One True Way--"What she needs to know is you love her, and that you're still proud she's your sister"

Title: One True Way

Author: Shannon Hitchcock


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Allie has two goals when she enters her new middle school: join the newspaper staff and make a new friend. She quickly becomes a star reporter and meets a girl named Sam. When Sam and Allie discover they like like each other, Coach Murphy and the kind Reverend Walker at Allie's new church are supportive, but Allie is afraid of upsetting her mother, who is dealing with Allie's brother's recent death and her failing marriage.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  One of the reasons this book stands out to me (besides the fact that it's one of the rare middle-grades books) is that it takes place in 1977.  I enjoyed the subtle 1970s references:  the girls dancing to "Show Me the Way," typewriters in newspaper class, references to Sanford and Son and Soul Train (but no Star Wars?  For shame!).

However, there was a specific reference I did not enjoy reading: "It's like that Anita Bryant says, 'Homosexuals cannot reproduce, so they must recruit" (hardback edition, pg. 71).  If you do not know who Anita Bryant is . . . have fun clicking on the links. 😕

Sam and Allie were adorable, and I enjoyed the secondary characters in the book.  Miss Holt and Coach Murphy were an open-secret lesbian couple, but at the end [spoiler deleted].

Reverend Walker, a woman, was the leader of Allie's church who was very supportive and affirming of LGBTQ people.  I don't know how realistic an affirming, female reverend would have been in 1977 North Carolina (honestly, it's not all that common now).

Sam's mother is awful--One True Way is the name of their church, whose minister tells Sam she's an "abomination" who is going to hell. Allie's parents, especially her father who has a gay brother, are supportive, though her mother is very worried about Allie.

The characters emphasize the importance of safety and not coming out if it puts you in danger, which, sadly, is 1977 advice that still applies today.


This book is too new to be nominated for a Rainbow List, but check this website to see if it makes the cut for the 2020 list.  


My final takeaway (in 75 words or fewer):  This was a sweet story, and I enjoyed it. Some homophobia and religious bullying but mostly supportive adults.  Allie struggles with her sexuality but not in an overly-angsty way; she is confident and sure of her feelings.

I recommend One True Way, especially for middle-grades girls.


Memorable quotes/passages from the book:  

• "It took me a couple of minutes to find Leviticus. It said people like Sam and me were abominations. That means hateful and disgusting. Sam was the opposite of that. She liked everybody. She was kinder to her horse than most people were to each other. She gave piggyback rides to her brother, and every week she went to see a little girl dying of cancer" (pg. 73).
• "First Corinthians 14:35 says it's shameful for a woman to speak in church. Can you imagine? And there are over two hundred verses dealing with slavery, but those verses don't apply to our lives today. Maybe the same could be said for the Bible's stance on homosexuality" (pg. 132).
• "What she needs to know is you love her, and that you're still proud she's your sister" (pg. 147).
• "And to be honest, it wasn't just about Mom. I didn't want her to suffer like Coach and Miss Holt. Being gay was too hard" (pg. 173).

Other reviews:  Book Loaner and Christian Feminism Today


This book is available in the Greensboro Public Library.