The Name I Chose

Riley Morgan is used to silence. At seventeen, they've perfected the art of invisibility — keeping their head down, sketching faces that never quite look like them, and waiting for life to pass by without too many questions. But when they transfer to a new school, their quiet world begins to shift. An unexpected friendship with Ari Delgado — confident, queer, and unapologetically bold — forces Riley to see that maybe disappearing isn't the same as being safe. Then there's Noah Kim, a trans boy whose quiet strength and open heart make Riley feel seen for the first time. When Riley's art teacher assigns a "Self-Portrait Project," the task feels impossible. How do you paint yourself when your reflection never matches the person inside? But through every sketch, every name scribbled in secret, and every moment of connection, Riley begins to piece together who they are — and who they want to be. As rumors spread, tensions rise, and fear threatens to undo everything they've discovered, Riley must decide whether to keep hiding or to step forward and live as their true self — even if that means being seen for the first time. Told in intimate first-person prose, The Name I Chose explores the beauty and pain of becoming visible in a world that doesn't always understand. With themes of art, identity, and chosen family, this deeply human story celebrates the courage it takes to name yourself — and the quiet triumph of saying: This is who I am.