Are you a Friend of Dorothy? by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings - OPTIONAL

Are you a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2025. $20. 9781665931663 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS  - OPTIONAL  

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The LGBT community had many ways of secretly coming out to each other, and outsiders didn't know. Might be a book they were holding or a particular flower. One of these ways was asking "Are you a friend of Dorothy?" It was a hard time to be gay or lesbian because you could be fired from your job, even if it was kept a secret. 

What an interesting piece of LGTBQIA+ history! Kyle Lukoff's explanations are great, and I loved Hastings illustrations. I love the sneaky navy people trying to figure out who this "Dorothy" was. I was concerned that the book is about adults contacting each other, but the cover picture characters look like children. Characters are LGBTQIA or Navy Personnel 

Lisa Librarian