“TheTransMemoirWe’veAlwaysNeeded.“--Autostraddle“ThisblisteringmemoiristhebookIdidn’tknowIneeded...I’msogratefultheyhadthecouragetosharetheirexperienceinsuchatransparent,authenticway.“--OneofBuzzFeed’sMostAnticipatedBooksof2022-OneofTheMillions’MostAnticipatedBooksoftheMonth-OneofMs.Magazine’sMostAnticipatedReadsof2022-OneofBookRiot’sLGBTQBooksYouNeedtoRead-WhendivorcemovesyoungR/BMertzawayfromruralPennsylvaniaandtheirabusivefather,Mertz’slifeistornintwo.Mertz’smomandnewstepdaddiveheadfirstintoconservativeCatholichomeschooling,entrenchingthemselvesinaworlddominatedbysaints,prayers,andhavingasmanybabiesaspossible,justasMertzisstartingtorealizetheymightbequeer.MertzclingstoCatholicismasarebellionagainsttheiranti-Catholicbio-dad,andtomoviesandmusicalsasbeaconsoftheworldoutsidetheconservativeclosetconstructedbythehomeschoolers--whomightactuallybemoreconcernedwithbeingconservativethanwithbeinggood,whileMertz’sbio-dadjustwantsthemtobe“normal.“Tryingtostaveofftheinevitable,MertzenrollsinaconservativeCatholiccollegeinOhio.Comingofageintheearlyaughts,theygrapplewithflirtations,sexualencounters,andconfusingrelationshipswithstudentsandfaculty,astheytrytofigureouthowtolivealifeinaworldhell-bentonmakingthemchoosebetweentheircommunityandtheiridentity.Atturnsrebellious,charming,andself-effacing,Mertzstrugglestonavigatethisoppressiveenvironment,questioningwhetherornotthereisaplacefortheminsideoroutsideoftheCatholicChurch;whethertheycanbethemselvesontheleftortheright;whethertheycanbe“conservative“or“liberal;“orwhethertheycanbeatall.Ultimately,BurningButchisthecourageousstoryofatrans/non-binarybutchonaquesttosurvivewiththeirauthenticityintact.
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