None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio - student book review by Isabella

None of the above is about Kristin Lattimer, a typical high-school girl, whose life is picture perfect: she is a champion hurdler with a full ride, she has a fantastic boyfriend, and has just been crowned homecoming queen. However, suddenly her life is turned upside down, when after experiencing excruciating pain during her first time, a visit to the doctor reveals that Kristin is intersex. Outwardly, she looks like a girl, but she has male chromosomes. Now, she not only has to process this brand-new revelation, but she has do deal with the scrutiny of her community, when her secret is leaked to her school. As she struggles to cope with her new life, she realizes that the question of identity is much more complicated than it appears.

I found this novel fascinating and enlightening. Kristin is an incredibly complex and vibrant character and it was a true pleasure to be able to understand her emotional journey to come to terms with her new identity. I have never personally encountered someone with AIS (androgen-insensitivity disorder), and thus I learned a lot about the implications of this condition. Furthermore, I found Kristin’s emotional response very realistic and appreciated that the author did not try to minimize her feelings, but rather explored this event’s impact in depth.

Furthermore, I think this novel is an important step in spreading awareness about the complexity of identity, particularly gender identity. If others are able to understand someone like Kristin’s feelings and experiences, they may be able to overcome their prejudices and embrace them as an individual, rather than stereotype. Also, showing the impact other people’s negative responses to her identity had on Kristin, may make readers more aware of the impact of their own actions. Overall, what I liked the most about the novel was the emphasis on not reducing Kristin to purely her gender identity, but rather treating her as a person first and foremost.

I would recommend this novel to any student, who has an open mind and is willing to learn about the experiences of others. This novel could be used in a literature, psychology, health, biology, or gender/queer studies class. One thing to note, is that there are mature topics addressed (e.g. sex, sexual health).

Author Website: http://www.iwgregorio.com/