Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino. Unabridged e-audio, ~3 hours, 38 minutes. Narrated by the author. Scholastic Audio/ Scholastic Inc., April, 2022. 

Happy Monday! Happy Fourth of July? The weather here is dry and clear. The town is quiet. Most of the stores in my tiny downtown are closed. No parades, no fireworks. Nice and quiet. Time to garden, read and contemplate. 

Middle Grade Monday features Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino. This is their fourth novel, and I've read every one since their debut, George/ Melissa. Sam and T.J. are best friends and seventh graders who live on Staten Island. (For any reader not from the northeast, Staten Island is a borough of New York City. It connects to Brooklyn via the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and to Manhattan via ferry service. It's actually closer to New Jersey!) 

Both Sam and T.J. identify as non-binary and have supportive families as well as a loving found family. Their stodgy, traditional social studies teacher assigns a research project where partners chose a figure in history that had a Staten Island connection. The partnership with the highest grade would have their project submitted to a monument contest. Sam is not enthusiastic about the project until they learn of Alice Austen, a lesbian photographer from the 1800s, who actually has a ferry boat named after her. Sam did not know about Alice Austen's identity and was stoked to learn that Alice Austen actually lived for a while in their apartment!

There's a lot packed into this short, middle-grade novel. Sam and T.J. are comfortable in their skin and articulate about body positivity and gender. The issue is not about their coming out, but of LGBTQIA+ history and how the lens of history seems focused on cis, white men  tending to leave out the contributions of women, people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. There's still playfulness in the story via the best friendship and various inter-generational ties. 

The book was narrated by the author, who imbued her characters with spunk and confidence and sounded appropriately youthful. 

There are a fair number of fans of the author's books at my school and I know they will be happy to meet Sam and T.J.

November is Picture Book Month! Review: Julián at the Wedding by Jessica Love

Image: Candlewick Press

Julián at the Wedding by Jessica Love. unpgd. Candlewick Press, October, 2020. 9781536212389. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

It was so wonderful to visit with Julián again! Here, he dresses in a natty lavender outfit to be in a wedding along with Marisol. His abuela is there to celebrate the union of two women in a joyful outdoor ceremony. Marisol has to wear a flower crown instead of her beloved baseball cap. Afterward, Julián and Marisol disappear and she ruins her dress. Her cap is recovered and she gifts Julián with her crown. A friendship is cemented and a union is celebrated. What joy!

The pastel on brown paper art is luminous. Fans of the first book, Julián is a Mermaid will cheer and readers new to Julián and he abuela will be intrigued. More, please!

Fact Friday: Seeing Gender by Iris Gottlieb

Image: Chronicle Books

Seeing Gender: an illustrated guide to identity and expression by Iris Gottlieb. 208 p. Chronicle Books, October, 2019. 9781452176611. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library. But definitely buying.)

Even though I consider myself an ally, I must admit that I consistently mess up gender pronouns. This cogent, informative, necessary text helps. A lot. 

Fact Friday features Seeing Gender: an illustrated guide to identity and expression by Iris Gottlieb. It is so easy to make assumptions about gender and to get it all wrong. This colorfully illustrated guide explains simply historical context as well as the science and sociology behind gender and gender identity.

The volume is slightly oversized. There's plenty of white space. A straightforward and simple narrative increases understanding and the exuberantly colorful illustrations are pleasing and fun.

Questioning youth will find a safe and sympathetic space to explore identity and would-be allies will learn to understand, respect and support diverse expressions of gender. Seeing Gender is an important read and belongs in all school and public libraries.

Graphic Novel Review: Gender Queer: a memoir by Maia Kobabe

Image: Lion Forge

Gender Queer: a memoir by Maia Kobabe. 240 p. Lion Forge, May, 2019. 9781549304002. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Maia never felt comfortable in her skin. Though born to an accepting and rather unconventional family, she could never verbalize her feelings of disconnection. Assigned female at birth, she never liked to dress in a gender conforming way. She liked the freedom of boy clothes, yet didn't necessarily want to be a boy. She had crushes on boys as well as girls but the thought of being intimate grossed her out. Was she asexual then? This raw, honest, humorous and occasionally explicit memoir stuns in the best possible way. For questioning teens, there is comfort in knowing they are not alone in their confusion. For allies, there is much to be learned in order to be a better ally. 

The panels are easy to follow and the art, muted and earthy, fits the narrative, which is spare and down-to-earth. This is an important addition to high school and public libraries. I am on the fence about adding it to my middle school collection. It is a tad explicit for the age group; but would be an excellent book for questioning or gender queer kids who need a safe place to explore and find themselves. I am leaning toward adding it.