In a future dystopia, the US gets rid of incarceration and instead gives wrongdoers extra shadows to remind them of their crimes. This new population, called Shadesters, is publicly shamed and deprived of civil rights. As a single mother and a Shadester, Kris navigates a world increasingly prejudiced against her while raising a child born with a second shadow and grieving the loss of her wife. Kris must find the courage within and draws strength from her community to raise her precocious child and protect the spark that the harsh reality can’t dampen.

EXOSKELETON is a profoundly intimate story that explores the intricacies of grief, loss, and parenthood. One of the emotional anchors of the book is Kris’ memories of her wife and the conversations with her newborn.

Written in the second person and addressed to Kris’ wife, EXOSKELETON is a slow burn about finding love when you're lost and learning to live with the pain of loss. The vibe is similar to ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS (Ocean Vuong), and the book's emotional resonance is one of its strengths.

For those with children, EXOSKELETON will likely resonate more deeply as they explore the nuance of parenting, pouring everything you have into a little human and worrying whether that will be enough. ngl I got a little anxious about having a kid when reading this book