Gaia B Amman

Book blurb...

Against the backdrop of rural Northern Italy in the 1980s, eight-year-old Leda’s world is upended when her nemesis—a Sicilian transplant named Nico—shares a startling discovery: an adult magazine. The revelation alienates the devout tomboy from her "sworn brothers," proving she is not one of the guys and unleashing a storm of shame on the eve of her First Confession. Leda is faced with an agonizing dilemma: how can she possibly confess her unthinkable sin to a Catholic priest? Beyond the guilt and shame, the episode triggers a cascade of questions about an identity Leda doesn't yet have a name for. The feud between Leda and Nico escalates through the years until fate reveals a kinship of darkness between the two, forcing them to stand together to uncover their own truths while navigating a cultural landscape defined by religious rigidity and hypocrisy. Based on the true story of author Gaia B. Amman, Ph.D., An Italian Adventure is a fiercely independent "coming-of-gender" journey. Blending the nostalgic charm of an analog childhood with a gritty, authentic exploration of nonbinary identity, the novel has been described as "Nonbinary Anne of Green Gables meets The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." This first volume of The Italian Saga is a moving exploration of resilience, the search for a chosen family, and the universal pursuit of happiness.