Review by Booklist Review
Hitchcock The Ballad of Jessie Pearl (2013) and Ruby Lee & Me (2016) is no stranger to writing about the tumultuous lives of young people. Reminiscent of Nancy Garden's Annie on My Mind (1982), Hitchcock's novel follows Allie and Samantha as they navigate a newfound friendship and slowly budding romance against the backdrop of religious intolerance, family discord, and school drama complete with a plethora of 1970s pop-culture references. Religion bumps up against self-discovery and early romantic fulfillment, but with an accepting minister and supportive friends, both Allie and Sam work to understand their place in the rural South. The story explores the delicate dance of coming out at a young age, and while the book is reminiscent of early LGBTQ fiction for young readers family strife, alienation, quickly wrapped-up endings, and so on the 1970s time frame provides something of a justification for the southern attitudes. Young readers will find this novel to be ultimately uplifting and inspirational, particularly considering the current lack of middle-grade books with LGBTQ content.--Bittner, Rob Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
After moving from New Jersey to a conservative North Carolina town, Allie Drake has two goals for her first day at Daniel Boone Middle School: make a friend and join the newspaper staff. She accomplishes both after meeting a girl named Sam, "probably the friendliest person I'd ever met," who introduces Allie to the newspaper's editor. Allie has felt invisible ever since her brother, Eric, died in a car accident; her grieving parents separated; and her mother became oppressively overprotective. She's instantly drawn to Sam (and the attraction is mutual), but Allie is afraid to confide in her mother, for fear of causing her "the kind of pain that Eric's death had." Setting her novel in the 1970s, Hitchcock (Ruby Lee & Me) sensitively explores the hurdles facing the girls' tentative romance, including the teachings of Sam's parents' church and the realization that the dismissal of their favorite teachers, a lesbian couple, doesn't bode well for their future together. A believable supporting cast helps deliver potent messages about the dangers of intolerance and the importance of being true to oneself. Ages 9-12. Agent: Deborah Warren, East-West Agency. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-When a friendship between two girls in a small 1970s Southern town grows into something more, the community reacts in ways that will resonate with many youths today. After her older brother's death and parents' separation, seventh grader Allie Drake moves with her mother to rural North Carolina. She is taken under the wing of Samantha "Sam" Johnson, a confident, popular, gender nonconforming girl. A keenly observant aspiring reporter, Allie notices and wonders about those around her, using in-depth profiles in the school paper to get to know her new classmates. (Strangely, while several students open up to her about deeply personal topics that make them feel different from their peers, the single non-white character in the story never mentions race as a factor in his life.) As it becomes clear that she and Sam are in love, Allie is baffled by the unpredictable responses of family and friends, particularly the discomfort of her mother who has been vocally supportive of her lesbian teachers and gay uncle, and the unexpected support and acceptance from others. The sweetness of the girls' tender feelings for one another contrasts with the fear and secrecy they realize they must live with. Clear, unfussy writing and expert pacing will keep readers absorbed in this appealing novel that strikes a balance between being character- and plot-driven. VERDICT Compassionate and engaging, this may be a work of historical fiction but its depiction of prejudice remains relevant. Highly recommended for middle grade collections.-Laura Simeon, Open Window School Library, Bellevue, WA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In 1977 North Carolina, two middle-school girls fall in love. Allie is mourning her brother's death and her parents' divorce; Sam struggles under her parents' conservative Christian values. Through Allie's narration, Hitchcock shows the pain that arises when loving someone means you aren't accepted by your family and your community. The moving story contains wise, empathetic characters as well as many funny moments. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In 1977 North Carolina, a mutual crush is not so simple for seventh-grade girls Allie and Sam.Following the death of her older brother, Allie and her mom leave New Jersey and Allie's father behind. At her new school, Allie joins the newspaper staff and befriends charismatic, tomboyish Sam. When the girls' feelings for each other bloom beyond friendship, they feel pressured to keep their secret from kids and adults who would think they're "freaks." The (nearly all-white) town's animosity toward two lesbian teachers is a harrowing example for how some view same-sex relationships. The narrative leans into certain coming-out tropes, but Allie's levelheaded narration is refreshingly nuanced. Hitchcock unflinchingly characterizes the emotional struggles of being young and lesbian; Allie feels shame for disappointing her mother and snaps a rubber band against her wrist whenever she thinks about kissing Sam, while for Sam it may never be safe to come out in her conservative Christian household. Throughout, Allie asks "hard questions" about whether homosexuality is right in the eyes of the Bible or her community. Ultimately and affirmingly, her adult role models encourage her to be true to herself.A compelling and honest addition to the few existing stories about gay middle schoolers. (Historical fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
