One Day I'll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman

A fiery, heartbreaking, riveting memoir that follows one New Hampshire family over the course of three years, unspooling a story of gender identity, class, trans youth, and a child caught in the riptide of America’s culture wars

"There are so many families who need the righteous fury, compassion, and hope they'll find in this book."
—Maggie Smith, New York Times bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful

Abi Maxwell was born and raised in rural New Hampshire, in the small mill town where her family had lived for generations. She grew up as one of eight children, and her parents were divorced and skating the edge of poverty. But her childhood was marked by the wonder of the landscape: long afternoons skiing the mountains, a cottage on the lake, accessible by a clunky old boat that broke down every summer.

As an adult, Maxwell moves into the ranch house that once belonged to her grandparents, and she and her husband start a family of their own. But when their six-year-old, known to the world as a boy, wears pink sneakers, grows her hair long, and announces that she is a girl, the community turns their back on her, attempting to ban the young child from their bathrooms, their books, their sports teams. Weaving the story of Maxwell's own youth with the story of her fight against the school board, state lawmakers, and her neighbors, she unspools a riveting tale of gender identity, class, and the soul of rural America.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs