Limelight by Andrew Keenan Bolger - OPTIONAL

Limelight by Andrew Keenan Bolger, 344 pages. Penguin, 2026. $20.

Language: R (161 swears, 36 'f'); Mature Content: R (sexual activity - clothing removed, heavy petting, mention of prostitutes, gay and straight kissing); Violence: PG13 (domestic violence described, verbal sexual harassment)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Danny's life has recently changed dramatically. It's 1996, and he and his mother have run away from Danny's abusive father, and they are living in a seedy apartment in Staten Island. The apartment belonged to Danny's uncle, who has died, and who left behind a large collection of Broadway cast albums on cassette. Danny is bullied at the Catholic school he attends, and with his new interest in Broadway, he auditions for the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City and gets in! He meets Christian, a dance major who is learning to perform drag. Christian welcomes Danny into his friend group, and the two become best friends. But Danny is worried when his feelings for Christian change to something more. Based on New York in the 90s when author Andrew Keenan-Bolger first arrived there and the city was gritty and sleazy. Although Danny only lives a ferry ride away, his life experience is very different from the kids he meets at theater school.

I loved it when they took him to all the places they loved in New York City. I loved all the show references and nods to really old Broadway songs and composers like Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, but Keenan-Bolger also referenced contemporary shows like Rent and Les Misérables. Much too mature for a middle grade audience, I think high school theater kids will enjoy this LGBT coming of age story set right around the corner from Lincoln Center and Broadway.

Danny is white, and Christian is Asian.

Lisa Librarian h

Love Makes Mochi by Stefany Valentine - SEVERAL

Love Makes Mochi (Love in Translation #3) by Stefany Valentine, 320 pages. Penguin Random House, 2026. $13 Language: R (21 swears, 1 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing); Violence: PG (body shaming)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Lilyn Jeong has the opportunity to study abroad in Tokyo with a famed tailor, which will be just what her future college applications need. However, she almost loses her mentorship before it starts, is experiencing a creative slump, and must design a collection in 10 days. She needs to focus, and her mentor’s daughter Yua offers to help. But once she starts spending time with Yua, Lilyn finds herself falling for her even though Lilyn has sworn off summer flings.

Initially, I found Lilyn’s often critical character hard to like, but I warmed up to her as the story progressed and her character developed. The inclusion of Lilyn’s gothic and Japanese inspired fashion designs and Yua's tattoos are fun. The novel also tackles topics like self-doubt, taking chances, first-romances, and being yourself. While it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel. A fun fashion-forward travel romance for upper middle school and high school students.

Lilyn and Yua are LGBTQ+. Lilyn is Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean American. Yua is Japanese. 

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian 

Lovely Recipe written and illustrated by Myra Rose Nino - ADVISABLE

Lovely Recipe written and illustrated by Myra Rose Nino, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2026. $25.

Language: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (some kissing on page); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sofia is in her last year of high school and she doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life post-graduation. What she does know is that her workaholic mother has been emotionally absent since her beloved grandmother’s death. If Sofia can learn to recreate some of her grandmother’s cherished recipes, maybe she can reconnect with her mother, and figure out her life plan. So Sofia enlists the help of her serious & studious classmate, Anna Marie, to teach her how to cook better. As the weeks fly by, Sofia and Anna Marie get closer together, but will the looming life changes tear them apart before they have a chance to even get started?

This is a very sweet, relatable YA graphic novel, perfect for anyone who has ever felt 'left behind' while the rest of the world moves on. I thought Sofia's desire to learn how to cook to recapture fond memories of her deceased grandmother helped give the story some necessary emotional depth. I also liked seeing their relationship develop authentically over the months cooking together in Anna Marie's family restaurant. Most readers are going to love the opposites-attract trope, but overall, this is a darling, slow burn sapphic romance, perfect for high school readers. While ethnicity is never explicitly addressed in the book, Sofia looks biracial in the illustrations.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Rebel Girls of Rome by Jordyn Taylor - OPTIONAL

 

Rebel Girls of Rome by Jordyn Taylor, 320 pages. Harper Collins, 2025. $16

Language: R (35 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (on page sex); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Lilah, a college student, is still reeling from the death of her beloved mother and her grandfather refuses to open up to her and talk about any of his history. Then Lilah receives a surprise email from a boy who lives in Rome - he has what seems to be an heirloom of Lilah’s family. Together Lilah and her grandfather travel to Rome to discover the connection. Meanwhile, in the past, Bruna is devastated the day her beloved younger brother goes missing and as she is searching for him, her parents are hauled off by the Nazi’s to a death camp. Now in hiding, Bruna joins the resistance, rediscovering Elsa, a crush from before and the two passionately reconnect amidst the horrors of World War II.

I am so disappointed that Taylor decided to unnecessarily graphically describe the girls’ passion. The rest of the book is as good as the author’s Paper Girl of Paris, but less accessible.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy - OPTIONAL

Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy, 336 pages. Harper Collins, 2025. $23

Language: R (100+ swears, 15 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

When their dream summer internship implodes on the day they were supposed to be leaving their po-dunk town, 18yo Sully is devastated.  As the most out and proud gay person in Hearst, the other being Brad, or “Bread” as Sully prefers to call him, Sully has been proudly waving the queer flag. To console himself he buys a rare and valuable bag at the local thrift store - which comes complete with a ghost. Rufus, the ghost, also grew up in Hearst as a gay man in the 1950’s.  He has no idea how he became tied to the beautiful bag. As Brad drives Sully around town investigating the mystery, Sully begins to learn more about his nemesis and about the secrets hiding in his own town.

Fans of Murphy will probably love the chaos that Sully brings to the page.  I do love how the author’s used Rufus’s history to highlight history and challenges of being gay in the 1950’s. Whether student readers will appreciate the history - I don’t know.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan - OPTIONAL

Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan, 310 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2025. $20. 

Language: R (104 swears 21 'f's); Mature Content: PG13 (mention of nipples, passionate kissing); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

After crashing her boyfriend's expensive car while live streaming, 17yo Birdie is getting a wake-up call from her father. In order to bring her down to earth, he has hired his friend's daughter Cass, a lifeguard at the beach to "babysit" Birdie for the summer. Birdie has to work a menial labor job - she's now a parking attendant - and has been cut off from her own car, and all her social media. Birdie and Cass were friends when they were children, but are so far apart socially that they basic hate each other now - or do they? 

A sweet slow burn romance, I was afraid it was going to be more like "52 Reasons to Hate my Father" but I really liked that Birdie didn't turn out to be an incompetent rich girl. Cass has some great friends, and supportive parents. Birdie's friends and mother are a hot mess, which kept the story alive. I really enjoyed Summer Girls. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Turning Twelve by Kathryn Ormsee and Molly Brooks - ADVISABLE

Turning Twelve (Growing Pangs Companion) by Kathryn Ormsee and Molly Brooks, 236 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2024. $22. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

For 12yo Katie, things are changing a lot. She's starting 7th grade, her best friends have just moved away and she's anticipating the things that happen as she grows up, like maturing, and crushes and stuff. She's been cast as an orphan in the community production of Annie. While she wanted the lead, being a supporting part is fun, too, and she makes a new friend: Grace. But this friendship feels different, could Katie have a crush on a girl? 

I really like this series. Coming on the heels of Growing Pangs, it's billed as "from the universe of". It can totally stand on it's own. I liked the nods to Baby Sitters Club and hope it can reach that same audience. Besides Katie's struggle liking a girl, there's some church issues going on, a youth group with a mean clique, modesty expectations and the church's stand on same sex attraction. All in all, Ormsbee and Brooks tell a story about being true to oneself. Katie is white, the friends are multi cultural. 

Lisa Librarian 

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, Cassio Ribero and Mikki Foxrobot - ADVISABLE

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, Cassio Ribero and Mikki Foxrobot, 220 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Maverick (Mad Cave), 2024. $15. 

Language: PG (13 swears); Mature Content: PG13 (Kissing on a bed); Violence: PG (Manga violence - illustrations) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Gabby and Neesha are both new at the high school. Neesha has Cerebral Palsy which affects her balance and she needs braces on her feet and legs. When she learns the principal has taken her out of her honors classes and placed her in special education classes instead, she bravely threatens to call her mom who will call her lawyer and she gets (many of) the accommodations she needs. Gabby is also having a bad first day, nearly getting sent home for a dress code violation, Neesha steps in and advocates for Gabby too. The two become friends, discovering that in middle school they both enjoyed the same Manga series, and commit to book clubbing the series together. Through the shared readings, and the shared adventures of finding the next in the series, the girls become close. 

I liked this sweet budding romance - the girls become fast friends, even best friends before it turns to romance, and the romance isn't steamy - even when given the opportunity to be alone together, either the authors don't disclose it all, or the romance stops at kissing. I loved strong Neesha ready to take on the world for the under advantaged, she's so sweet with Gabby who is going through some personal problems. Although the girls are in high school, I would purchase a copy for my middle school library, too. My 8th and 9th grade readers who like LGBTQ will enjoy Navigating with You. Neesha is black, Gabby is Cuban. 

Lisa Librarian 

Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa - ADVISABLE

Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa,  304 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2024. $20. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Oliver Bennet has known for a long time that he is a boy, but the family calls him Elizabeth and his mother is desperate to get him married. Only his Sister Jane, his best friends and his father know the truth. But when dashing Mr. Darcy is visiting his friend Mr. Bingley, Oliver wonders if he could ever be himself around Darcy and how he would respond. 

I haven't loved retellings of the classics (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?) but I must say, Most Ardently was delightful. The queer twist made perfect sense, Gabe Cole Novoa also wrote in the style of Jane Austen, so it felt familiar. Many of the scenes were just like in the original story, but turned a bit to make it work for Oliver - hating that he was dressed like and forced to behave like a girl. Darcy was just as handsome and proud and arrogant, and Jane the best sister ever. However, I think I loved this so much because I'm a huge Jane Austen fan. It's primary appeal may be adults, although I did recommended it for High School. The characters are white and British, Oliver is Trans, Darcy is Gay, Charlotte is Lesbian. 

Lisa Librarian 

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White - OPTIONAL

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White, 384 pages. Candlewick, 2024 $20.

Language: R (100+ swears 71 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: R (assaults, murders, killings, animal violence, lots of gore) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

16yo Miles Abernathy came out to his parents in an email just before he left to join the seniors at their graduation party. On the way home he is horrifically assaulted by a group of boys - one of them is Noah, the Sheriff's son. There has been a generational blood feud between the Abernathy's and the Davis' family, so the law won't be stepping in. When Miles accidentally kills the boy who filmed the assault, Miles and his friend Cooper decide to finish it, and get rid of the others as well. 

Wow, Compound Fracture caught me off guard. I knew it would be violent, just look at the front cover, but it was also political, exciting, and terrifying. I liked it more than I expected. It was very rural, very Appalachian, although it takes place in present day, they were still living with feuds and memories of injustice from 100 years ago. Very sweary, very violent. The characters are white 

Lisa Librarian 

Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar - OPTIONAL

Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar, 432 pages. Penguin, 2024. $20. 

Language: R (43 swears 48 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (Passionate kissing, reference to sex)); Violence: R (spouse abuse described, political riots) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

18yo high school senior Libertad lives in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It's 2017 and the country is consumed in a political crisis, complete with college student led riots, military coups and civil unrest. Libertad's older brother Maynor is part of the university resistance, and she writes political poetry which she anonymously posts on Insta. Libertad is having a personal crisis as well - her mother has discovered texts on Libertad's phone talking about a kiss she shared with a girl. The kiss was a one-time thing and both were drunk, but she has a hard time convincing her mother that it's not what she thinks - but, maybe, ultimately it is, things might be over with that girl, but now there's another, a college student who loves her poetry, and may love Libertad too. 

Deep and thoughtful this queer coming of age story about Libertad, finding love she has to hide amidst political chaos has a lot going on. She lives in a generational household, her mother and grandmother are both divorced, her 25yo brother still lives at home, conflicted about his college education. I reflected on our own country's current political situation as I read about Honduras. Does the reader need background to appreciate the political side of Zaldivar's book? I don't think so - so many people talk Libertad through what is happening, I think the readers will understand. A lot of non-translated Spanish, most of which is in context. Although optional because of language, I would recommend purchase if you have students from Central America who might see themselves in Libertad. The characters are Honduran, Libertad, Dani and Cami are Lesbian or Bi-sexual. 

Lisa Librarian 

Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield - OPTIONAL

Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield, 336 pages. Bloomsbury, 2024. $20.

Language: R (swears 100+ 'f' 8); Mature Content: PG 13 (making out, clothing removal); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Phoebe is stuck in a time loop. August 6th replays as her everyday - the same blueberry pancakes, the same invite to play scrabble and no matter what she does, she wakes up the next morning and it's not the next day, it's the same day. Then, she reconnects with former best friend (and lifelong crush) Jess who is also now stuck in same loop. They have unlimited time to fix their problems and reunite, this time as more than friends. 

An interesting "stuck in a loop" story where the characters aren't primarily interested in figuring out how to get unstuck. Told from Phoebe's perspective - she is chronically ill with IBS and is anxiously awaiting a future doctor appointment. I love that with so many daily resets, Phoebe gets opportunities to be real about so many personal things, with her friends, her parents and even herself. Phoebe is a lesbian, Jess is non-binary and lesbian. Both are white, their friend group is multi cultural and various genders and sexual preferences. 

Lisa Librarian 

Just Shy of Ordinary by A J Sass - ADVISABLE

Just Shy of Ordinary by A J Sass, 384 pages. Little, Brown, 2024. $17. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild self harm - Shai picks at her arms, and she witnesses vandalism against her grandparent's synagogue) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Shai is looking for a new normal. She has been home schooled, and is great at research. She has decided that she wants to try public school. But she's full of worries - she's come out to her family and best friend, but how and when will she let people at school know she is gender fluid and pan sexual? Her Language Arts teacher has assigned a term-long research project, and Shai, who has not been raised religious, chooses to learn about her grandparent's religion, they are Jewish, and visit them over the high holidays, which causes some drama with her single mom. 

Shai is a smart kid, but feels like she needs to solve all her own problems without asking for help. Her anxiety has caused her to pick at her arms which causes sores that she keeps covered. Even her mom doesn't know. Shai explains to the reader how it feels when people don't use her preferred name or pronouns, one of her friends is a lesbian who hasn't yet come out to her parents, another friend has 2 dads and one of the boys she lives with uses "gay" to mean something is stupid. I'm not sure why the publisher recommends Just Shy of Ordinary for 8-12 year olds. It's a clean read with no violence, but it's still High School, homecoming, who to ask to the dance and the social and academic community of 9th grade. Shai is Jewish, her best friend Mille is indigenous Canadian, other characters are culturally diverse. 

Lisa Librarian 

Night Owls by A.R. Vishny, - OPTIONAL

Night Owls by A.R. Vishny, 368 pages. HarperCollins, 2024 $20. 

Language: R (22 swears 6 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (vampires luring men and the ensuing "kisses) Violence: R (bloody fighting, vampire violence, demons) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

18yo (sort of) Clara and Molly run an historic movie theater in Manhattan. Boaz is one of their employees, he runs the ticket booth. Clara and Molly are Estries - undead, vampire-like girls who can turn into owls and feed on Jewish men. Boaz has a family curse - he can see and communicate with ghosts. His Aunt has a ring, passed down through the family that helps focus the ghost sightings, and she has a successful cable tv show where she is a medium. Clara has a lot of rules to keep she and Molly safe - they've "lived" together like this for over 100 years. One of the rules is no romance. But when Molly finds a girlfriend, who disappears, they blame Boaz. And even though he denies it, and is infuriating, Clara finds herself falling for him. 

Who knew that Jewish theater had an underground in New York City full of demons and monsters and the Prince of Demons himself? This stand alone horror, romance, mystery was spine tingling with some good scares, and a great plot. Written for a Jewish reader, there's not a glossary or pronunciation guide for the yiddish, but context was well developed so I had no trouble because of my lack of background knowledge. I especially loved all the nods to early (1910-1930s) motion pictures. Boaz, like me, was a real film nerd, so I totally connected as he geeked out about certain movies. Highly recommended as a great thriller. The characters are Jewish and monsters. 

Lisa Librarian 

Mismatched by Anne Camlin and Isadora Zeferino - OPTIONAL

Mismatched: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Emma by Anne Camlin, illustrated by Isadora Zeferino, 264 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Little, Brown and Company, 2024. $18.

Language: PG-13 (28 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG (one occasion of underage drinking, several on-page kisses); Violence: PG (unwanted first kiss)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A graphic gender-bent retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, 17yo white, gay Evan Horowitz is a glamorous instafamous high school ballet dancer with a penchant for matchmaking. He tries to prove his skills with shy new transfer student Natalia, but things keep spinning out of his control. Can he right all the wrongs, and find true love before it’s too late?

I picked this up because I love graphic novels, and I really like the last graphic novel retelling I read (Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Booth), but I should have known better. Emma is my least favorite Austen novel because she drives me nuts. Good news, this version is true to form, because Evan also drove me nuts. One pro was there was a lot of representation in LGBTQIA characters, however some of the pacing was a little choppy.

Miss Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

This is Why They Hate Us by Aaron Aceves - OPTIONAL

This is Why They Hate Us by Aaron Aceves, 400 pages. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster), 2022. $20.

Language: R (100+ swears, 85 “f”); Mature Content: R (frequent graphic teenage sexual content, repeated instances of underage drinking and drug use, suicide ideation, and dealing with other mental health issues); Violence: PG-13 (several queer slurs, one instance of beating up a teenager in a park, some racist interactions);

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

17yo Enrique “Quique” Luna is a bisexual Latino teenager in southern California who struggles with his mental health and pining for his best friend, Saleem. He decides to work on himself during the summer by exploring some other romantic options, but his anxieties might derail everything.

It took me a long time to get into this book and to finish Quique’s story. I valued his perspective as a queer minority telling his coming of age story, but there is a significant amount of graphic sex, language, and other mature content that might be off-putting for more general audiences.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan - OPTIONAL

Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan,  272 pages. Union Square & Co., 2023.  $19.

Language: R (100+ swears, 27 “f”); Mature Content: R (sex education discussions, frequent sexual humor, frequent references to teenage sexual activity, portrayal of homophobia in a school setting, several instances of underage drinking, and regular references to pornography); Violence: PG (bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

17yo white gay Max has always been unapologetically himself. But when you are one of only a few number of queer students in a small British community, sometimes it gets old. All Max wants to do is fall in love and have the quintessential high school experience, like all the hetero couples seem to have. One night, he gets into a fight with his best friend Dean (17 yo, black, gay) and wishes for the unthinkable - to be straight and to never have been friends with Dean. When he wakes up, Max is straight and Dean doesn't seem to exist. What is Max supposed to do in this straight (strange) new world?

I actually really liked this book, but note that it has graphic language and mature content. I felt that Max's experience being straight (the grass is not always greener on the other side) felt true. I liked seeing him come into his own awareness of self - to recognize the consequences of his actions, and eventually recognize his white privilege. I also liked how Max could see his impact. He thought everything was different because Dean wasn’t in this reality, which was part of it, but Max also had influence, just by being himself. I keep saying this, but this is why representation matters. Being yourself allows others to be their own authentic selves.

Kiera, ELA teacher #BookswithBeddes

By Any Other Name By Erin Cotter - OPTIONAL

By Any Other Name by Erin Cotter, 464 pgs. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. $22

Language: R (100+ swears, no ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (minimal mention of alcohol consumption); Violence: R (sword play (bloody), murder (off page), poisoning deaths (on page), torture (off page), threatened execution, assault (bloody), person run over by a horse and cart (bloody), crossbow shootings (on page, bloody))

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS-OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Will is a 16yo actor who has become too old to play the female roles and too young to be the male lead. Desperate for money, he asks his good friend, Kit Marlowe, for help. While meeting with Kit at a pub, he watches as his benefactor is brutally murdered in front of him. This will launch Will on an adventure of spying, royal intrigue, and love, as he seeks to avenge his friend.

Unfortunately, the only strong part of this book is the positive, although historically inaccurate, LGBTQIA+ relationship portrayal. Otherwise, the reader will find a plot with many characters and storylines that are underdeveloped, plot twists that fall flat, and biographical unease. The main characters read well above their stated ages with the main character’s story bogged down by numerous overdramatic inner monologues. 

AEB

The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales - OPTIONAL

The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales, 304 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2024. $20.

Language: R (101 swears, 15 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Living across the street from her ex-best friend, Mack, is made impossible when 16yo Ivy’s parents ask Mack’s family to check in on Ivy while they’re out of town. On her first night alone, a huge storm comes, and all Ivy wants is to not be alone—so she writes a short fanfic about her favorite TV character being with her. And, when she wakes up, he is.

Honestly, the whole situation with the TV character appearing in Ivy’s life is as disorienting for the reader as for Ivy and her friends—maybe more so because they accepted the situation faster than I did. The creativity involved in crafting this story astounds me, and I laughed out loud several times. Furthermore, Gonzales writes about struggling friendships and trying to get a grip on how to life in a way that makes readers happier with imperfect reality.

Ivy is White on the cover, and Mack is Black on the cover. Also, Ivy is bi, Mack is lesbian, and Henry describes himself as “aroace.” The mature content rating is for innuendo and mentions of sex. The violence rating is for assault and for mentions of murder and fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Time Out by Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, and Carlyn Greenwald - OPTIONAL

Time Out by Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, and Carlyn Greenwald. 261 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2023. $19 

Language: R (217 swears 44 'f's); Mature Content: PG-13 (Passionate kissing. Mentions of sex, masturbation, and pornography. Sexually graphic homophobic slurs. Inappropriate images are drawn on a boy's locker.) Violence: PG-13 (Verbal and physical bullying, fist fights. A boy is intentionally hit by a car while riding his bike. A man aims a shot gun at two teenagers.) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Barclay is a high school basketball star and the high school and the town love him. But on his 16th birthday, he decides a pep rally is the best place to announce that he is gay. All of the people he thought loved him have now turned on him. With his team against him, he turns to his best friend Amy. She gets him involved in her voting rights group. Barclay starts to find purpose and new friends off the court. Through the group, he meets the talented and handsome Christopher. It is a slow process but with time Barclay learns that some of his actions have been selfish and how to combat that. He learns to show up for his family who are all still grieving the recent death of their grandfather. He learns how to show up for his friends. And he learns how to be his complete self. 

At its heart, this is a good coming out story. I appreciate that Barclay does not have it all figured out at the beginning but he speaks his truth anyway. Over the course of the book he learns and grows and it is enjoyable to watch. He also learns that he is not the only one struggling with things and figures out that he can help others as well as himself. The book has excessive swear words that distract from the message and the homophobic slurs are sexually graphic in nature. Barclay his family and Christopher are white. No other ethnicity is specifically mentioned. 

A. Snow