HomeHistorical FictionHow to Be Both

Cover of How to Be Both

Historical Fiction · 2014 · PG-13

How to Be Both

by Ali Smith

A girl grieving her mother — and a Renaissance painter — Booker Prize in two possible orderings.

For14+GenreHistorical FictionLength371 pagesRead time~10 hours

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Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

None

No violence

Language

Barely any

Mild language

Sexual Content

Some

Gay content; the painter's desire for a young man

Substance Use

None

No substance use

Emotional Intensity

Some

Themes of grief, gender, art, and seeing beneath surfaces

What this book is about

Smith's 2014 Booker Prize winner exists in two versions: some editions open with a contemporary British girl, others with a 15th-century Italian fresco painter. Features some sexual content. For older teens and adults.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Gay content

Brief sexual content

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