That Year

by J.E. Sumerau

What does the world look like through non-binary eyes? What does it feel like to start over in a city after being raised in a small southern town? What does it feel like the first time someone finds affirmation and embrace in a community? In That Year, we follow Collings as, with the help of a supportive grandmother and grams’ special friend, they navigate each of these questions in Tampa, Florida. Told from Collings perspective, we walk with them as they navigate emerging adulthood, cisgender norms and assumptions, and their first experiences living openly as a non-binary, pansexual young adult.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2017

About the author

JE Sumerau is a novelist, scholar, and teacher writing about culture, relationships, & the southeastern U.S. in a wide variety of ways -> Follow on Instagram & Reels @jesumerau and Facebook @jesumerau & Twitter @jsumerau for updates.

Reviews

[Lain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book because, as a non binary person, it is exceedingly rare to see people like me represented in books. This story follows the narrator as they learn to navigate life on their own, living for the first time openly as their true self. Throughout the story you follow them as they experience new life experiences, make new friends, and confront the sometimes harsh reality of what it means to be an LGBTQ person in contemporary American society. A read that will surely make you laugh, break your heart, and then gingerly piece it back together again, I can't recommend "That Year" enough!

[Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Year is a revitalized look at society through a new set of eyes that fills a void and highlights the story of a non-binary individual, an identity that is left out of mainstream media. You don't need to be non-binary to understand and feel the emotions of the main character vicariously throughout the story— all the ups and all the downs. The book delves into a story about the feeling of not belonging, finding a place with a group of people, the heart-wrenching journey through trauma, and the progressive growth we make throughout a single year that resonates with me. Absolutely amazing story—definitely recommending this to all.

[Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a fun, feel-good book involving LGBTQIA identities and experiences! This was a fantastic summer read!