Emily St. James’s debut novel Woodworking arrives like a beacon of nuanced storytelling in the contemporary literary landscape. Set against the backdrop of Mitchell, South Dakota during the 2016 presidential election, this deeply moving narrative follows the unlikely friendship between Erica Skyberg, a 35-year-old English teacher who has recently realized she’s transgender, and Abigail Hawkes, a sharp-tongued 17-year-old student who’s the only openly trans girl at Mitchell High School. What makes Woodworking stand out isn’t merely its exploration of transgender experiences—though it does this with remarkable authenticity—but its profound meditation on friendship, community, and the courage required to claim one’s true identity in places that might not accommodate it easily. The Heart of the Story: Identity and Connection The novel alternates between Erica and Abigail’s perspectives, with a crucial third voice emerging later in the narrative. Erica, recently divorced and living in quiet desperation, has come to the realization that she’s transgender but has no idea how to navigate this truth. When she recognizes something of herself in her rebellious student Abigail, she reaches out …