Firstborn by Lorie Ann Grover offers riveting exploration of gender roles in society, available January 28, 2014.
About ‘Firstborn’
In her newest novel for young adults, acclaimed author Lorie Anne Grover unveils a world that is completely dominated by men, where all firstborn female babies are marked for death by religious sacrifice. Firstborn (Blink, January 29, 2014, $15.99) follows the life of a firstborn girl whose parents secretly identified her as male and raised her as a boy in order to save her life. The story that unfolds is a fascinating exploration of masculinity, femininity, and the very human need for societal approval and acceptance.
When Tiadone was born, her parents had two choices: leave their daughter outside the community to die in the wilds, or raise her as male and force her to suppress all feminine traits. Now, as the first female living as male in her village, Tiadone must prove her father didn’t make a mistake by letting her live.
As her male initiation approaches, Tiadone knows every eye in the community is on her, and desperately wishes to belong and finally be accepted. But at every step, traditional feminine gifts and traits emerge, and the bird she’s been twined with is seen as a sign of the devil. Worse, as Tiadone completes her rites, she finds she is drawn to her male best friend in ways that are very much in line with the female gender. Confused and desperate, Tiadone tries to become what she must be while dealing with what she indeed has become: a young woman who may be able to stand up to her despotic rulers and uncover her real purpose in life.
“A fantasy that reads like a lost history tome and deftly examines issues of gender.”
-Kirkus Reviews, October 2013
About the Author
Lorie Ann Grover writes and illustrates for young adults and children. As founder of readergirlz, she is a champion for teen literacy and corresponding social services. Whether writing or reading, Grover strives to live the readergirlz motto: “Read, Reflect, and Reach Out.” Grover is married and has two daughters, and lives in Washington state.
Blink publishes authentic and immersive content that engages and inspires young adult readers, from cutting-edge plotlines to fantasy to romance.