ABOMINATION CHILD by Erika Shepard – LGBT Fiction, 1960s, Social & Family Issues

Abomination Child is a coming-of-age novel, a piece of historical fiction, and a lesson to us all. Erika Shepard tells the story of Brianna, a young girl growing up in Missouri during the 1960s, struggling to be accepted.

Within her community, Brianna is seen on the outside as a boy, and everyone knows her as Brian. She confides in her older sister Liz, who supports her and helps her face a world that doesn’t understand. Spanning many years, Abomination Child follows Brianna’s journey of survival, hoping that one day she’ll be able to live freely as herself.

Brianna’s – known then as Brian – troubles start after his father learns that he dressed in girl’s clothes at a school Halloween dance. Deeply conservative and religious, Brian’s father hits him for what he believes is an abominable perversion caused by the Devil. For Brian, it’s as simple as knowing he is really a girl, a girl named Brianna.

But just being Brianna is not that simple. Besides Liz, no one else understands, so Brian has little choice but to remain Brian to survive a bigoted world. As he enters adolescence, Brian slowly gains a few other allies who help him through his darkest moments until the day Brianna can become a reality.

Shepard doesn’t shy away from the realistic experience of Brianna’s life.

Brian lives through a difficult and authentic adolescence. As he finds varying degrees of understanding from those around him, he must work through his own confusion about his emerging identity.  Readers’ hearts will go out to Brian as he struggles, nearly alone.

Brian’s mother has an affecting journey of her own. At first, she feels she’s failed as a mother, saddened at the truth of her daughter. But she works through her fears and does the research to understand Brian and accept Brianna. Shepard expertly captures the truth and complexity of one family member learning to accept another.

Despite being set in decades past, Abomination Child shows why affirmative care and support systems are essential in our world today.

The multiple perspectives in this story offer a thoughtful view to the difficulties faced by each character.

Only seeing Brian’s thoughts throughout the novel would not be the entire story. Abomination Child shows the growth – or lack thereof – in each family member. There are some questions left unanswered by the end of the story, and that too is true to life. Brian’s story might end here, but Brianna’s is just beginning.

Many people have stories like Brianna’s. Some end happily, while many others don’t. Abomination Child considers that even when happiness seems impossible, things may one day change for the better, and you should stick around for that chance to be your true self.