Literary Nonfiction. Memoir. LESSONS IN TAXIDERMY is the story of growing up destitute and sick in the Pacific Northwest. After surviving a rare genetic disorder and childhood cancer, Lavender retells the events of her tumultuous life—battling her illnesses, learning to fight, young motherhood—in fearless, unapologetic prose and gut wrenching, yet darkly comic detail. "Bee Lavender is a fantastic writer. Her work is deep and personal, and I don't think there are any places she's scared to go"—Michelle Tea.