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Chapters 1-7

· NOTE: The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Garvin, Jeff. The Symptoms of Being Human. Kindle, 2016.

· NOTE: With respect to the protagonist’s gender fluidity in the novel, gender-neutral pronouns are used in this guide to refer to Riley Cavanaugh.

· Symptoms of Being Human is a young adult (grades 9+) novel that explores themes of identity, gender fluidity, bullying, and alienation.

· Protagonist Riley Cavanaugh establishes their gender fluidity in the opening lines of Chapter 1 as they begin a blog post on October 1 that states: “The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?” (1).

· Riley cannot write any further and decides to delete the post before going downstairs for breakfast.

· It is Riley’s first day at Park Hills High School after transferring from the private Catholic school Immaculate...

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