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.<p> 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.<p> 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.