Perfect Peace

A Novel

By: Daniel Black

Narrated by: Ron Butler

When the seventh child of the Peace family, named Perfect, turns eight, her mother, Emma Jean, tells her bewildered daughter, "You was born a boy. I made you a girl. But that ain't what you was supposed to be. So from now on, you gon' be a boy. It'll be a little strange at first, but you'll get used to it, and this'll be over after while."

From this point forward, his life becomes a bizarre kaleidoscope of events. Meanwhile, the Peace family is forced to question everything they thought they knew about gender, sexuality, unconditional love, and fulfillment.

©2010 Daniel Black (P)2016 Tantor

Hearbreaking but Thought-Provoking

4/5: This story is simply heartbreaking on every level imaginable. Although it is fiction, it could very well be true and has elements that are very relevant to our culture today and how we are grappling with sexual orientation and identity. Perfect Peace is born a biological boy but his mother, for many complicated reasons, decides to raise him as the daughter she desperately wants (having already given birth to six boys and tricking her husband into having a last child so she can have a daughter). Emma Jean (the mom) is a very complex character, made so by her own traumatic childhood, her severe lack of understanding consequences of actions, and sheer exhaustion from a hard life and the constant desire to feel enough and have something she perceives as her own (such as a daughter). So, the terrible decision is made and the lie is perpetuated, keeping everyone in the dark except the midwife who delivered the baby, until Perfect turns eight years old. Perfect's life and identity are upended when Emma Jean reveals they were born a boy and will now return to being a boy. Perfect faces much cruelty both from within his family and in the community but also finds some strong allies and slowly begins to figure out who they are. This is a very critical and heartbreaking (yet effective) view of how gender is interwoven into our identity and that of our families and communities.

Mesmerizing, Purple, Heartwarming, and Memorable.

This story was so deeply layered, you will remember its characters days and even weeks long after you've finished it. Highly recommended.

Worth The Listen (Or Read)

Great story! The inclusion of all of the characters and back stories was impressive. I enjoyed every bit of it.

Interesting Story

The story grabs you and keeps you wondering. Better than most of the books I have heard, very well written and performed.

Sooo heartbreaking and unique and beautiful

This book was one of the most unique I’ve ever read. The characters were so beautifully crafted that I felt as if I were watching them act.
Highly recommend this book.
The narrator was amazing as well.