixed-Black transracial adoptee, addressing themes of racial identity and the complexities of growing up in a white family. It examines the impact of race on personal identity and familial relationships.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have profanity?
No profanity detected in the search results.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have climate change?
No climate themes detected in the search results.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have sexual identity?
No sexual content detected in the search results.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have gender roles?
No specific gender roles detected in the search results.
Does The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption have lgbtq+ themes?
The book explores the complexities of identity as a mixed-Black transracial adoptee, including themes related to gender and sexuality. It features a character raised by a white, closeted lesbian, indicating LGBTQ+ representation and themes of acceptance.
