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Queer Greer
Greer MacManus is uprooted from her childhood home in South Carolina when her father is determined to fulfill his strange but pressing dream to become a border-crossing coyote.
Her parents take her and her younger sister to Prescott, Arizona to start a new life closer to the border. Greer enters a new school with the hopes of reinventing herself from the wallflower with one friend to speak of, to a social butterfly. She soon finds herself among the company of athletes, a swimmer herself. While Greer tries to get comfortable in her clique under the admiring eye of Cameron Keeting, the most attractive jock in school, she becomes increasingly interested in someone else. Rebecca Wilder, the beautiful swim team captain and infamous lesbian in town, befriends Greer, taking her under her wing. A love triangle soon overtakes Greer’s world, leading
to drug experimentation and mental confusion as she comes to grips with her sexuality as her world starts to fall apart. Without anyone to turn to, Greer must find an inner strength and the courage to be herself in a society that doesn’t always understand.
Her parents take her and her younger sister to Prescott, Arizona to start a new life closer to the border. Greer enters a new school with the hopes of reinventing herself from the wallflower with one friend to speak of, to a social butterfly. She soon finds herself among the company of athletes, a swimmer herself. While Greer tries to get comfortable in her clique under the admiring eye of Cameron Keeting, the most attractive jock in school, she becomes increasingly interested in someone else. Rebecca Wilder, the beautiful swim team captain and infamous lesbian in town, befriends Greer, taking her under her wing. A love triangle soon overtakes Greer’s world, leading
to drug experimentation and mental confusion as she comes to grips with her sexuality as her world starts to fall apart. Without anyone to turn to, Greer must find an inner strength and the courage to be herself in a society that doesn’t always understand.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Walkley
4 books27 followersBorn and raised in Connecticut, 31-year-old A.J. Walkley has been writing for nearly 20 years of her life. A novelist and activist, Walkley spent time as a health volunteer in Malawi, Africa, with the U.S. Peace Corps after earning her BA in Literature in 2007.
Walkley has three novels to her name: Vuto (2013), Queer Greer (2012) and Choice (2009).
Walkley has three novels to her name: Vuto (2013), Queer Greer (2012) and Choice (2009).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 6, 2013
A coming-of-age story that can be relatable to anybody who has ever fallen in love. Even though it takes place in high school, it really hits home even in my 20s and for anybody trying to figure out "who they are and who they love" or really how they just fit in, in society. You really get connected with Greer and feel what she's feeling as well as being able to connect with the other characters' emotions based on the situations they are put in. I just didn't want to put it down.
December 16, 2012
This book is a lesson to me in reading ALL of the blurb before starting to read books.
The straight sexual encounters were described more than the lesbian ones, which given the title and Greer's much stronger responses to Becca than Cameron seemed a strange choice.
I hated Greer, which didn't help. The book was depressing, the self mutilation was horrible, the poetry was bad and the ending disappointing and bleak.
The straight sexual encounters were described more than the lesbian ones, which given the title and Greer's much stronger responses to Becca than Cameron seemed a strange choice.
I hated Greer, which didn't help. The book was depressing, the self mutilation was horrible, the poetry was bad and the ending disappointing and bleak.
September 10, 2012
This book had great, realistic characters. I felt the plot and interactions were very true to life. The ending was a little abrupt - I want to know more about what happens next. Maybe another book???
November 10, 2013
This Goodreads First Reads prize is the universal story of figuring out who you are, who you love, heartbreak, brokenness and returning to yourself once more. Greer's story will differ in the particilars and yet so much will relate no matter who you are.
July 19, 2013
A story of being a teen and trying to figure out who you are and where you belong. A.J Walkley wrote an informative and eye-opening book with the heartbreak of young love.
August 15, 2013
Sounds very promising!
Want to read
August 30, 2014Sounds pretty promising to me, and I'm sure many people out there who are having a situation like that can relate to Greer. Excited to find out what happens in the end!
April 5, 2012
Wow. Just...wow. Queer Greer is exactly, and nothing, like what I was expecting. I was expecting for a different sort of coming-of-age story, one involving a teen struggling with her sexuality. What I got was the gritty and absolutely HUMAN story of Greer MacManus. Yes, struggling with her sexuality was a main theme, but her story is about so much more then that!
Walkley has managed to perfectly capture the everyday drama, stagnancy and constant self-doubt that is being a teenager. On top of that, she manages to give profound insight into just how difficult it can be to admit not only to your friends and family, but to yourself, that you are gay - during the especially difficult period that is high school. Not only does Walkley perfectly capture the everyday normalcies of high school, homework and just hanging out with friends, she expertly weaves the ups and downs that comes with an internal struggle into a completely believable story about self-realization.
The characters are EXACTLY how I remember high school. Self-conscious about a hobby that friends might not find "cool", bored with the weekend routine of sitting around watching movies and getting high/drunk, doubting your relationship and wondering if your feelings are for the person or for the comfort of being with any person and doubting every decision you make, always fearing that your secret will be found out. This made the characters genuine and real and completely relatable.
Greer is an interesting protagonist. She's in the middle of a love triangle for the vast majority of the book, and a part of me was constantly cursing her for being so weak. For not just letting herself be with the person she truly wanted to be with - Rebecca - without worrying about the consequences. But her genuineness as a teenager made me realize that as a sixteen-seventeen year old, I wouldn't have been that brave. I wouldn't have been able to look the other way if my classmates were constantly whispering behind my back, or, even worse, displaying outright signs of hatred because of my sexual orientation. But I love that Walkley didn't ask for the reader to feel sorry for, or pity Greer, because of the extra struggles she had due to her inner conflict. She made Greer human, in that she made mistakes (lots of mistakes!), she wasn't always strong or honest and she ended up hurting those she loved the most because of her weaknesses.
I do wish that Greer had been able to settle her relationship with Cameron, that she had at least been strong enough to end things with him when she knew that she didn't reciprocate his feelings, and that she had been given the choice to come out to him. I feel like her having that choice taken away was a disappointing end to their relationship because I was looking forward to that conversation. I also feel like the issues surrounding her cutting weren't resolved, and with it playing such a small role in the story, I have to wonder why it was included at all; I never truly saw Greer learn or grow from her experience with cutting. That being said, it was only because of her short-comings, because of her complete and utter humanness, that Greer was able to discover who she wanted to be and what that meant. She was able to find the strength she needed to overcome her fear of being ostracized and of being alone (for a while), if that meant staying true to herself.
I can't recommend Queer Greer enough! If nothing else, it has re-opened my eyes to the struggles someone is faced with when their sexual orientation isn't the assumed norm.
Walkley has managed to perfectly capture the everyday drama, stagnancy and constant self-doubt that is being a teenager. On top of that, she manages to give profound insight into just how difficult it can be to admit not only to your friends and family, but to yourself, that you are gay - during the especially difficult period that is high school. Not only does Walkley perfectly capture the everyday normalcies of high school, homework and just hanging out with friends, she expertly weaves the ups and downs that comes with an internal struggle into a completely believable story about self-realization.
The characters are EXACTLY how I remember high school. Self-conscious about a hobby that friends might not find "cool", bored with the weekend routine of sitting around watching movies and getting high/drunk, doubting your relationship and wondering if your feelings are for the person or for the comfort of being with any person and doubting every decision you make, always fearing that your secret will be found out. This made the characters genuine and real and completely relatable.
Greer is an interesting protagonist. She's in the middle of a love triangle for the vast majority of the book, and a part of me was constantly cursing her for being so weak. For not just letting herself be with the person she truly wanted to be with - Rebecca - without worrying about the consequences. But her genuineness as a teenager made me realize that as a sixteen-seventeen year old, I wouldn't have been that brave. I wouldn't have been able to look the other way if my classmates were constantly whispering behind my back, or, even worse, displaying outright signs of hatred because of my sexual orientation. But I love that Walkley didn't ask for the reader to feel sorry for, or pity Greer, because of the extra struggles she had due to her inner conflict. She made Greer human, in that she made mistakes (lots of mistakes!), she wasn't always strong or honest and she ended up hurting those she loved the most because of her weaknesses.
I do wish that Greer had been able to settle her relationship with Cameron, that she had at least been strong enough to end things with him when she knew that she didn't reciprocate his feelings, and that she had been given the choice to come out to him. I feel like her having that choice taken away was a disappointing end to their relationship because I was looking forward to that conversation. I also feel like the issues surrounding her cutting weren't resolved, and with it playing such a small role in the story, I have to wonder why it was included at all; I never truly saw Greer learn or grow from her experience with cutting. That being said, it was only because of her short-comings, because of her complete and utter humanness, that Greer was able to discover who she wanted to be and what that meant. She was able to find the strength she needed to overcome her fear of being ostracized and of being alone (for a while), if that meant staying true to herself.
I can't recommend Queer Greer enough! If nothing else, it has re-opened my eyes to the struggles someone is faced with when their sexual orientation isn't the assumed norm.
April 21, 2012
Have you ever read a book that just had you saying WOW at the end?
WOW in a good way, that is.
WOW in the way that your brain was just put through the ringer because you had to think constantly throughout the whole book, constantly had to wonder how you would feel in the protagonist's shoes. Constantly had to put yourself in the shoes of the supporting characters and see if you would react the same as they did, or if your reaction would be different.
Queer Greer is that book for me.
At first I wasn't sure if I liked Greer, but as I learned more about her, walked in her shoes so to speak, I began to love her. I believe that her journey into discovering her sexuality is something that everyone goes through. A person's sexuality is not black or white - it may be blue or pink or purple. Gay or straight or bisexual.
Greer, as so many people can attest to, tried to be straight when she met Cameron, but there was Becca. Gorgeous, confident, out and proud Becca. I've known - and dated - way too many Camerons in my lifetime. Guys who are all about breaking the rules, doing manly things, but never doing what they long to do deep down. Play the guitar. Sing in front of a crowd. I don't think in my high school days that I knew many Beccas.
Queer Greer takes you on her journey from apparent "straight girl" to "secretly gay" to "the closet's been open". You may not agree with Greer's tactics, you may not agree with how she copes, but you will feel her pain and frustration as she follows her path.
I would recommend this book to EVERYONE. Especially young teens who question their own sexuality or who aren't sure that anyone else feels the way they do. Someone does, and they will help you through it. You just have to find that person.
I'm required to acknowledge that I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review, good or bad. I received no other compensation and wasn't required to give it a positive review.
WOW in a good way, that is.
WOW in the way that your brain was just put through the ringer because you had to think constantly throughout the whole book, constantly had to wonder how you would feel in the protagonist's shoes. Constantly had to put yourself in the shoes of the supporting characters and see if you would react the same as they did, or if your reaction would be different.
Queer Greer is that book for me.
At first I wasn't sure if I liked Greer, but as I learned more about her, walked in her shoes so to speak, I began to love her. I believe that her journey into discovering her sexuality is something that everyone goes through. A person's sexuality is not black or white - it may be blue or pink or purple. Gay or straight or bisexual.
Greer, as so many people can attest to, tried to be straight when she met Cameron, but there was Becca. Gorgeous, confident, out and proud Becca. I've known - and dated - way too many Camerons in my lifetime. Guys who are all about breaking the rules, doing manly things, but never doing what they long to do deep down. Play the guitar. Sing in front of a crowd. I don't think in my high school days that I knew many Beccas.
Queer Greer takes you on her journey from apparent "straight girl" to "secretly gay" to "the closet's been open". You may not agree with Greer's tactics, you may not agree with how she copes, but you will feel her pain and frustration as she follows her path.
I would recommend this book to EVERYONE. Especially young teens who question their own sexuality or who aren't sure that anyone else feels the way they do. Someone does, and they will help you through it. You just have to find that person.
I'm required to acknowledge that I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review, good or bad. I received no other compensation and wasn't required to give it a positive review.
June 24, 2012
Greer MacManus is a girl in transition. She is about to begin her junior year of high school in a new town. She's separated from her best friend, Nick, for the first time. Her mother is too caught up in her own world to notice when something is wrong with Greer. Her father is caring and attentive, but only when he is in town. And on top of it all, she is in love. But who she is in love with causes Greer to question her sexuality.
Queer Greer by A.J. Walkley is a coming of age story that can appeal to everyone. Greer is like a lot of teenagers. One moment she knows what she wants and the next she doesn't. She wants to fit in, but is unsure how. She wishes she had someone to talk to, but is afraid to say too much. ...
Read the rest of my review at: http://www.asiturnthepages.blogspot.c...
Queer Greer by A.J. Walkley is a coming of age story that can appeal to everyone. Greer is like a lot of teenagers. One moment she knows what she wants and the next she doesn't. She wants to fit in, but is unsure how. She wishes she had someone to talk to, but is afraid to say too much. ...
Read the rest of my review at: http://www.asiturnthepages.blogspot.c...
June 13, 2013
I was happy to see a story about bisexuality, which is a topic that doesn't see too much attention in main-stream literature. The story was more plot-driven than character-driven, so while I was always wondering what happened next, I found myself not at all attached to the characters (a significant negative in a coming-of-age story). The dialogue did not seem natural and the motivation of characters was not always clear, though there were definitely moments of sweetness and of connection. It wasn't bad for a debut work, but I think that it was written for a target audience much younger than myself. I think that this could be a good book for the right reader.
May 11, 2012
Every single character in this book was freaking annoying. So, it wasn't for me. I'll elaborate later.
August 18, 2022
Excellent book!!!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews