Jessi Hempel, Author of The Family Outing

Jessi Hempel was raised in a seemingly picture-perfect, middle-class American family. But the truth was far from perfect. Her father was constantly away from home, traveling for work, while her stay-at-home mother became increasingly lonely and erratic. Growing up, Jessi and her two siblings struggled to make sense of their family, their world, their changing bodies, and the emotional turmoil each was experiencing. And each, in their own way, was hiding their true self from the world.

By the time Jessi reached adulthood, everyone in her family had come out: Jessi as gay, her sister as bisexual, her father as gay, her brother as transgender, and her mother as a survivor of a traumatic experience with an alleged serial killer. Yet coming out was just the beginning, starting a chain reaction of other personal revelations and reckonings that caused each of them to question their place in the world in new and ultimately liberating ways. (Source: Harper Collins Publishing)

Jessi is joining us via Zoom from 6-7 PM. The remaining hour is reserved for sharing and support. If you would like to join us via Zoom, please RSVP on our website and we will send you a link to join us the day before the event. This is not a library sponsored event. You'll find us in the meeting room to your left as you enter the library.