Frankel's (The Atlas of Love) slightly askew voice, exemplified by Rosie and Penn's nontraditional gender roles, keeps the narrative sharp and surprising. The story takes a darker turn when she is outed Rosie and her youngest must find their footing while Penn stays at home

Encouragement from a therapist and an accepting grandma can go just so far Poppy only blossoms after the Walsh-Adamses move to progressive Seattle and keep her trans status private, although what is good for Poppy is increasingly difficult on her brothers. But coming out further isolates this unique child. She also fleshes out his two eldest brothers, who worry about Claude's safety when Rosie and Penn agree that Claude can be Poppy at school. Extraordinarily verbal little Claude is quirky and clever, traits that run in the family, and at age three says, 'I want to be a girl.' Claude is the focus, but Frankel captures the older brothers' boyish grossness. Four sons have made the happily married couple exhausted and wanting a daughter alas, their fifth is another boy.

While Penn writes his 'DN' (damn novel) and spins fractured fairy tales from the family's ramshackleįarmhouse in Madison, Wis., Rosie works as an emergency physician. And It's About The Ways This Is How It Always Is: Change Is Always Hard And Miraculous And Hard Again Parenting Is Always A Leap Into The Unknown With Crossed Fingers And Full Hearts Children Grow But Not Always According To Plan.Frankel's third novel is about the large, rambunctious This Is How It Always Is Is A Novel About Revelations, Transformations, Fairy Tales, And Family. But Soon The Entire Family Is Keeping Claude's Secret. Kids Go Through Phases, After All, And Make-believe Is Fun. When He Grows Up, Claude Says, He Wants To Be A Girl. He Wants To Bring A Purse To Kindergarten. One Day He Puts On A Dress And Refuses To Take It Off.

At Least Their Large, Loving, Chaotic Family Knows What To Expect. When Rosie And Penn And Their Four Boys Welcome The Newest Member Of Their Family, No One Is Surprised It's Another Baby Boy. This Is How Children Change.and Then Change The World. This Is How A Family Lives Happily Ever After.until Happily Ever After Becomes Complicated. This Is How A Family Keeps A Secret.and How That Secret Ends Up Keeping Them.

This is how it always is book