A young boy named Edwin loves dressing up in his sister Patsy’s clothes, makeup, and a wig and seeing who he can become: the fabulous Edweena Louisa! He’s also looking forward to taking part in an ice skating competition in drag, even though he knows he’ll be the only participant doing so.
His sister’s friend “doesn’t say anything” at seeing him dressed up, though; the implication is that she might not approve. Edwin is also nervous about what the neighborhood children will say, especially the “mean boys,” but Patsy helps him sneak by them.
At the skating rink, it’s impossible to hide, but Edwin/Edweena’s brother stops playing hockey and comes to support Edweena, whom he calls “My sister, today.” When it’s time to compete, Patsy is there, too, to urge Edweena on.
Edweena’s performance is a success. Even the “mean boys” of the neighborhood cheer. “It wasn’t as scary as I’d thought. I felt truly fabulous,” Edweena effuses.
Patsy tells her she’s going to win; Edweena asserts that she already has (and that’s the real lesson here, because we never actually find out which child gets the award).
A note at the end about author Edwin Dumont explains that he used to like dressing up in his sister Patsy’s clothes as a child. His joy in doing so is evident in Edwin/Edweena’s similar delight, making this an affirming story of a child finding support, overcoming fears, and learning to express a true self.
The perceived possibility of mean remarks in the story, however, means that it is not as purely celebratory a book about gender creativity as, say, The Dress in the Window or Téo’s Tutu. At the same time, the ultimate support of even the “mean boys” feels (unfortunately) unrealistic. And we never see Edwin and Patsy’s parents or learn if they, too, support their child. Certainly one of them should be at Edweena’s very first performance in drag, otherwise, their absence seems to convey that parental support of gender creative children is unnecessary (but could also be seen as unspoken disapproval). That makes this an uneven treatment of the topic even as it is overall a positive one.
Also available in a bilingual Ojibway/English edition, reflecting Dumont’s heritage.
