Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Becoming Nicole, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Gender Identity, Expression, and Transformation
Knowledge vs. Ignorance
Gender, Sex, and the Scientific Community
Discrimination, Advocacy, and Pride
Family, Love, and Social Expectations
Summary
Analysis
Before Nicole starts eighth grade, she attends a week-long sleepaway camp for transgender children named Camp Aranu’tiq (a Chugach word for “two spirit”). Within two days, the camp feels like a home away from home for Nicole. She gets to know many of the camp’s 41 attendees and is happy to be able to be herself and take part in the camp’s many activities. By week’s end, she has made fast friends with two other transgender girls.
Again, Nutt emphasizes the power and the joy of being out and around people who are accepting of one’s identity. The camp is in contrast to the shame and secrecy that Nicole feels at King Middle School, where she can’t tell anyone about her gender identity.
Themes
