Lily and Duncan

Donna Gephart’s Lily and Duncan

“When you’re brave and honest, you make it easier for the next person.”

Lily and Duncan is a young adult novel about a transgender girl entering 8th grade with the desire to be who she really is. This novel follows the journey as Lily transforms into the person she is meant to be. It also addresses mental illness with her best friend, Duncan, who suffers from bipolar disorder. It is a great story of friendship and acceptance. The quote I highlighted reminds me a lot of the Peace Corps experience. I am the first volunteer in my site, and sometimes people in my site will not understand me because of our cultural differences. After me, there will be 2 more volunteers to serve in my town, so it is my intention to remain brave so that they will have an easier time transitioning into my site than I have.