A Queer Classic and Two New Books

This book is notable because it’s one of the first YA novels in which two girls fall in love, and it doesn’t end in tragedy or heartbreak (although I feel duty-bound to warn you there is a lot of heartbreak and maybe even a bit of tragedy, depending on your definition). Originally published in 1982, it’s set in New York City and it’s about Liza, a teenage girl who meets Annie while at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They become fast friends, and then realize that there’s something more to their friendship, and they fall in love. They know that this secret could be dangerous, but they’re lucky and grateful when they realize that they’re not the only lesbians they know. However, when their secret gets out, they have to decide if their love is worth the risk.

Not only was the subject of this book groundbreaking, but the publication in and of itself became attention-worthy as it was at the center of a literal book banning case and was often challenged. However, it has never gone out of print and has received many awards and commendations throughout its nearly 40 years in print.

Although Annie on My Mind isn’t historical fiction (it was contemporary when it came out), I think what will make Last Night at the Telegraph Club appeal to Annie on My Mind fans living today is that it’s historical and it features two girls living in a big city (this time San Francisco) who become friends and then something more over the course of the book. Like Liza and Annie, Lily and Kath don’t necessarily have the words to explain what they’re feeling, but they’re able to pick up on subtle hints about lesbian and queer culture in the city around them, and they find their way into a wider queer community even as they discover their feelings for each other. In this book, Lily and Kath are prevented from being together by society, but also by larger political concerns, as Lily is Chinese-American and her community is being watched for any signs of Communism and so-called “deviant” behaviours. This book has heartbreak, but like Annie on My Mind, it is ultimately a book with a happy ending.

For a wholly contemporary book that captures the excitement of meeting someone who might be more than just a friend, I highly recommend this novel about Joanna, who is an out and proud teen until her dad gets a new job working in a small town and remarries. He asks Joanna to tone down the gay for the sake of sitting in, and even though she’s conflicted, Joanna agrees. But just then she meets Mary Carlson at school and quickly becomes infatuated. She’s supposed to pretend to be straight, though, and besides, Joanna is positive that straight laced Mary Carlson couldn’t possibly be queer…right? I thought this was a fresh and fun lesbian romance and coming of age story, with believable conflict and tension and lots of great discussions about being queer and being a person of faith.