Quiver "I don't think my problem is with God. It's with the men who think they speak for Him and the women who obey those men without question."

Title: Quiver: a Novel

Author: Julia Watts


LGBTQ+ Representation: One of the main characters is queer and genderfluid. A supporting character is trans feminine.

Content Warning: Bigotry in the name of religion

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Libby is growing up in a fundamental Christian family. As the oldest of six homeschooled siblings, she does chores and helps her mother during the day and participates in Bible study held by her father in the evenings. Queer and genderfluid Zo and her family have just moved into the house next door. Can (or should?) Libby and Zo be friends in spite of their differences?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  One of my favorite blogs, Love, Joy, and Feminism, is written by "Libby Anne," a former Christian fundamentalist from a Quiverfull family. I'm no longer religious myself but really enjoy reading stories and blogs about people leaving fundamentalism. I am very wary of any religion or lifestyle that adheres to very strict rules--how do they know that what they're doing is right, especially when others are left and hurt?

Quiver is told between the alternating voices of Libby and Zo. Libby has always followed the rules and believed her family's lifestyle is the only correct one, and Zo notes:

The Dangerous Art of Blending In--"Maybe the only real ugliness is what lives inside some people."

Title: The Dangerous Art of Blending In

Author: Angelo Surmelis


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main characters are gay


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Evan is the only child of Greek immigrant parents: an abusive mother who sees him as a "disappointment" and workaholic father who avoids all conflict. Evan escapes in his art and writes about his pain in his journals, and it takes Evan falling in love with his best friend Henry to realize that he deserves more than his mother's harsh words and physical violence; he is capable and deserving of love.
 

What I think (in 250 words or fewer): When I was about ten, I read Don't Hit Laurie!, which made a lasting impression because of its vividly terrifying descriptions of child abuse. My mom was NOTHING like Laurie's mom in that book, yet I read it over and over because it was morbidly fascinating and still memorable thirty years later.

I have reviewed books with terrible parents and been horrified by many of them, but none have upset me as much as the way Evan's mom treats him in The Dangerous Art of Blending In.

One Man Guy and Hold My Hand--"It's like all my life I was eating frozen yogurt. And kissing boys is ice cream."

Titles: One Man Guy and Hold My Hand

Author: Michael Barakiva


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main characters are gay


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):
One Man Guy--Alek's excitement over summer break turns to dread when his parents enroll him in summer school. But there, he meets Ethan, a cool skater boy. Alek can't believe someone like Ethan would want to be his friend, let alone be more than friends. Besides, Alek isn't gay . . . is he? And what would his conservative Armenian-American parents think of Ethan? Are they too different to make it together?

Hold My Hand--Alek and Ethan's six-month anniversary is coming up, and Alek is wondering if he and Ethan should take their relationship to the next level--but then Alek finds out that Ethan has done something so terrible that Alek is not sure whether he should stay with Ethan anymore. Should he move on to the cute boy at Greek school (while working to change his church) or give Ethan another chance?


What I think: Between watching Greta Thunberg's speeches and reading some awesome girl-power books, I am ready to smash the patriarchy! But before the smashing occurs, I wanted to recommend this adorable book duo about Alek and Ethan.

Release--"Why did everyone no longer a teenager automatically dismiss any feeling you had then?"

Title: Release

Author: Patrick Ness


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character identifies as gay; supporting character as sexually fluid

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Adam's life is not the greatest. He feels trapped by his religious family; he's still pining over his sort-of-ex, Enzo; he's being sexually harassed by his boss. Adam relies on his good friend Angela and boyfriend Linus, but this one summer day will allow Adam to find release from what is holding him down. Meanwhile, a ghost of a recent murder victim longs for her spirit to find release from this world.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Release was amazing, very different from anything I have ever read before. Major events in the story are not revolutionary: Adam is planning a going-away party for Enzo, whom he is not over; Adam's "perfect" older brother comes home with some news; Adam comes out to his evangelical preacher father. The way the story is told is what makes it unique.

Our Own Private Universe--"It's our duty to love everyone, the way God loves everyone. There's no reason why any one group is less deserving of love than any other"

Title: Our Own Private Universe

Author: Robin Talley


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character identifies as bisexual, another main character as bisexual/pansexual/questioning, and minor character identifies as gay. F/F relationship.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Aki is on a Church mission trip in Mexico, when she meets Christa, a girl from a nearby high school, and they fall hard for each other. Aki is thrilled that she can finally do what she is sure other teenagers her age are doing--but what if Christa finds out she doesn't have any experience? Meanwhile, Aki participates in a church debate that enables her to clarify her beliefs and find a new passion.


What I think: In the Acknowledgments, Talley explains that this book is the one she had always wanted to write and wished she'd had as a young-adult reader. I agree 100%--in fact, Our Own Private Universe reminds me of Judy Blume's Forever but with a girl/girl relationship.

One of those posts in which I don't @ the authors--Inspired by Marie Kondo

Exhausted from working retail at Christmas + mental illnesses (mine and other family members') = writer's block. Also, my ridiculously large to-be-read-and-reviewed list is stressing me out instead of making me happy.

Several of my friends have been all, "You should get rid of the books in your list that are not giving you joy!" and I'm like, "Please don't make me watch Tidying Up. I hate cleaning!"

So even though I told my friends I'm never watching the show, I am basing this post on KonMari Method and removing/not finishing/or not indepthly-reviewing any books that do not give me joy. Do you think I should give any of them a second (or third, or fourth, or more) chance?

(Don't tell my friends I'm surrendering to Marie Kondo. They'll get cocky. 😉)

Dress Codes for Small Towns--"There is more than one way to add color to the world. More than one way to crown a queen"

Title: Dress Codes for Small Towns

Author:  Courtney Stevens


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): After Billie and her group of friends nearly burn down their church, Billie is determined to prove that she is not a bad girl and that her father deserves to remain the church's minister. At the same time, Big T, the town's sponsor of the annual Harvest festival, dies.  Billie and her friends work to rise above prejudice and work to save the festival, while exploring their own identities and love interests along the way.


What I think: Dress Codes was one of those books that I thought was going to be about something else entirely.  I thought the plot, even as I was reading, was going to go something like this:

1. Tomboy-ish girl (Billie, who might be gay) experiences prejudice from small town rednecks
2. Boy-who-wears-makeup (Davey, who might be gay) also experiences prejudice
3. They both tell off the hypocritical church people
4. Their friends and family members, who are "set in their small-town ways" reject them, and
5. They move away to a big city to live glamorous lives (also come out of their respective closets)

I've read this story before, I thought smugly.

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!).

Social Intercourse--"If I had known losing my virginity would be so nerve-wracking, I would've stayed home and watched the Golden Girls marathon with my dad"

Title: Social Intercourse

Author: Greg Howard


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): High school seniors openly-gay Beckett and star quarterback Jaxon have little in common, but then Beck's dad starts dating one of Jax's moms. Beck is afraid that his dad will get his heart broken again, and Jax wants his moms to get back together and be a family again.  Meanwhile, Beck is planning the Rainbow Prom, Jax is struggling with his bisexuality, and all have to deal with homophobia in their small Southern town.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): My summary doesn't reflect the tone of this book--it is absolutely hilarious!  Sure, it deals with some serious subjects, but the voices of each narrator are so down-to-earth that Social Intercourse is delightful to read.

If I Was Your Girl--"Pro-tip: read the author's notes FIRST"

Title: If I Was Your Girl

Author: Meredith Russo

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Amanda moves in with her estranged father to attend a new school for her senior year of high school, and everything seems to be going well for her so far.  She meets a new group of girlfriends and even begins dating Grant. But Amanda has a secret: she is a transgender female and knows that if anyone finds out the truth about her past, her newfound happiness could be over.


What I think: Sometimes I am a brat and flip ahead in the pages of the book to see what's going to happen later in the story.  I sometimes spoil major plot points or even the whole ending for myself when I do this, so I nearly always regret it (but I can't stop doing it because, well, I have no idea).  But anyway, with this book, I actually did not regret flipping through towards the end.

Little and Lion--"A good choice for a literature circle or book club"

Title: Little and Lion

Author:  Brandy Colbert


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Suzette returns to her LA home after spending the school year in a boarding school.  While she was there, she had a romantic relationship with her roommate and is now confused about her sexuality.  While home, Suzette develops a crush on her female coworker, Rafaela, and begins dating her childhood friend, Emil. Lionel, Suzette's bipolar stepbrother, begins dating Rafaela and stops taking his medication.  Suzette is very worried about Lionel, which affects her other relationships.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I just finished reading and am still trying to process all the issues and discussion-able topics in Little and Lion.  If I were still teaching high school, this would be a great choice for a small group discussion literature circle.

Saving Alex--"We still have a lot of work to do"

Title:  Saving Alex:  When I Was Fifteen I Told My Mormon Parents I Was Gay, and That's When My Nightmare Began

Author:  Alex Cooper with Joanna Brooks

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): When fifteen-year-old Alex tells her parents that she is a lesbian, she thinks her parents are sending her away to live with her grandparents.  However, Alex's parents send her to the Siales, a husband and wife team who take in "rebellious" teenagers and "fix" them.  Until Alex manages to escape with the help of school staff and a lawyer, she is physically and mentally abused in order to "cure" her of her homosexuality.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  Saving Alex that reads like one of those delightfully trashy unauthorized Kitty Kelley biographies that I went through a phase of reading in high school (don't judge).  I do not mean, however, to negate the seriousness of Alex's story by comparing it to a sensationalist novel.  Saving Alex is an autobiography and therefore is authorized, and it is truly horrifying.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit--"A positive representation of an accepting high school youth group"

Title: Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit

Author: Jaye Robin Brown

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): When Jo's evangelical radio preacher dad remarries and moves them from Atlanta to small-town Rome, Georgia, he asks her to be quiet about her sexuality for her senior year. Jo, who has always been out and proud, reluctantly agrees.  At first, she finds it surprisingly easy to fit in with the mainstream straight crowd, but when she falls in love with Mary Carlson, Jo begins to regret the promise she made to her dad and new step-mom.

What I think (in 250 words or fewer):  Georgia Peaches exceeded my expectations because it was not "Dad makes daughter hide who she is to please shrewish new stepmother.  They move to small town of stereotypes that damn all queer people to hell."

Instead, the characters are well-rounded.

Drama Queens in the House--"Please adopt me, Jumbles"

Title:  Drama Queens in the House

Author:  Julie Williams

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Jessie lives right across the street from and has grown up in the Jumble theater and school, along with several biological and surrogate family members.  Jessie's parents opened the theater with another couple and have been running it for over twenty years.  Jessie has just graduated from high school and is figuring out what to do next when she catches her father kissing the theater's male costumer. What other Jumble secrets will Jessie uncover?

What I think (in more than 250 words--too many characters to limit words):  First of all, my summary and all of the other summaries I've read online can't begin to describe what this book is about.  Jessie herself describes her family as a "proverbial French farce" and I can't help but agree.

The Difference Between You and Me--"The lady doth protest too much, methinks"

Title: The Difference Between You and Me

Author: Madeleine George


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer):  Emily is vice-president of student council, blonde and beautiful, in love with her boyfriend, and working as an intern for NorthStar.  Jesse puts up flyers to "liberate all weirdos," cuts her hair short with a Swiss army knife, is openly queer, and is working to keep NorthStar  corporation out of her school.  Jesse and Emily seem to have nothing in common, yet they meet secretly to kiss passionately in the library restroom every Tuesday afternoon.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): At first, I felt very sorry for Jesse and disliked Emily intensely.  Jesse is bullied and Jesse's only friend left school to be home-schooled.  Jesse is a social misfit kind of drifting through life and has a hopeless crush on Emily, who is seemingly the stereotypical preppy perfect high school girl.  Emily likes to toot her own horn and explain over and over how good her intentions are and how she so much wants to help people.  Very irritating.

Autoboyography--"Oh honey, this will not end well"

Title: Autoboyography

Author:  Christina Lauren

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Tanner is bisexual, and he was out and proud when he lived in California, but now that he and his family have moved to Utah, Tanner is back in the closet.  When Tanner joins a writing seminar class at school, he and the cute TA, Sebastian, fall for each other. But Sebastian is a strict Mormon whose whole life revolves around church and family, and if he admits he is gay, he will lose everything.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Autoboyography was kind of a tough book for me to read.  I enjoyed the story but reading it gave me a nervous stomachache.  All I wanted to do is sympathetically say to Tanner Oh honey, this will not end well.  Sebastian is going to break your heart.  Tanner's parents agreed with me and also warned him.