Girl, boy, girl

Brilliant and mysterious, JT LeRoy always revealed just enough to make people want to know more. And in Girl, Boy, Girl , Savannah Knoop reveals the incredible story of JT, the writer who only existed in fiction.

In the early 2000s, JT LeRoy was the successful author of two international bestsellers. A young trans man living with HIV who was abused as a child, his seemingly autobiographical novels dealt with abuse and broken families.

But in 2006, The New York Times revealed the truth behind this story, and the whole world learned about the great hoax of the writer who never existed: young Savannah Knoop spent six years of her life pretending to be JT LeRoy, a character created by her sister-in-law, Laura Albert, a freelance writer from San Francisco.

Wearing a wig, sunglasses, and a hat, Savannah played the reclusive prodigy writer JT LeRoy, who made occasional public appearances. During these appearances, Laura accompanied her as Speedie, her British assistant. And the two managed to fool not only the literary community, but also the entire Hollywood elite.

In Girl, Boy, Girl , Savannah Knoop recounts how, at a young age, she was immersed in a stage show that made her a celebrity and how she led this double life. Telling her side of the story for the first time, Savannah reveals how being seen as a boy gave her a sense of confidence and power she never had before.

JT LeRoy's story inspired the 2019 film of the same name, starring Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern, recreating the case that changed Knoop's sense of self forever.

“In 2001, I photographed JT LeRoy for Vanity Fair. Five years later, we met; this time, Savannah Knoop was herself. We immediately became friends. She gave me her book. It's not only beautifully written, it's a fascinating and intimate story. I couldn't put it down.” - Mary Ellen Mark

"Between essays and photos with celebrities, this confession is a quick, light, and curiously enjoyable read for fans of bizarre farces... or, perhaps, for fans of the bizarre in general." - Booklist