Transitions: A Mother's Journey

Transitions: A Mother's Journey by Élodie Durand (2021) 172 pages

Durand uses the format of graphic literature to tell the story of Anne and Alex. Anne is a university researcher specializing in animal biology. When her daughter Lucie announces to her that she is a boy, Anne reels. She's concerned that the decision had been made too quickly, perhaps Lucie had been unduly influenced by others, Lucie could be in danger of injury by others, and she is at higher risk of suicide. Anne finds herself unable to talk to Lucie. But over time, Anne and her husband amass information, including from the animal world, that shows our binary ideas of gender are not as set in stone as one might believe. There is also a discussion of gender identity in other countries. This story is more the story of the transition of Anne into a supporter of Alex, than it is the story of the transition of Lucie into Alex. Worthy of multiple read-throughs.