Stonewall Book Award—Children's

Lunar Boy by Jes Wibowo & Cin Wibowo (text) & ­illus. by Jes Wibowo & Cin Wibowo. HarperAlley. May 2024. 240p. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780063057609.

Gr 6 Up–Indu is discovered on the moon by his adoptive mother Dariya, who picks him up during a space mission. Indu spends much of his childhood onboard the spaceship Eyesun, which houses an entire community. Indu comes out as trans to his mother at a young age and is easily accepted. However, he has to endure many changes when it is time for them to depart for New Earth—a futuristic, neo-Indonesian planet. Upon arrival on New Earth, Indu is immediately faced with several social challenges. He struggles with a language barrier, transphobia at school, and conflict with his older brother Alon. He is relieved when he starts to receive messages from the moon, which offer to take him back on the night of the New Year, but over time, Indu finds solace in a new pen pal and in the connections he makes at a queer community center. With a renewed sense of belonging, Indu regrets his decision to return to the moon and must decide to stay or go. References to Indonesian queer history emphasize that queer people have existed throughout time and in all cultures. Shifting color palettes set the tone, with warmer colors on New Earth and cooler ones in space. The authors seamlessly weave the lore of New Earth into the story, making it easy to understand without over-explaining. Themes of acceptance and the importance of community make this a great pick for readers who are coming-of-age or struggling with identity. While marketed toward middle grades, this book would be appealing for high school students as well. VERDICT This heartwarming story about found family and finding yourself is an immersive and refreshing shift from traditional science fiction.-Reviewed by Jillian Girardeau

Stonewall Book Honors—Children's

The Flicker by H.E Edgmon. Feiwel & Friends. Sept. 2024. 288p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781250873972.
Gr 5 Up–Edgmon’s (The Witch King) middle grade debut is a dystopian, anti-capitalist, Indigenous, gender nonconforming love letter to tweens. With the utmost respect for readers, Edgmon tells the story of Earth post-flicker, a solar flare that destroyed pretty much everything, through alternating-perspective chapters by recently orphaned stepsiblings Millie and Rose. Along for their quest is Corncob, their dog, and Sammy, their nine-month-old brother. They go to find Millie’s grandmother, a Seminole elder, and The Sanctuary, a rumored place of protection. Opposing The Sanctuary is The Hive, a massive “e-commerce and information technology” hub hoarding resources and using overt violence to maintain a position of power. With the help of the Lost Boys and their reclaimed bus, Millie and Rose must find their purpose and survive in this postapocalyptic world. The writing is engaging, the plot is lively, and the social dynamics are believable, even when presenting lessons. Edgmon doesn’t pull any punches with this book. There’s talk of murder—even cannibalism—and not everyone survives. A few strategic “screw yous” and “hell yeahs” provide some weight and authenticity. Through a story with some genuinely frightening moments, Edgmon helps readers explore identity. After all, who are we after all the systems we’ve used to define ourselves crumble? Fans of Patricia Forde’s The List will devour this one. VERDICT A first purchase for all collections serving middle schoolers and tweens.-Reviewed by Taylor Worley

What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice by Jay Leslie (text) & illus. by Loveis Wise. Zando. Oct. 2024. 48p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781638930693.
Gr 3-5–This book follows the development of Lorraine Hansberry’s writing career. It begins with her childhood goal of writing about the stories happening in her neighborhood, followed by her difficulty in finding the right focus for her writing as she grew older, and ending with successfully writing a play about her family’s experience moving from their Black neighborhood in Chicago to a white neighborhood nearby where they were not accepted by their neighbors. Hansberry’s play based on her family’s move showed how her parents were determined to keep their new house, despite facing hostile mobs and name-calling. Hansberry’s father took his case to the Supreme Court, where he won. He demonstrated that he had the right to live anywhere he wanted to. The play, A Raisin in the Sun, made it to Broadway, where it portrayed the true experience of her family. In the process of writing, Hansberry also revealed the truth about many other Black people’s experiences. Leslie mentions that Hansberry realized that she was attracted to women, and how that was part of finding her voice and identity. It also shows how members of the Black community supported and celebrated Hansberry’s work. VERDICT This well-written and well-illustrated book introduces young readers to an important writer, and is an excellent choice for discussing the significance of writers finding their own voices.-Reviewed by Myra Zarnowski 

Marley’s Pride by Joëlle Retener (text) & illus. by DeAnn Wiley. Barefoot Bks. Apr. 2024. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9798888590744.
PreS-Gr 3–Marley is worried. Their grandparent Zaza is excited about the upcoming Pride Parade but Marley, a Black child with sensory sensitivity, is worried about the noise and crowds and fears getting lost. Zaza is getting an award for their work for the LGBTQIA+ community, and Marley wants to be there. Ultimately, Marley gathers their strength, joins a very supportive Zaza, and finds caring and protective friends. Seeing the joy and delight as well as pride in celebrating who they are, along with the acceptance from their new friends, enable Marley to overcome fear and anxiety. Brightly colored illustrations depict a community of many skin colors and abilities. The thorough afterword offers definitions, appropriate pronoun use, depictions of pride flags, and history, too. Educators may want to supplement this with some further reading. This work will be a valuable teaching tool to support children with questions concerning themselves or their friends. VERDICT A sensitive work, based in bittersweet lessons, this is also a practical guide to overcoming anxiety with the help of others.-Reviewed by Eva Elisabeth VonAncken

Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. May 2024. 400p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780063326811.
Gr 5 Up–When a hurricane forces Murray and her strict family to leave the Jersey Shore, she finally gets a chance to explore her authentic, gender nonconforming self as she is surrounded by the supportive relatives they have sought refuge with. A new environment allows her to make new friends who introduce her to rollerskating, and offers the opportunity to express herself through drag. Though welcoming, Murray longs for the ocean, which she believes gives her a sense of power. Hints of magic dot this otherwise realistic story of identity, belonging, and found family. This novel in verse is mainly free verse, with a few concrete poems sprinkled in. Tracy has crafted fully fleshed-out secondary characters that help Murray’s world come to life for readers—from Murray’s villainous mother who cast out her oldest child for being gay, to her nonbinary cousin, Blake, in whom she has found a confidant and defender, and her new best friend, Dylan, who has magical qualities of his own. An author’s note includes information about her being inspired by Hurricane Sandy and “the restorative joy of relationships.” VERDICT Beautiful in its simplicity yet swirling with emotion, this book deserves a place in all libraries serving upper elementary and middle school readers. Hand to fans of Starfish by Lisa Fipps and Wave by Diana Farid.-Reviewed by Monisha Blair 

Stonewall Book Award—YA

Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa. Wednesday Bks. Apr. 2024. 352p. ISBN 9781250875754.

Stonewall Book Honors—YA 

Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield. Bloomsbury YA. Jul. 2024. 336p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781547613908.
Gr 9 Up–Phoebe Mendel has long been stuck in a time loop where she’s forced to live out the same mind-numbing day over and over again. When Phoebe gets side-swiped by a car driven by her estranged friend Jess (they/them), the monotony is finally broken. Suddenly, Jess and Phoebe find themselves trapped in time together. While Phoebe feels imprisoned within her predicament, Jess sees the loop as a possibility for adventure. As they try to fill their days with exciting and meaningful experiences, long-buried romantic feelings surface. Phoebe and Jess discover that, while the day remains the same, their relationship evolves with every second. Phoebe’s chronic pain due to IBS is often trivialized due to external fatphobia, while Jess has oligoarthritis and uses mobility devices. Both characters are Jewish; Greenfield’s debut is a disability narrative that also explores the experiences of non-Christian queer teens living in predominantly Christian neighborhoods. Phoebe and Jess’s strong connection lies beyond mere attraction, as they also rely upon each other for a sense of community and belonging that they can’t find elsewhere. VERDICT Readers will be invested in Phoebe’s transformation into a more empowered and confident teen, and Phoebe and Jess make a compelling and fun-to-watch pair. A recommended purchase for libraries where teen romances circulate well.-Reviewed by Ingrid Conley-Abrams

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa. Feiwel & Friends. (Remixed Classics: Bk. 9). Jan. 2024. 304p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781250869807.
Gr 8 Up–As the second eldest, the clock is ticking for Oliver Bennet to find a husband. He refuses. Forced into gowns, Oliver is wrongfully assumed to be another Bennet daughter. While dressed in trousers that validate his identity, Oliver visits a gentleman’s club for the first time. An initially tense connection between Oliver and Fitzwilliam Darcy slowly blossoms into something more. With Darcy, will Oliver finally get to kiss a boy as a boy? Novoa’s interpretation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a testament to the power of queer spaces and community. Oliver and Darcy’s push-and-pull relationship is magnetic as they navigate societal challenges in 1800s London. Though Oliver is constantly deadnamed, the narrative itself is respectful. A historical note offers important context about some creative liberties. VERDICT Brimming with wit and chemistry, this queer revision of a much-beloved source text is nothing short of masterful. A must-purchase.-Reviewed by Alec Chunn 

Road Home by Rex Ogle. ­Norton. May 2024. 272p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781324019923.
Gr 10 Up–Readers have been on a personal journey with Ogle since the publication of Free Lunch in 2019. In what’s billed as the final book of his literary memoir look back, this may be the rawest due to Ogle’s experiences after being kicked out of his dad’s house and being unhoused when a toxic relationship with an older man implodes. Ogle’s dad gives him an ultimatum: leave or stay, but if he stays, he must be and act straight not gay. Ogle chooses to leave, heading to New Orleans and a man he met on a beach. But this unhealthy relationship doesn’t last, and Ogle is on the street struggling to eat, find shelter, and figure out a path forward without calling his grandmother. Ogle has never shied away from the truth, while remaining positive in each memoir he’s written. This work is no different; however, the situations Ogle finds himself in are far more dire, including a relationship with a much older man, drinking, and situational danger because he is unsheltered and hungry. These vulnerabilities push the comfort level of readers, yet those that have read his previous books have likely grown from hearing him speak his truth. Ogle includes an author’s note at the beginning as well as an afterword with more of his indispensable optimism and resources. Memoirs like this one keep good company with others like Laurie Halse Anderson’s Shout, Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, and George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue. VERDICT An emotionally resonant denouement; Ogle gives readers his hardest and most hopeful book yet.-Reviewed by Alicia Abdul

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley (text) & illus. by Cassio Ribeiro. Mad Cave Studios/Maverick. Aug. 2024. 220p. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9781952303609.
Gr 6 Up–Day one at a new school brings an unexpected surprise for Neesha: a friend with a shared interest in the manga series, "Super Navigator Nozomi." Neither Gabby nor Neesha have finished it though, and so they establish a book club to locate and discuss the full set. When reading each volume, the style switches from an earth-toned western aesthetic to that of a 1980s manga, complete with screentones and starry-eyed shoujo protagonists. While this story-within-a-story pivots to sci-fi, it is replete with parallels to the girls’ own story. Through their authentic discussions about manga and their pasts, their budding feelings grow for each other as they confront their insecurities. Gabby may be a big-hearted, bi Latinx, but her trauma and toxic boyfriend weigh heavily on her heart. Neesha, on the other hand, often faces prejudice from people who only see her cerebral palsy and not the strong-willed, gay, geeky girl she is. Between these two, Whitley has cultivated wonderfully complex characters who actively support and heal one another. Because of this, just like the early shoujo manga this comic pays homage to, it too may help young readers navigate their own losses, loves, and lives. VERDICT This healing slice-of-life graphic novel lights a bright path for LGBTQIA+ romance plots by including characters with intersectional experiences. A must-have for all collections.-Reviewed by Rachel Forbes