All Out: the No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Thoughout the Ages edited by Saundra Mitchell
Harlequin Teen
Publication date: February 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1335470454
Seventeen short stories illustrate the experiences of queer teens in a variety of historical settings. From a new take on the well-known tale of Robin Hood, to a new-found love arising from a Nirvana lyric, teen experiences that rarely make their way into historical fiction are revealed with a sense of wonder, awkwardness, and bravado.
Some of the teens in these stories are comfortable in their same-sex attraction, while others are coming to terms with their sexuality or are deciding how much to share with family and friends. Clara and Pearl seek an escape from early marriage in colonial America and find each other; two centuries later Dee and Vince struggle to understand their feelings when surrounded by friends obsessed with dating. Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas host an unexpected gathering; a witches’ curse rests heavily on a Puritan town. Each of the young adult authors brings a different voice and style to their writing, making this #OwnVoices collection of interest to readers of any sexual orientation.
These stories fill gaps left in more traditional representations of history and give a voice to an otherwise largely silenced minority. Share this book with fans of A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Our Own Private Universe or When the Moon was Ours.
–Cathy Rettberg
Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia
Imprint / Macmillan Publishing Group
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-1250079206
Peyton Rios’s soccer dreams are shattered when she gets a knee injury after her boyfriend pushes her down the stairs. The worst part is that Peyton’s best friend, who happens to be her boyfriend’s sister, does not believe her brother could have done this. Peyton moves away to Tennessee to live with her uncle and twin cousins to get over what happened to her. Peyton finds herself falling for a boy who is similar to her ex, with his own secrets, despite knowing she should not get involved. Peyton must learn to find a way to heal, so she can trust others again.
Garcia’s writing is heart-breaking yet realistic in this contemporary, romance which deals with tough topics, including abuse and drug usage. The suspenseful plot will keep readers turning pages to find out whether Peyton will recover from her knee injury and who she ends up with. Readers will react as secrets are revealed and lives are changed as a result of truths. There are a lot of arguments and fights that take place, but the overall theme is how to rebuild your life even after bad things try to bring you down. Teens who have been or are in unhealthy relationships will identity with the main character. Resources for abuse and domestic violence are provided.
Give this to fans of contemporary, romance books, including Crazy Messy Beautiful.
–Lindsay Fricke