The Life of a Child That Should Have Been a Boy or a Girl

The Life of a Child That Should Have Been a Boy or a Girl shares the compelling and often heartbreaking true story of Manouska, a child born with both male and female characteristics.

In an honest, compassionate style, Verrilien Clerve narrates the life experiences of the Peacocks, a typical family living in San Marco, when their lives are changed forever with the birth of their first child. Not knowing what it means to be a hermaphrodite, the parents accept the newborn and name the child Manouska, but they are unsure whether to dress him/her in girls' or boys' clothing. Despite the questions, threats, and discrimination presented by neighbors, friends, and other families as Manouska grows up, the Peacocks attempt to live a normal life in a society unfamiliar with transgender issues. Clerve reveals the challenges, doubts, fears, and perplexities faced by Manouska's family as they experience a unique medical diagnosis and the resulting social issues and, in the process, highlight the difficulties hermaphrodites, transgender individuals, and homosexuals are frequently forced to deal with on a daily basis.

Manouska's moving story offers many unforgettable life lessons-the most important being to always respect, love, and accept others, despite their differences and preferences.