Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition
About A Boy
At the very beginning, everything is as it always has been in the O'Neill household—Regan is protecting her older brother Liam by keeping his secret. He is secretly transgender but totally acts like a boy in everyday interactions because it's what is expected of him. Even when he's at home he acts the part of the son, even lying to his dad and saying that he's going to try out for baseball. Is this peace and quiet going to last?
Rising Action
Changing Things Up
After researching on the Internet about other transgender individuals, Liam decides that it is time to start transitioning. Even though it makes Regan nervous, he starts to show Luna in many small ways, including going to the mall and even walking around downtown dressed up as Luna. Liam is starting to take gradual steps to really change into the person he wants to be. At the same time, Regan is undergoing a transformation of her own—she's starting to see that she can have a social and romantic life.
Climax
The Night of the Party
Things come to a head when Regan goes to a party with Chris. She's supposed to be babysitting that night for the Materas, but she has Liam sneak in and watch the kids until she gets back from the party. Foolproof, right? Wrong. Things go terribly awry when she and Chris end up coming back late and Liam is caught trying on Elise Matera's clothes in the bedroom. There's a huge blowout and Regan ends up losing her job. And on top of that, she gets super mad at Liam and stops talking to him for a little bit. After all—he is kind of ruining her life.
Falling Action
The Slow Reveal
Undeterred by negative reactions, Liam continues to show himself as Luna to other people. He comes out to Aly, shows up at school as Luna, and even goes to meet Teri Lynn when she comes into town. At the very end, he makes his ultimate reveal and shows himself to his family. Even though the reaction is pretty harsh, Luna does what she has to do—she lives out her truth and shows her parents who she really is: Luna, not Liam.
Resolution
Jetting Off
At the very end of the book, after all is said and done Luna decides to go off to Washington to live her own life. Even though Regan is sad, both sisters share a moment of acceptance and love as they part ways.