A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome

"I am ugly. There's a mathematical equation to prove it."

At only eight months old, identical twin sisters Ariel and Zan were diagnosed with Crouzon syndrome — a rare condition where the bones in the head fuse prematurely. They were the first twins known to survive it. Growing up, Ariel and her sister endured numerous appearance-altering procedures. Surgeons would break the bones in their heads and faces to make room for their growing organs. While the physical aspect of their condition was painful, it was nothing compared to the emotional toll of navigating life with a facial disfigurement.

In this powerful young adult memoir, Ariel explores beauty and identity, and what it's like to feel alienated from your own body as your treatment blurs the line between medical necessity and aesthetics. She also investigates Picasso's life as an artist and how his misogyny and ableism intersect. This is a story about resilience, sisterhood, and the strength it takes to put your life, and yourself, back together time and time again.