The Bold World

With wisdom and compassion, Jodie Patterson tells the compelling story of her childhood, partnerships and, in particular, her child, Penelope, who, even as a toddler, self-identified as a boy. Patterson’s narration of Penelope’s story, and of her tireless advocacy on his behalf, provides a thoughtful personal history and insights into gender, race and culture.

Critics praised Patterson’s honest and loving portrayal of the challenges women face, and the great lengths a mother will travel to defend and nurture her child. “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,” writes president of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffen. Publishers Weekly adds, “Patterson leaves no emotional stone unturned in her powerful chronicle…[This] raw tour de force illustrates the strength of a loving and determined mother.”