The Bold World

“In The Bold World, Jodie Patterson makes a case for respecting everyone’s gender identity by way of showing how she came to accept her son, Penelope. In tying that struggle to the struggle for race rights in this country during her own childhood, she paints a vivid picture of the permanent work of social justice. Written with sparkle and charm, and deeply introspective, hers is a book of refreshing frankness and great moral purpose, moving and pellucid.”—Andrew Solomon, bestselling author of The Noonday Demon and Far from the Tree

“[An] extremely valuable book about family, gender, race, and identity. Patterson has broken the silence, and readers will thank her for it.”—Booklist

“A courageous and poetic testimony on family and the self, and the learning and unlearning we must do for those we love. In her stunning and moving debut, Jodie Patterson offers us all a blueprint for what it means to be a champion for our children and encourage us to be bold enough to let our babies lead the way, especially when we don’t have answers. Required reading for every parent, and anyone who has ever been parented.”—Janet Mock, New York Times bestselling author of Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty

“This isn’t a book just for mothers or mothers of trans children or folks from the trans community. This is, above all, a story about self-determination, and it is vital for anyone seeking love in its highest form. Patterson’s clear-eyed recollections and poignant insights from her own transformative journey—from girl to woman, from daughter to wife, from mother to activist—inspire us all to remember and to become the people we were meant to be. This is the work we all must do in order to be free, and to love more fully.”—Elaine Welteroth, journalist, former editor in chief, Teen Vogue

“Patterson leaves no emotional stone unturned in her powerful chronicle. . . . [This] raw tour de force illustrates the strength of a loving and determined mother.”—Publishers Weekly

“Jodie Patterson draws on the different parts of herself—the student, the activist, the family loyalist—to respond with heart, commitment, and all the fierceness required to protect her transgender child. Beautifully written, The Bold World is activism at its most pure level.”—Chad Griffin, president, Human Rights Campaign

“There are things each of us can’t see—until we’re ready. With this book Patterson encourages us to seek out our blind spots—to see who we can’t see and to hear what we can’t hear. Our children need us to read this book—a story of mama-bear instinct and internal awakenings.”—Christy Turlington Burns, founder, Every Mother Counts

“What the book is: a woman’s journey of constant transformation and fierce love for a world where her children can live their authentic selves.”—USA Today

“This memoir is a loving, honest and raw portrayal of the family’s journey to support Penelope, even though the path ahead was neither clear nor easy.”—NY Post

“The Bold World is a wonderful read of a modern woman’s approach to life, love, and family with a transgender child to raise, in this not-so-perfect world. A must-read.”—Bethann Hardison, fashion activist