Ever since she was little, Liz preferred jeans to dresses, action figures to dolls, and sports to dress-up. Adults and other kids told her this made her a tomboy. Seeing the way the mass media marketed to girls and told them how they should look and behave, Liz was fine with not falling into the “girly” category. But the tomboy label wasn’t easy to fit into either. Eschewed by girls who didn’t understand her jeans and baseball caps, and belittled by boys who didn’t want to play with a “girl” (especially in front of other boys), Liz had trouble finding her place. Navigating the rocky shoals of middle school social groups, Liz looked for her place.
Promoting the idea that what we wear, what we do, and who we hang out with doesn’t define us, Prince has written a beautiful memoir about understanding yourself. Readers who have crossed the popular media’s gender lines will empathize with Liz’s struggle to be seen for just what she is as opposed to what she is not. A perfect read for anyone who doesn’t feel like they fit in, Liz will remind you that things get better and in the end your struggles will make you a more confident and interesting person.