Mad Honey
by Jodi Picoult
Year
2022
Pages
509
Contents
Lily 10
Summary
- Lily and her mom have just moved into a new house in New Hampshire and are reflecting on their journey and Lily's past.
- They moved from California and experienced a bonding trip, with fun moments and challenges that turned into adventures.
- On their journey, memorable experiences include sleeping under the stars in Wyoming and arriving at their new home to the sound of crickets.
- The moving van arrives, and they begin to unpack their possessions, finding joy in rediscovering familiar items.
- Lily discovers an old photo album with photos of her childhood before her transition, stirring complex emotions for both her and her mom.
- Her mother expresses nostalgia and a sense of loss over their past, leading to a discussion about Lily's childhood and her parents' relationship.
- Lily recounts how her father dealt with her gender identity by sending her to an all-boys school, which resulted in bullying and violence.
- Through painful experiences, Lily asserts her identity and resists her father's attempts to conform her to gender norms.
- The chapter outlines Lily's determination to live freely as herself, despite her father's violent rejection and her struggles at the all-boys school.
- Healing from past trauma, Lily now feels secure in her womanhood and prepares for her senior year at her new high school, hopeful and resilient.
- Lily and her mom discuss the nature of womanhood and Lily’s own definition, considering exceptions that challenge binary definitions.
- The end of the chapter shifts to their current life, where Lily is ready to face her new high school as a survivor, optimistic about her future.