Going, Going, Gone: Susie's Story

Clarksonville #3

by Barbara L. Clanton

Susie Torres planned on spending most of the summer before her senior year of high school with her girlfriend, Marlee McAllister, but that's proving to be quite challenging because Marlee works at D'Amico's restaurant, and Susie babysits for Mrs. Johnson, her mother's boss. Susie hates the job, because she not only works like a slave, but gets paid like one. Susie is desperate to take her physical relationship with Marlee further, but she knows she has to go at Marlee's slower pace. Complicating things is the attention that a pretty blonde softball player from another team shows Marlee, and Susie falls into a funk when Marlee seems to enjoy it. On top of that, nothing she does seems to be good enough for her summer softball coach. Frustrated with life, Susie accidentally on purpose comes out to her mother. It would be an understatement to say that her mother didn't take it well. Can Susie deal with a girlfriend whose head has possibly been turned by another, an employer who treats her like dirt, a coach who doesn't respect her, and a mother who tells her she is unnatural? Can she get her life back on track before senior year starts?

Genres: Lesbian, Young Adult, Queer, Sports, LGBT

184 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 2011

About the author

Barbara L. Clanton writes young adult lesbian fiction because she wants girls and young women to experience positive lesbian coming out stories. Clanton hopes her books will be safe harbors for young people coming out to themselves, their friends, family, and society.

From the author's website: Barbara L. Clanton is
- a writer of Young Adult Fiction
- a writer of Children's Fiction
- a New York Mets fan
- a New York Jets fan
- a Florida resident
- a native-born New Yawker
- a softball pitcher
- ASANA Hall of Fame inductee
- a bass player in her band
- the proud "mama" to several cats
- proudly in a long-term relationship
- a Buffy fan
- a Xena & Gabrielle fan
- a mathematics teacher
- wishing she were a snow-bird
- wishing she were at a Mets game
- happy that you read her bio! ;)

Reviews

[Alena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Combined review for Tools of Ignorance, Out of Left Field and Going, Going, Gone.

All these books take place in a group of friends/softball rivals. YA romances dealing with first love, coming out, etc.

The blurbs suggest way more drama/conflict than actually takes place, which isn't a bad thing, just that blurb and content don't match.

Nice, mindless reads (I read them all back to back and have to admit they all blurr in my mind). Strong, queer, characters with different sets of problems so that the whole gamut is covered. Unfortunately it reads and feels like the characters never left the drawing board stage and don't really come to life. The writing isn't very good, this may also be a reason that characters don't feel more real. They have clear roles and purposes to fulfill. I realize I'm not the target audience, but I think teenagers as well would appreciate better writing.

I'm repeating myself, but now that I know what YA writing can be like (Malinda Lo), I can't help but compare things with her world, and other things keep falling short.

But I still couldn't put them down. Go figure.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara L. Clanton brings the reader another wonderfully crafted story that all ages would enjoy in Going, Going, Gone: Susie's Story. Continuing the Clarksonville Series in the third book, the readers are re-introduced to Susie Torres, the girl who won over Marlee's heart in Out of Left Field. The Spring softball season has passed and summer is upon this young couple with new challenges. What I appreciate about this story is the realism that Clanton uses to bring these characters to life. First young and young love at that is so pure and innocent but creates its own hurdles- especially when it isn't what parents expect or want for their child. In this story, the reader is confronted with the issues of society's acceptance for anything different and Susie falls into many of those categories. From being Puerto Rican to be a lesbian, she and her family face many learning curves as she struggles to be who she is and be with who she wants. I highly recommend this to all ages of readers!