I found this fair-condition softcover at a local Goodwill thrift shop, and thought it looked interesting: an anthology themed on tomboys, those tree-climbing, anti-frills girls. This collection focuses on those who grew up to discover that they were lesbians, but of course there can be tomboys of all gender-preferences and identities! From the introduction, in which possible origins of the term "tomboy" are presented, to the varied anecdotes - some funny, some painful, most triumphant - I enjoyed this collection very much. Special mention to Linda Bourke, who describes finding a way to turn her well-meaning mother's gift of a Barbie doll into the paintbrushes she really wanted (hint: braids!); Tracy Alderman, whose mother realized early on that her daughter wanted GI Joes instead of Barbies, and who punctuated her acceptance of this via a Barbie Immolation Ceremony; S. Jayne Melton, who describes schooldays like mine, where girls had to take home ec. and boys had to take shop, with no exchanges possible; and Marlene H. Lipinski, whose youthful desire to be a cowboy - NOT a cowgirl - resonated with me, and was rewarded when her parents gave in and presented her with the cowboy outfit she craved. And there's more - girls who teach pitching techniques to the boys on their team, girls who defy convention even at some cost, girls who realize who they really are and celebrate that. .

I left this book in the Little Free Library at around 5; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2016 One Word Title release challenge. ***