Synopsis (from Goodreads):

“That book. It was about two women, and they fell in love with each other.” And then Lily asked the question that had taken root in her, that was even now unfurling its leaves and demanding to be shown the sun: “Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.

America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.

Review:

I hadn't heard much about this book before I checked it out from the public library.  But I knew this was about San Francisco Chinatown in the 1950's, and a girl coming to terms with being a lesbian.  I also knew that this won the 2021 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.  This was a beautiful, heartbreaking book.  

Most people don't remember what it was like when being a homosexual was considered a mental illness.  Even though the Supreme Court ruled that gays had the right to assemble in 1951, there were still raids on gay bars, and people were thrown in jail on trumped up charges of "lewd conduct", and "contributing to the delinquency of a minor".  This book was set seventy years ago.  It made me so sad for gay people of my parents' generation.

I loved the two main characters, Lily and her girlfriend Kath.  They are high school seniors who are realizing that they like girls, not boys.  Lily's filled with shame and fear as she finds that she is not like her friends.  Add to this that Lily is Chinese-American, with a culture that values traditional family, and denies there are any gay Chinese, it's no wonder Lily is fearful.  

Since the Chinese students tend to stick together, she doesn't really know Kath (a Caucasian) all that well.  But they are the only two girls in their high school's advanced math class during their senior year.  They both have similar dreams of having a career in math and science.  Then Kath tells Lily about the Telegraph Club, a nightclub with male impersonators.  Lily is drawn to this and asks Kath to take her to the bar.  Once they get some fake ID's, they agree to meet there.

This book is so intense, that I had to put it down several times.  As she becomes bolder and takes more chances, I worried for Lily.  I didn't want Lily to get caught!  But, if things were easy, there wouldn't be much of a story.  Just be warned that it is tough to read about what can happen to people when they come out to their family!  

What I Liked:

Characters:

Lily is such an engaging character.  As her senior year begins, her life-long friendship with Shirley (another Chinese-American girl) is strained.  Lily begins to see how manipulative her friend is and she has had enough!  She is tired of being a doormat, and pushes back against her friend.  But, since they live in such a tight-knit community, her parents just assume that they will always be best friends.  They have no idea that Shirley is a queen bee and has been stinging her "friends" for years.  

Shirley actually was also a sympathetic character, despite her shortcomings.  She feels the sting of racism daily and sometimes wishes she didn't live in Chinatown.  She dreams of going to Hollywood and being in movies.  But she knows that she will soon be expected to get married and have children, staying in Chinatown forever.

Setting & Historical Details:

The author did extensive research into the time period, San Francisco Chinatown, LGBTQ issues in the 1950's, and the Red Scare.  All these details add a layer of realism that helps bring Lily's problems to life.  Not only is she afraid of being labeled a lesbian, she is also worried about her father's immigration status.  Even though he was an American citizen, he still was threatened with deportation if he didn't confirm that one of his patients was a communist.  If Lily is labeled a homosexual, she might put her father in even more danger. 

This was also a really fascinating look into the gay community in San Francisco in the 1950's.  How does a young person even find other gay people when it is so dangerous?  Small nightclubs with entertainment that promised "a gay old time" were learned about through word of mouth.  Bouncers looked the other way at teenagers getting in.  Suddenly, Lily sees that there are many other lesbians in the city.  It was a revelation for her, and made her more comfortable with who she was.  

Story:

This story had a lot of tension as Lily realizes she is gay, and then starts to explore what that means.  With every act of rebellion, Lily comes closer and closer to being caught. I was constantly worried for her.  What would happen to her if her friends or family found out?  

Spoiler Alert...The ending is not a feel-good happy moment where the characters all get what they want.  But it was a very realistic ending that did leave me hopeful for Lily and Kath.  This really made me appreciate how much things have changed.  While it still depends on a person's family, many young people have much less traumatic coming out stories. I hope that parents of gay kids will read this and realize that their kids need to be loved and supported, not shamed and ridiculed by their family.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  January 19th, 2021

Author: Malinda Lo

Publisher:  Dutton Books for Young Readers

Genre:  YA Historical Fiction/LBGTQ YA Fiction

Page Length: 416 Pages

Source:  Public Library

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This is a truly special book that I hope teens, and parents, will read.  I highly recommend it. 

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis:

The youngest of four daughters, Primrose Ainsworth is used to getting lost in the shuffle. But when her parents decide to delay her debut into English society, Prim hatches a plan to go rogue on the night of her sixteenth birthday.

Donning a mask, Prim escapes to the infamous Vauxhall Gardens for one wild night. When her cover is nearly blown, a mysterious stranger intercedes, and Prim finds an unexpected partner in mischief . . . and romance. But when it’s revealed her new ally isn’t who he says he is, her one night of fun may last past dawn.

In this frothy regency romp perfect for fans of Austen-esque flirtation and Shakespearean hijinks, sometimes a little scandal can be a good thing.

Review:

I read a lot of books.  Some are deeply serious, and while I love those books, they can be emotionally draining.  After such a book, I need an emotional reset, something easy to read and fun.  Sixteen Scandals, by Sophie Jordan, is one such book.  Is it historically accurate?  In some ways, not at all.  But, with a wonderful main character, it was really entertaining, and a great escape.

What I Liked:

Premise:

Like Sixteen Candles (the movie that the book's title was inspired by), Prim's family doesn't acknowledge her sixteenth birthday.  When she realizes that there will not only be no celebration, but she will also be kept out of society for another year, Prim decides she will sneak out of the house for one wild night on the town.

Would any girl in Regency Era London actually do this?  Um, no.  This kind of behavior would be social suicide at that time. No young lady of the time would risk being cut off from her family for such a small taste of freedom.  And this is addressed in the book.  But even of it was unlikely, Prim's odyssey is so much fun (think of the wild night in the move Sixteen Candles).

Characters:

Prim is a young woman who is painfully aware of how limited her life has been, and will be in the future.  At first, she is really frustrated with having to wait for her sister to find a husband, before she is allowed out into society.  No evenings out, no parties, just a life at home.  But, she gradually starts to understand that she is actually getting a reprieve from the marriage march.  Once her sister becomes engaged, the pressure from her mother to find a rich husband will be unrelenting. I love that Prim is so self-aware.  But she is also stuck without any way to change her situation.  

Prim's friend, Olympia, has won the social jackpot by having a mother who is a famous opera singer.  Since her mother can support them without relying on a man, she has a level of freedom that Prim can only dream of.  Olympia also has a wonderful relationship with her own mother.  This contrast to Prim's mother illustrates just how alone she is, and is probably why she decides to risk everything for a little bit of happiness.

Story:

When Prim decides to go out and enjoy a night on the town, she needs to make sure to go where no one will know her.  But her simple night goes quickly wrong when she gets seperated from her friend Olympia, and doesn't know what to do.  Should she look for her friend, and get even more lost, or should she try and find her own way home?  

She also meets a dashing young man, who may be an aristocrat.  As he helps her look for Olympia, they get to know each other, and share quite a few adventures.  I was reminded of that movie, Before Sunrise, where two people meet on a train, and get to know each other over the course of a night (so many movie inspirations!).  Their interactions were quite romantic, and sweet.

Social Consequences:

As unlikely as the premise is, the book does follow through with showing what the risks and consequences would be for a girl acting out in that society.  It's amazing to think that girls were not allowed to go out of the home, at all, unless they had a chaperone.  Even a trip to a tea shop without a chaperone could lead to a girl being labelled as unmarriagable.  If anyone recognizes Prim, her family will disown her.  She not only wouldn't get married, she might be left destitute. 

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  May 25th, 2021

Author:  Sophie Jordan 

Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers

Genre:  YA Historical Fiction

Page Length:  256 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format: E-Book

Recommendation:  A fun period piece that was super enjoyable.  

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

London, 1967: Sixteen-year-old Kitty Granger has always known that others consider her peculiar. She hates noise and crowds, tends to fixate on patterns, and often feels acutely aware of her surroundings even as she struggles to interpret the behavior of people around her. As a working-class girl in London’s East End, she’s spent her whole life learning to hide these traits. Until the day when she notices the mysterious man on the bus and finds herself following him, driven to know why he seems so out of place…only to accidentally uncover the location of a Russian spy ring.

When Kitty’s keen observation and quick thinking help her survive a dangerous encounter, two secret agents working for Her Majesty’s government offer her a job in their espionage operation.

Kitty's first mission pits her against a conspiracy led by a prominent politician―who's also a secret fascist. With help from an unusual team of fellow spies, Kitty must use her wits, training, and instincts to get out alive. And she might as well save the country while she's at it.

Review:

What a book!  Set in nineteen-sixties London, Kitty Granger is introduced to the world of Cold War spies and conspiracies, where she is uniquely qualified to succeed.  Kitty, although it doesn't explicitly say so, is autistic.  In her regular existence, she is considered strange, and a burden by her protective father.  But, in the world of espionage, her unusual traits are valued.  This was a fun, and exciting book.

What I Liked:

Setting:

Who doesn't love London's swinging sixties?  The mod fashion, music, and general feelings of optimism and change are apparent in the details from the author.  Growing up in London's East End (a very poor area), Kitty is used to scraping by in life.  Despite this, her neighborhood is comfortable and home.  I loved that Kitty instantly felt at ease when she met another fellow East Ender.  

The Sixties were a time of great change in England.  As more immigrants started to settle in England, some people became alarmed by what they considered an invasion of foreigners.  A reactionary element in politics gained momentum.  This is the political climate in which the novel takes place, and it becomes important to the progression of the story.  The author did a good job of explaining the foundations of this movement to the reader.

Characters:

Kitty is autistic.  The book does a wonderful job of describing how Kitty sees the world.  She uses many different coping skills when she becomes overwhelmed.  But the author also highlights many positive aspects of Kitty's mind.  She can focus intently on an issue, and notices small details that others miss.  She can also mimic other's voices, and has an amazing memory.  I love how the author shows that Kitty can use her talents when others give her a chance.  

But some situations are more challenging than others.  Kitty has to really think through social interactions before understanding what others expect out of her.  Loud noises and large crowds can trigger a panic.   This is really stressful for Kitty.  I could empathize with her struggle to maintain control.  Having just finished The Queen's Gambit on Netflix, I can see Anya Taylor Joy as Kitty.

One of the other stand-out characters, in my opinion, is Mrs. Singh.  She is a glamorous, independent woman.  I could definitely see Jameela Jamil playing this character in a movie.  Calm, and always prepared, she was such a great role-model for Kitty.

Story:

I love a good spy story.  I found Kitty's training: learning martial arts, how to fire a gun, and using spy gadgets, to be really fun.  The part of the story where Kitty finally gets to use all her training as she goes undercover was exciting.  I couldn't put the book down!  

Strangely, the plot central to the book is rather timely.  Fascists push the slogan, Britain for the British, a racist reaction to immigration.  Groups of these people are plotting something big to create change,  I do not want to spoil it, but what happens echoes events happening today.

A Note about this novel's category designation:  This book is being marketed as young adult fiction.  But it would also be very appropriate for middle grade readers.  There is no cursing, and I think younger readers in middle school will enjoy the action.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  March 2nd, 2021

Author:  G.D. Falksen

Publisher:  Carolrhoda Lab

Genre:  YA Historical Fiction

Page Length:  280 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This was a fun novel that I hope will become a series.  I would follow any adventure where Kitty Granger is headed!  Read this book!