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Alice Austen Lived Here
From the award-winning author of George, a phenomenal novel about queerness past, present, and future.
Sam is very in touch with their own queer identity. They're nonbinary, and their best friend, TJ, is nonbinary as well. Sam's family is very cool with it... as long as Sam remembers that nonbinary kids are also required to clean their rooms, do their homework, and try not to antagonize their teachers too much.
The teacher-respect thing is hard when it comes to Sam’s history class, because their teacher seems to believe that only Dead Straight Cis White Men are responsible for history. When Sam’s home borough of Staten Island opens up a contest for a new statue, Sam finds the perfect non-DSCWM subject: photographer Alice Austen, whose house has been turned into a museum, and who lived with a female partner for decades.
Soon, Sam's project isn't just about winning the contest. It's about discovering a rich queer history that Sam's a part of -- a queer history that no longer needs to be quiet, as long as there are kids like Sam and TJ to stand up for it.
Sam is very in touch with their own queer identity. They're nonbinary, and their best friend, TJ, is nonbinary as well. Sam's family is very cool with it... as long as Sam remembers that nonbinary kids are also required to clean their rooms, do their homework, and try not to antagonize their teachers too much.
The teacher-respect thing is hard when it comes to Sam’s history class, because their teacher seems to believe that only Dead Straight Cis White Men are responsible for history. When Sam’s home borough of Staten Island opens up a contest for a new statue, Sam finds the perfect non-DSCWM subject: photographer Alice Austen, whose house has been turned into a museum, and who lived with a female partner for decades.
Soon, Sam's project isn't just about winning the contest. It's about discovering a rich queer history that Sam's a part of -- a queer history that no longer needs to be quiet, as long as there are kids like Sam and TJ to stand up for it.
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First published June 7, 2022
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About the author
Alex Gino
13 books957 followersAlex Gino loves glitter, ice cream, gardening, awe-ful puns, and stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of being alive.
Gino is genderqueer and uses singular they pronouns and the honorific Mx.
Gino is genderqueer and uses singular they pronouns and the honorific Mx.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
September 9, 2022
I went into this expecting not to love it—I had read Alex Gino’s Sam-centric story in Every Body Shines (“but Eva”, I hear you cry, “you didn’t read Every Body Shines!” You’re right! I found that story eye-rollingly twee and the one before it confusing and so I dnf’d the collection.) and had just about the opposite reaction that I had to learning that Abigail and Kai from This Is My Rainbow would be getting their own book. I enjoyed Melissa and Rick and The Purr-cle of Life (even if that one was hard to read for very different reasons) so I hoped it was just a fluke and I’d enjoy this, but I wasn’t holding my breath.
I was wrong. Outside of one big nitpick, I really enjoyed Alice Austen Lived Here and will definitely be looking into her and her life! Also, thank you Alex Gino for including the referenced photos in the back!
My big nitpick, however, is that a lot of times the book sort of just. assumed the reader would know a thing and go from there. For example, the acronym DSCWM (or Dead Straight Cis White Man) is used frequently in reference to the other students’ essay topics but we never get a definition of cis in the book. Which, you know, as a queer adult, I didn’t need. But an elementary or middle schooler almost certainly would, especially one whose introduction to nonbinary identities is this book (and since it’s a middle grade book with not one but THREE nonbinary characters, it makes for a good introduction!! With the exception of Different Kinds of Fruit, another queer middle grade published this year, that’s the most nonbinary characters I can think of in a book period, let alone MG). Likewise, Gino will just drop in a lot of…saying “buzzwords” feels judgmental but that’s the only word that comes to mind (I am writing this at 3 am). They’ll drop in progressive words or talking points but then not really elaborate on what they mean—which again! As a heavier person, I know what fat activism means, but will a middle or elementary schooler have any idea of what that means? Similarly, can authors stop using “witty” one-liners to lampshade things they include in their books instead of having a longer conversation on it? The scene about the Stanton Island statue proposal where they have two of the Black kids comment on how two white kids did their presentation on a white guy who led a regiment of Black soldiers during the Civil War and how the kids only proposed for the statue to be of him and none of the soldiers and it’s just a one-liner. Authors, I am begging you to either dive into issues that you mention or at least discuss them further than single lampshading lines. You don’t have to try and tackle every single social issue in your under 200 page book and writing it in just to lampshade it feels lazy. There’s such a good conversation to be had there that would tie into the larger themes of WHO history allows to be seen as the heroes and worthy of honor—not all of the Black soldiers who made up the regiment and fought and died, but its white leader who was in considerably less danger—that to include him as a statue candidate, make that brief critique about his inclusion, and then waltz on past it feels…off.
Critiques aside, I overall enjoyed this book a lot—possibly my favorite of Alex Gino’s books so far, mainly because I am a history nerd and was especially one at Sam and TJ’s age. The discussions on history and how the marginalized (be that women, people of color, LGBTQ people, or anyone else who’s not a cishet able-bodied white man) are erased and then have that erasure weaponized against them—see, for example, how transgender people are treated like a new fad by many conservatives as opposed to people who have always existed but now have marginally more social support and few more comfortable coming out. Some of the names provided by Val, Jess, the other contestants, or TJ and Sam themselves can provide a good jumping-off point for kids who want to do their own research onto the hidden histories of marginalized groups (although I do admittedly wish the Audre Lorde group had won instead, especially since all of the submissions were overwhelmingly white. As powerful as a statue of a queer woman would be, a statue of a queer Black woman would be even more so, especially since Sam didn’t even know about Audre Lorde and her connection to Stanton Island until the ceremony.) It has a good message about how family is what you choose and can come in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s you and your mom, you and your parents and a handful of siblings, or you and your friends, as well as that queerness is not something new and that there are queer people of all ages. I also really liked the discussion about friendship and age gaps—at one point Jess tells Sam that Sam isn’t her best friend and Sam is devastated, but several characters explain to them that that’s normal and they can still be friends with Jess and care about them, but Jess has friends her own age and it’s important for Sam to as well (and frankly some of Jess’s relationship with Sam crossed from friendly to creepy for me—undressing in front of a kid is creepy and weird and I don’t care if it’s to “show fat children fat bodies” or if you tell them it’s okay to close their eyes. That detail in particular was super uncomfortable to me and it felt unnecessary since there are so many other far less creepy ways to teach body positivity.). I work with kids sometimes and I think it’s important to keep in mind the almost parasocial relationships they form with older people—even if they see me as a friend, we are not anywhere close to the same level of friendship as I am with my friends who are closer to my age and I think it’s an important lesson for kids to learn since there’s bound to be that one coach or friend’s older sibling or teacher or whatever that they think is one of their best friends but in reality has an entire life that they’re not privy to and there will come a time where, politely or not, they’re reminded of that. It’s the first time I can remember seeing that message in a book.
I’m very excited to read the other middle grade book centering on queer history that’s set to release (or maybe already released? time hasn’t been real to me since 2020 and especially isn’t during summer) this June and like I said, I think this is Alex Gino’s best book so far!
Ugh, fine, one last nitpick: the belly bumps were annoying and I can’t buy that a grown adult does that, sorry.
Omg one more I can't believe I forgot: Oscar Wilde was Irish and Val says he was from England when asked by Sam which like...the important bit is that he wasn't from Stanton Island but he was also not English and for a book about erasure of history you'd've thought that would have been caught in the editing process.
I was wrong. Outside of one big nitpick, I really enjoyed Alice Austen Lived Here and will definitely be looking into her and her life! Also, thank you Alex Gino for including the referenced photos in the back!
My big nitpick, however, is that a lot of times the book sort of just. assumed the reader would know a thing and go from there. For example, the acronym DSCWM (or Dead Straight Cis White Man) is used frequently in reference to the other students’ essay topics but we never get a definition of cis in the book. Which, you know, as a queer adult, I didn’t need. But an elementary or middle schooler almost certainly would, especially one whose introduction to nonbinary identities is this book (and since it’s a middle grade book with not one but THREE nonbinary characters, it makes for a good introduction!! With the exception of Different Kinds of Fruit, another queer middle grade published this year, that’s the most nonbinary characters I can think of in a book period, let alone MG). Likewise, Gino will just drop in a lot of…saying “buzzwords” feels judgmental but that’s the only word that comes to mind (I am writing this at 3 am). They’ll drop in progressive words or talking points but then not really elaborate on what they mean—which again! As a heavier person, I know what fat activism means, but will a middle or elementary schooler have any idea of what that means? Similarly, can authors stop using “witty” one-liners to lampshade things they include in their books instead of having a longer conversation on it? The scene about the Stanton Island statue proposal where they have two of the Black kids comment on how two white kids did their presentation on a white guy who led a regiment of Black soldiers during the Civil War and how the kids only proposed for the statue to be of him and none of the soldiers and it’s just a one-liner. Authors, I am begging you to either dive into issues that you mention or at least discuss them further than single lampshading lines. You don’t have to try and tackle every single social issue in your under 200 page book and writing it in just to lampshade it feels lazy. There’s such a good conversation to be had there that would tie into the larger themes of WHO history allows to be seen as the heroes and worthy of honor—not all of the Black soldiers who made up the regiment and fought and died, but its white leader who was in considerably less danger—that to include him as a statue candidate, make that brief critique about his inclusion, and then waltz on past it feels…off.
Critiques aside, I overall enjoyed this book a lot—possibly my favorite of Alex Gino’s books so far, mainly because I am a history nerd and was especially one at Sam and TJ’s age. The discussions on history and how the marginalized (be that women, people of color, LGBTQ people, or anyone else who’s not a cishet able-bodied white man) are erased and then have that erasure weaponized against them—see, for example, how transgender people are treated like a new fad by many conservatives as opposed to people who have always existed but now have marginally more social support and few more comfortable coming out. Some of the names provided by Val, Jess, the other contestants, or TJ and Sam themselves can provide a good jumping-off point for kids who want to do their own research onto the hidden histories of marginalized groups (although I do admittedly wish the Audre Lorde group had won instead, especially since all of the submissions were overwhelmingly white. As powerful as a statue of a queer woman would be, a statue of a queer Black woman would be even more so, especially since Sam didn’t even know about Audre Lorde and her connection to Stanton Island until the ceremony.) It has a good message about how family is what you choose and can come in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s you and your mom, you and your parents and a handful of siblings, or you and your friends, as well as that queerness is not something new and that there are queer people of all ages. I also really liked the discussion about friendship and age gaps—at one point Jess tells Sam that Sam isn’t her best friend and Sam is devastated, but several characters explain to them that that’s normal and they can still be friends with Jess and care about them, but Jess has friends her own age and it’s important for Sam to as well (and frankly some of Jess’s relationship with Sam crossed from friendly to creepy for me—undressing in front of a kid is creepy and weird and I don’t care if it’s to “show fat children fat bodies” or if you tell them it’s okay to close their eyes. That detail in particular was super uncomfortable to me and it felt unnecessary since there are so many other far less creepy ways to teach body positivity.). I work with kids sometimes and I think it’s important to keep in mind the almost parasocial relationships they form with older people—even if they see me as a friend, we are not anywhere close to the same level of friendship as I am with my friends who are closer to my age and I think it’s an important lesson for kids to learn since there’s bound to be that one coach or friend’s older sibling or teacher or whatever that they think is one of their best friends but in reality has an entire life that they’re not privy to and there will come a time where, politely or not, they’re reminded of that. It’s the first time I can remember seeing that message in a book.
I’m very excited to read the other middle grade book centering on queer history that’s set to release (or maybe already released? time hasn’t been real to me since 2020 and especially isn’t during summer) this June and like I said, I think this is Alex Gino’s best book so far!
Ugh, fine, one last nitpick: the belly bumps were annoying and I can’t buy that a grown adult does that, sorry.
Omg one more I can't believe I forgot: Oscar Wilde was Irish and Val says he was from England when asked by Sam which like...the important bit is that he wasn't from Stanton Island but he was also not English and for a book about erasure of history you'd've thought that would have been caught in the editing process.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2021
Alex Gino just happens to be my favorite MG author. It's stiff competition! But their stories reach back into a that part of my childhood when I felt queer (and Deaf) without knowing what that meant. And--this is more important--their books are essential for young readers in today's bitterly divided landscape. That's probably why the books are routinely banned---because of their raw truths and proudful beauty.
Dare I say (and it's saying a lot) I think Alice Austen is Gino's best book to date. Notice the title. It does not include the protagonist's name--unlike George, You Don't Know Everything Jilly P.! and Rick. This is not a book about finding one's self or coming out. Those were an essential foundation. But AALH takes a glittery, necessary step beyond that to MC Sam who is a confident enby, with an enby best friend, who rejects a DSCWM (Dead Straight Cis White Men)-only narrative and connects with queer elders and LGBTQIAP+ history. Goodness gracious, it's a tween novel about "intergenerational queer share space" and "chosen queer family!" This has never been done before. A book that introduces seventh graders to Alice Austen *and* Audre Lorde. You have to have a lot of faith in your readers, which is hallmark Gino.
Gino is on home turf in this story set on Staten Island. (The story bears a close connection to Gino's early life--but I won't spoil that.) Author and reader savor Joe & Pat's pizza with "gooey cheese and crackably thin crust."
Did I mention Gino is developing their writing craft, from book to book? As much as any of us can hope for. Try not to let the last paragraph take your breath away. There are so many grace notes in AALH but also commonsense, queer style. It's a stunner. I can't wait to share it.
Note: I read a pre-final copy. I've been told the final will include a couple of photos of Austen's work, including "The Darned Club."
Dare I say (and it's saying a lot) I think Alice Austen is Gino's best book to date. Notice the title. It does not include the protagonist's name--unlike George, You Don't Know Everything Jilly P.! and Rick. This is not a book about finding one's self or coming out. Those were an essential foundation. But AALH takes a glittery, necessary step beyond that to MC Sam who is a confident enby, with an enby best friend, who rejects a DSCWM (Dead Straight Cis White Men)-only narrative and connects with queer elders and LGBTQIAP+ history. Goodness gracious, it's a tween novel about "intergenerational queer share space" and "chosen queer family!" This has never been done before. A book that introduces seventh graders to Alice Austen *and* Audre Lorde. You have to have a lot of faith in your readers, which is hallmark Gino.
Gino is on home turf in this story set on Staten Island. (The story bears a close connection to Gino's early life--but I won't spoil that.) Author and reader savor Joe & Pat's pizza with "gooey cheese and crackably thin crust."
Did I mention Gino is developing their writing craft, from book to book? As much as any of us can hope for. Try not to let the last paragraph take your breath away. There are so many grace notes in AALH but also commonsense, queer style. It's a stunner. I can't wait to share it.
Note: I read a pre-final copy. I've been told the final will include a couple of photos of Austen's work, including "The Darned Club."
June 13, 2022
3.5 stars?
Great rep as always, and so wonderful to see so many queer characters living their lives and the story not be about trauma or bullying etc. Loved the inclusion of found family too.
However the story itself was very thin, and also quite dry in places where the story became more about educating the reader/MCs than storytelling. I think I wanted more nuance and agency with this one - so much was just told to the MCs by other characters, and there was nothing unexpected about the plot. I never had any doubts they would win, and there was no real conflicts, problems (that weren’t very easily fixed by someone else) or character development.
Overall though it’s a nice quick read with an easy and predictable plot, plenty of queer characters, fat-positivity, and a quick delve into some queer history.
Great rep as always, and so wonderful to see so many queer characters living their lives and the story not be about trauma or bullying etc. Loved the inclusion of found family too.
However the story itself was very thin, and also quite dry in places where the story became more about educating the reader/MCs than storytelling. I think I wanted more nuance and agency with this one - so much was just told to the MCs by other characters, and there was nothing unexpected about the plot. I never had any doubts they would win, and there was no real conflicts, problems (that weren’t very easily fixed by someone else) or character development.
Overall though it’s a nice quick read with an easy and predictable plot, plenty of queer characters, fat-positivity, and a quick delve into some queer history.
September 8, 2022
overly saccharine but a love letter to community and chosen family
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Sam (mc) is nonbinary & fat; BIPOC, queer, nonbinary & fat scs.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Sam (mc) is nonbinary & fat; BIPOC, queer, nonbinary & fat scs.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
April 10, 2022
A short and sweet story with a lovable cast of characters exploring the queer experience of the past and present.
TW: discussions of homophobia
TW: discussions of homophobia
February 8, 2022
Sam and their best friend TJ are both nonbinary youth who are supported in their identities at home. When they are assigned a partner project for history class to propose the subject of a new statue on Staten Island, they know they’ll pick someone queer. Even better, the project is a contest and the winner will become a real statue in their community. Sam’s downstairs neighbor friends, Jess and Val, also queer (Jess is femme lesbian and Val is nonbinary), suggest Alice Austen, a photographer from the late 1800s and early 1900s who lived on Staten Island and had a female partner for her entire life. As Sam and TJ explore Alice’s life at her former home (now a museum) and using library resources, they discover that Alice lived in Sam’s apartment toward the end of her life! The problem? Their history teacher is a white cisgender man who prefers traditional history about DWCSM (dead white cisgender men). Can Sam and TJ advocate for representation of queer history in their community?
There is so much to love about this book! Just as Sam and TJ are fighting for queer representation in their community, we need more queer representation in our middle grade libraries. I am so excited to have a book in my library with not one, not two, but three nonbinary characters. In addition, Sam and Jess are both fat and do fabulous “belly bumps” to celebrate anything and everything. Between the body positivity, queer representation/visibility, and celebration of queer history, this is a wonderful book for all students to read. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in less than two hours. I predict students will inhale it, too!
There is so much to love about this book! Just as Sam and TJ are fighting for queer representation in their community, we need more queer representation in our middle grade libraries. I am so excited to have a book in my library with not one, not two, but three nonbinary characters. In addition, Sam and Jess are both fat and do fabulous “belly bumps” to celebrate anything and everything. Between the body positivity, queer representation/visibility, and celebration of queer history, this is a wonderful book for all students to read. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in less than two hours. I predict students will inhale it, too!
May 26, 2023
Sam, a nonbinary twelve-year-old is cool with their queer identity. They enjoy hanging out with their best friend T.J. (also nonbinary) and visiting their neighbors downstairs: Jess (a femme woman), Val (a nonbinary graduate student), and their baby Evie. Sam does not enjoy social studies with Mr. Watras, who is the worst teacher in the world. When Watras assigns a project to come up with a report of someone relevant to Staten Island for a contest to erect new statue outside Borough Hall, Sam and T.J. know they have to do someone queer. Did queer people exist in previous centuries? They soon discover that Alice Austen, a photographer, was born in Staten Island and lived there her whole entire life and guess what else? She was queer! She may have been lesbian or bisexual but the important thing was, Alice, her longtime partner Gertrude and their circle of "bohemian" friends were queer AND lived in Staten Island. This project is sure to impress. Alice Austen just HAS to win over the boring dead white cisgender men. If she doesn't, it means queer history is erased from memory and queer people like Sam and T.J. don't get to see a representative icon every day. Even though Sam has queer friends and neighbors, others might not. Will their project win over Watras and the Staten Island Historians Association?
After reading and not totally loving The Civil War of Amos Abernathy, I was excited to try this novel instead. It's shorter but deals with the same issue. There is a LOT to take in. I'm an older, white, cisgender woman who is trying to learn and grow. I love history and women's history is my passion so I was absolutely on board with this project. I agree that Henry Hudson has been honored enough. Robert Gould Shaw is honored in Boston but I disagree with the representation of history. No he didn't MAKE the Black guys fight. They did it willingly, to be seen as MEN worthy of the same rights as White men. They fought and died together and Col. Shaw was buried in the same mass grave as the men he fought with. The Massachusetts 54th is honored in Boston! (My 8th grade history teacher showed us "Glory" and no parents complained that I know of, or they did because my sister, three years younger, needed a permission slip to watch the R-rated film and my brother, 3 grades younger than her didn't watch it at all). It's also not universally true that the past was great for straight or straight passing White men. Not ALL White men were treated equally. What about T.J.'s Italian ancestor from Italy? What was it like when he came to America? He came around the same time as my ancestors. My grandmother and her family arrived in 1920 in time for two Italian anarchists to be jailed and later executed for a crime they didn't commit; in time for the KKK to march against Catholic immigrants! Southern Italian wasn't considered exactly White and neither was Greek or Portuguese or Spanish. Life for ELITE Whites who were Protestant and English speaking was pretty good for men and women in the past. Those with money and family connections were treated better than recent immigrants. If we're going to be discussing T.J.'s family history, let's be honest and open about it and not just dismiss their mom's ancestor because he was White. (That's probably who I would have chosen!)
Alice Austen is a much better subject for a statue than Henry Hudson though. Audre Lorde would be an even better choice. I don't think anyone would know who either person was but T.J.'s statue design is a brilliant way to honor Alice Austen in context. However, I'm not sure it fits the brief. They were suppose to choose one historic figure from Staten Island to honor with a statue. While Alice's photo is lovely and a wonderful representation of queer history, it's not Alice with her camera, it's not Alice in front of her home holding her camera looking out over New York harbor. T.J.'s idea may not be feasible monetarily or artistically. It sounds like it could be really, really expensive and most historical associations don't have money. They get x funds through grants and x funds through tours, museums and fundraising events. It's never enough.
The plot is OK and moves quickly but gets bogged down in the last third by domestic drama that was unnecessary. As an older, white, cisgender woman, I am aware of the terminology the characters use but found it way too much to take in for one short novel. They even us Latinx, which I didn't think people used in speech. I've never heard Mx. before, let alone applied to the Statue of Liberty, who is indeed female- a representation of the goddess Columbia. There is a nice conversation about how language is evolving but it comes late in the book. It should have happened sooner so the readers were clued in as to what the characters were talking about.
I also wasn't crazy about the friend drama. It was strange and felt forced. Like the author went "all middle grades have friend drama but we can't have a falling out with BFF T.J. so therefore, it has to be the adult friend!" Jess admits she's at fault and why but I also think Sam's mother could have tried to explain things to them.
Sam is likable enough. The nonbinary thing was a little hard to understand at first. Sam isn't interested in labels. They don't feel like a boy or a girl. I think this needs a little more explanation. What does a girl feel like? What does a boy feel like? I'd like more about their personal journey and how they came to realize at 4 they were nonbinary. T.J. is a more interesting character. They're quirky and a little more non-traditional. T.J. likes fashion and dressing nicely. They also share hobbies with Sam like graphic novels, eating mac and cheese and pizza, enjoying the music of a Miss Chris. I appreciate T.J. interest in historical fashion. Their reaction to the 19th-century clothing styles was funny and cute. Most tweens I know aren't interested in history and would dismiss clothing styles of the past as old and weird. T.J. pushes Sam to be their best.
Sam learns all about queerness and fat activism from their BFF Jess, an adult who lives downstairs. Jess is femme. She enjoys dressing up in skirts, high heels and lipstick just to bake in because she likes it and it makes her feel good. She recently had a baby, Evie, and Sam comes down to stay with Evie for a little while while Jess bakes. Sam gets to eat whatever it is Jess makes and gets lessons in how to be a queer, fat activist. Instead of high-fiving, Jess and Sam bump bellies, which is a little weird. As a fat person myself, that's the LAST thing I want to do with someone! As an adult, I also would not want to do that with a child, let alone let them see me with my shirt off (from the back). That's weird. Jess is a VERY secure person! Jess's partner, Val, is a nonbinary person of color who is often out of the apartment teaching. Val has a sense of humor and studies literature. The pair teach Sam a lot about queer history and help Sam understand how to grow up as a queer person in a straight, cisgender world. Sam considers Jess his best friend, in addition to T.J. When something happens that causes a falling out between the friends, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Jess is the adult and should have set boundaries with Sam and explained things a lot sooner. Sam is a kid and doesn't understand adult relationships yet.
Sam's mom is a single mom and the dad is not in the picture. The mom tried to understand her kid but she doesn't try very HARD. I was appalled that the mom doesn't know the names of her child's teachers and says "Same difference" then dismisses her kid's concerns. Mr. Watras was such a stereotype. Yes I've had teachers and professors just like that! It comes with the territory when you study history and literature. I ALSO had wonderful, inspiring history teachers. While learning the standard U.S. history narrative is boring, it's necessary to know how our country came to be and think about the untold stories. Before you can uncover the stories that haven't been told, you need to know who wrote the history books! Anyway, Mr. Watras is pretty two-dimensional. The kids were sour grapes with him, assuming he marked their statue design down on purpose because he's homophobic. Watras gave his constructive criticism and that should have been that but the kids continue to whine because they didn't win. Watras could have added more commentary but he didn't. He's the teacher and he's the one judging the project. At least they asked him if he had a problem with Alice Austen's queerness. He says he didn't but he might. Most older people have trouble adjusting and growing to see the world as it is now and not through the lens of the history books we all had to read in school. It's hard to learn new things and grow and it's hard to make history fun for teens. Sam and T.J. just assume, like all modern tweens and teens, that EVERYONE should think like them and everyone in the past thought like them and those who don't are automatically evil. Making Watras a two-dimensional character didn't showcase any of this. It just makes him look like a bad teacher at best and homophobic at worst. Maybe he is in the closet himself and has had to hide it for all the reasons Leslie mentioned. Maybe he's worried he'll lose his job if he votes for Sam and T.J.'s project. We don't know because he's the villain of the story.
It breaks my heart that Sam and T.J. don't know queer history. THIS IS WHY KIDS NEED BOOKS! Even novels like this one help educate. They teach queer kids their own history and help them feel seen. They help others see that queer people exist and to develop empathy for others not like them. Adults should read this to learn about the world around them, what kids are thinking and feeling and to know that queer people didn't just spring up out of nowhere in the last few years.
Buy this and send it to everyone in Florida, Texas, etc. etc. While I didn't love it, that doesn't mean the target audience won't or that people don't need to read this book.
Other content besides LGBTQIAP+
Jess breastfeeds Evie but covered up
mention that a character had been naked
belly bumping
Sam is fat and thinks a lot about it and the clothes they wear or don't wear because they're fat
Photo by Alice Austen depicting women in men's clothing
criticism of White men in the past
(I'm nitpicking here because these are the things the helicopter parents tend to wig out about.)
After reading and not totally loving The Civil War of Amos Abernathy, I was excited to try this novel instead. It's shorter but deals with the same issue. There is a LOT to take in. I'm an older, white, cisgender woman who is trying to learn and grow. I love history and women's history is my passion so I was absolutely on board with this project. I agree that Henry Hudson has been honored enough. Robert Gould Shaw is honored in Boston but I disagree with the representation of history. No he didn't MAKE the Black guys fight. They did it willingly, to be seen as MEN worthy of the same rights as White men. They fought and died together and Col. Shaw was buried in the same mass grave as the men he fought with. The Massachusetts 54th is honored in Boston! (My 8th grade history teacher showed us "Glory" and no parents complained that I know of, or they did because my sister, three years younger, needed a permission slip to watch the R-rated film and my brother, 3 grades younger than her didn't watch it at all). It's also not universally true that the past was great for straight or straight passing White men. Not ALL White men were treated equally. What about T.J.'s Italian ancestor from Italy? What was it like when he came to America? He came around the same time as my ancestors. My grandmother and her family arrived in 1920 in time for two Italian anarchists to be jailed and later executed for a crime they didn't commit; in time for the KKK to march against Catholic immigrants! Southern Italian wasn't considered exactly White and neither was Greek or Portuguese or Spanish. Life for ELITE Whites who were Protestant and English speaking was pretty good for men and women in the past. Those with money and family connections were treated better than recent immigrants. If we're going to be discussing T.J.'s family history, let's be honest and open about it and not just dismiss their mom's ancestor because he was White. (That's probably who I would have chosen!)
Alice Austen is a much better subject for a statue than Henry Hudson though. Audre Lorde would be an even better choice. I don't think anyone would know who either person was but T.J.'s statue design is a brilliant way to honor Alice Austen in context. However, I'm not sure it fits the brief. They were suppose to choose one historic figure from Staten Island to honor with a statue. While Alice's photo is lovely and a wonderful representation of queer history, it's not Alice with her camera, it's not Alice in front of her home holding her camera looking out over New York harbor. T.J.'s idea may not be feasible monetarily or artistically. It sounds like it could be really, really expensive and most historical associations don't have money. They get x funds through grants and x funds through tours, museums and fundraising events. It's never enough.
The plot is OK and moves quickly but gets bogged down in the last third by domestic drama that was unnecessary. As an older, white, cisgender woman, I am aware of the terminology the characters use but found it way too much to take in for one short novel. They even us Latinx, which I didn't think people used in speech. I've never heard Mx. before, let alone applied to the Statue of Liberty, who is indeed female- a representation of the goddess Columbia. There is a nice conversation about how language is evolving but it comes late in the book. It should have happened sooner so the readers were clued in as to what the characters were talking about.
I also wasn't crazy about the friend drama. It was strange and felt forced. Like the author went "all middle grades have friend drama but we can't have a falling out with BFF T.J. so therefore, it has to be the adult friend!" Jess admits she's at fault and why but I also think Sam's mother could have tried to explain things to them.
Sam is likable enough. The nonbinary thing was a little hard to understand at first. Sam isn't interested in labels. They don't feel like a boy or a girl. I think this needs a little more explanation. What does a girl feel like? What does a boy feel like? I'd like more about their personal journey and how they came to realize at 4 they were nonbinary. T.J. is a more interesting character. They're quirky and a little more non-traditional. T.J. likes fashion and dressing nicely. They also share hobbies with Sam like graphic novels, eating mac and cheese and pizza, enjoying the music of a Miss Chris. I appreciate T.J. interest in historical fashion. Their reaction to the 19th-century clothing styles was funny and cute. Most tweens I know aren't interested in history and would dismiss clothing styles of the past as old and weird. T.J. pushes Sam to be their best.
Sam learns all about queerness and fat activism from their BFF Jess, an adult who lives downstairs. Jess is femme. She enjoys dressing up in skirts, high heels and lipstick just to bake in because she likes it and it makes her feel good. She recently had a baby, Evie, and Sam comes down to stay with Evie for a little while while Jess bakes. Sam gets to eat whatever it is Jess makes and gets lessons in how to be a queer, fat activist. Instead of high-fiving, Jess and Sam bump bellies, which is a little weird. As a fat person myself, that's the LAST thing I want to do with someone! As an adult, I also would not want to do that with a child, let alone let them see me with my shirt off (from the back). That's weird. Jess is a VERY secure person! Jess's partner, Val, is a nonbinary person of color who is often out of the apartment teaching. Val has a sense of humor and studies literature. The pair teach Sam a lot about queer history and help Sam understand how to grow up as a queer person in a straight, cisgender world. Sam considers Jess his best friend, in addition to T.J. When something happens that causes a falling out between the friends, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Jess is the adult and should have set boundaries with Sam and explained things a lot sooner. Sam is a kid and doesn't understand adult relationships yet.
Sam's mom is a single mom and the dad is not in the picture. The mom tried to understand her kid but she doesn't try very HARD. I was appalled that the mom doesn't know the names of her child's teachers and says "Same difference" then dismisses her kid's concerns. Mr. Watras was such a stereotype. Yes I've had teachers and professors just like that! It comes with the territory when you study history and literature. I ALSO had wonderful, inspiring history teachers. While learning the standard U.S. history narrative is boring, it's necessary to know how our country came to be and think about the untold stories. Before you can uncover the stories that haven't been told, you need to know who wrote the history books! Anyway, Mr. Watras is pretty two-dimensional. The kids were sour grapes with him, assuming he marked their statue design down on purpose because he's homophobic. Watras gave his constructive criticism and that should have been that but the kids continue to whine because they didn't win. Watras could have added more commentary but he didn't. He's the teacher and he's the one judging the project. At least they asked him if he had a problem with Alice Austen's queerness. He says he didn't but he might. Most older people have trouble adjusting and growing to see the world as it is now and not through the lens of the history books we all had to read in school. It's hard to learn new things and grow and it's hard to make history fun for teens. Sam and T.J. just assume, like all modern tweens and teens, that EVERYONE should think like them and everyone in the past thought like them and those who don't are automatically evil. Making Watras a two-dimensional character didn't showcase any of this. It just makes him look like a bad teacher at best and homophobic at worst. Maybe he is in the closet himself and has had to hide it for all the reasons Leslie mentioned. Maybe he's worried he'll lose his job if he votes for Sam and T.J.'s project. We don't know because he's the villain of the story.
It breaks my heart that Sam and T.J. don't know queer history. THIS IS WHY KIDS NEED BOOKS! Even novels like this one help educate. They teach queer kids their own history and help them feel seen. They help others see that queer people exist and to develop empathy for others not like them. Adults should read this to learn about the world around them, what kids are thinking and feeling and to know that queer people didn't just spring up out of nowhere in the last few years.
Buy this and send it to everyone in Florida, Texas, etc. etc. While I didn't love it, that doesn't mean the target audience won't or that people don't need to read this book.
Other content besides LGBTQIAP+
Jess breastfeeds Evie but covered up
mention that a character had been naked
belly bumping
Sam is fat and thinks a lot about it and the clothes they wear or don't wear because they're fat
Photo by Alice Austen depicting women in men's clothing
criticism of White men in the past
(I'm nitpicking here because these are the things the helicopter parents tend to wig out about.)
August 15, 2022
I knew I would continue to rave about Alex Gino and I was right!
As a landlocked Midwesterner, I really didn't know that people lived on Staten Island until I read a recent sci fi novel about the boroughs :/ Shame on me, I guess! Shame on me I guess! So that was fascinating. I really loved the history behind Alice Austen, might have had a vague reference to her life somewhere, but this was fairly informative and I need to know more. I also loved the intergenerational queer relationships that formed. Everyone deserves to know their history, and everyone should know their present as well as they can. Kudos to Alex Gino for providing this to their community
As a landlocked Midwesterner, I really didn't know that people lived on Staten Island until I read a recent sci fi novel about the boroughs :/ Shame on me, I guess! Shame on me I guess! So that was fascinating. I really loved the history behind Alice Austen, might have had a vague reference to her life somewhere, but this was fairly informative and I need to know more. I also loved the intergenerational queer relationships that formed. Everyone deserves to know their history, and everyone should know their present as well as they can. Kudos to Alex Gino for providing this to their community
June 18, 2022
I was originally going to write a long review of this and explain, in full, why I didn't care for it, but I'll just list some bullet points:
- The book presents an overly twee, cutesy version of queerness that I could not relate to and, at times, found simplistic and insulting.
- With the exception of Leslie there isn't a single interesting or likable (read: not annoying) character in the book. Every queer character is coated in a saccharine film that left my teeth aching.
- When they're not spouting cringey, yass queen platitudes that feel straight out of a queerphobic Facebook meme, the main characters talk like they're, like, three years younger than they actually are. Their twentysomething neighbors/friends aren't much better.
- I never need to read the phrase "belly bump" again. God, that was annoying.
- There's this annoying thing where characters insistently use Gino's preferred acronym (LGBTQIAP+), even when it feels inauthentic. I've been active in queer spaces for a long time and I've never seen a uniform acronym. Most people I know use LGBTQ, or LGBT+, or simply "queer" (my preferred term), and outside of an academic setting or the occasional text post on a forum, I've never seen anyone insist on using such a long acronym. I know this is a weird thing to hung up on, but it took me out of the story every time.
- The above issue plays into my next problem, which is that Gino insists on using overly precise, deliberately inoffensive language that ultimately undermines the narrative. I understand that the characters are written to model the kind, considerate world that Gino envisions and desires, but this comes at the expensive of making every character feel mechanical. Robotic. Like animatronics with rainbow paint splashed across their faces. It made everyone a cliché, a stereotype... "It's Pride Month! Shop at Target!" vibes.
- It was weird to me that Sam was familiar with Sylvia Rivera but not Marsha P. Johnson, given that Johnson is arguably the better known of the two (not that one deserves more recognition than the other).
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"...Watras launched into a long speech about a bunch of dead rich white guys fighting over how to run the US government after the Revolutionary War. It could have been interesting if Watras wanted to explore the contradiction of saying you fought the British for freedom while having slaves work the land you stole from the Indigenous people who had been here and free for thousands of years before you, but he didn't bring any of that up." (p. 20)
"'I'm pretty sure libraries are like parties for introverts.'" (p. 42)
"'Cops with batons got to say what they wanted, and nonbinary was not in their playbook.'" (p. 71)
"...Sylvia and Marsha P. changed the world, and it's a shame how few young people know about them. Or any queer history at all. As if being queer is something new.'" (p. 72)
"'Blood may be thicker than water, but shared community and experience are thicker than both.'" (p. 97)
- The book presents an overly twee, cutesy version of queerness that I could not relate to and, at times, found simplistic and insulting.
- With the exception of Leslie there isn't a single interesting or likable (read: not annoying) character in the book. Every queer character is coated in a saccharine film that left my teeth aching.
- When they're not spouting cringey, yass queen platitudes that feel straight out of a queerphobic Facebook meme, the main characters talk like they're, like, three years younger than they actually are. Their twentysomething neighbors/friends aren't much better.
- I never need to read the phrase "belly bump" again. God, that was annoying.
- There's this annoying thing where characters insistently use Gino's preferred acronym (LGBTQIAP+), even when it feels inauthentic. I've been active in queer spaces for a long time and I've never seen a uniform acronym. Most people I know use LGBTQ, or LGBT+, or simply "queer" (my preferred term), and outside of an academic setting or the occasional text post on a forum, I've never seen anyone insist on using such a long acronym. I know this is a weird thing to hung up on, but it took me out of the story every time.
- The above issue plays into my next problem, which is that Gino insists on using overly precise, deliberately inoffensive language that ultimately undermines the narrative. I understand that the characters are written to model the kind, considerate world that Gino envisions and desires, but this comes at the expensive of making every character feel mechanical. Robotic. Like animatronics with rainbow paint splashed across their faces. It made everyone a cliché, a stereotype... "It's Pride Month! Shop at Target!" vibes.
- It was weird to me that Sam was familiar with Sylvia Rivera but not Marsha P. Johnson, given that Johnson is arguably the better known of the two (not that one deserves more recognition than the other).
---------------------------------------
"...Watras launched into a long speech about a bunch of dead rich white guys fighting over how to run the US government after the Revolutionary War. It could have been interesting if Watras wanted to explore the contradiction of saying you fought the British for freedom while having slaves work the land you stole from the Indigenous people who had been here and free for thousands of years before you, but he didn't bring any of that up." (p. 20)
"'I'm pretty sure libraries are like parties for introverts.'" (p. 42)
"'Cops with batons got to say what they wanted, and nonbinary was not in their playbook.'" (p. 71)
"...Sylvia and Marsha P. changed the world, and it's a shame how few young people know about them. Or any queer history at all. As if being queer is something new.'" (p. 72)
"'Blood may be thicker than water, but shared community and experience are thicker than both.'" (p. 97)
March 28, 2024
I located this book in the list of recommendations for contemporary realistic fiction in the Wakelet. I recommend this book for students grades 4th through 8th.
This story is about Sam and TJ who are best friends in the seventh grade. Sam and TJ take on a project for school in which they discover that Alice Austen was part of queer history. Alice was mainly known for her photography in the late 1800s to early 1900s. In the process, Sam learns more about her identity. You will have to read it to find out more.
The storyline was definitely unique and refreshing. I had never read a story about two nonbinary best friends in the seventh grade going through life together. I think many students can relate to this story in one way or another. I also appreciated how educational it was with mentioning and describing terms in the LGBTQ+ community. I think the author’s goal was not only to entertain, but to inform as well. The theme teaches us such a powerful lesson. In this case, Sam’s project is not just about winning a contest, but discovering the rich queer history that Sam and TJ are a part of. It can teach students to learn more about their own identity and relationships.
A teacher can use this book to teach about terms within the LGBTQ+ community. Inclusion could be part of this lesson or taught separately as well. A teacher can use this book to teach about being ourselves and loving ourselves. Students can be given a prompt that reads, “I love myself because…” or “I am me because…”
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and am glad I am seeing more diversity in children’s books.
This story is about Sam and TJ who are best friends in the seventh grade. Sam and TJ take on a project for school in which they discover that Alice Austen was part of queer history. Alice was mainly known for her photography in the late 1800s to early 1900s. In the process, Sam learns more about her identity. You will have to read it to find out more.
The storyline was definitely unique and refreshing. I had never read a story about two nonbinary best friends in the seventh grade going through life together. I think many students can relate to this story in one way or another. I also appreciated how educational it was with mentioning and describing terms in the LGBTQ+ community. I think the author’s goal was not only to entertain, but to inform as well. The theme teaches us such a powerful lesson. In this case, Sam’s project is not just about winning a contest, but discovering the rich queer history that Sam and TJ are a part of. It can teach students to learn more about their own identity and relationships.
A teacher can use this book to teach about terms within the LGBTQ+ community. Inclusion could be part of this lesson or taught separately as well. A teacher can use this book to teach about being ourselves and loving ourselves. Students can be given a prompt that reads, “I love myself because…” or “I am me because…”
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and am glad I am seeing more diversity in children’s books.
April 1, 2023
This was one of the weirder books I've ever read. I feel bad trashing it because I agree with the message but it was just...not a good book. All of the characters were annoying, at best, or creepy, at worst. (The neighbor changing in front of a 12 year old and rubbing their bellies together...yikes). Every page had a new term tossed out but most were never explained and the whole thing was very preachy and self-righteous. All about a book with a message but this was a message in desperate search of a book.
October 22, 2022
Nice blend of LGBTQ history and story.
August 26, 2022
It's been a hot minute since I read MG. Really like how thoughtfully the concept of having a shared queer culture and history (as well as some very basic terms and concepts from that history, like introducing who Marsha P. Johnson was!) was presented for a middle school audience--I was impressed with the author's ability to deliver information in a way that felt authentic to the text, accessible to the target age group, and not overly preachy/info dump-y.
December 24, 2021
I got my hands on an arc copy, and was extremely happy to read a book which gave queer rep, being comfortable in yourself, and some LGBTQIA+ history I didn't know about. Of course, this was all from the point of view of a middle schooler so you had annoying teachers and homework to deal with.
February 24, 2023
TW: Mentions of homophobia
Note: I am a non-binary, queer, white person
I hate giving this a low score - but I've got thoughts(tm) and wish the good intentions of this book weren't so frought.
The good: Gino has a great talent for the easy but expansive language middle-grade fiction needs. The topic was interesting and I enjoyed having so many queer characters living between the pages of a single book, rather than the single character for 'diversity points' (thought like the gay trash I am I will still squee when they show up).
The bad: I just didn't...feel this book. I didn't get excited or learn anything about queer history. I learned *OF* Alive Austin, but learned about as much from this book as I would have from reading a museum plaque. I didn't get that emotional connection that books can so artfully plant the seeds of.
Sam was our most developed character, but they still didn't have much character to them. Towards the end of the book they became completely self absorbed and it was very frustrating. Them accusing their teacher of being homophobic for giving their report of a queer figure 4 points less (93) than the winning essay's score of 97 points, with no proof aside from assumptions made me want to pull my hair out. 93 points on a queer essay, with a full 15/15 score for the topic? I just was flabbergasted that they would just jump to "I got an astounding grade for my essay, but not the best therefore teacher = homophobic" is incredibly damaging and not helpful to the queer cause.
As other reviewers have stated I was also uncomfortable with Sam's (12 yo) relationship with Jess (25 yo). Towards the end of the book they were described as 'found family' sure, but still, having things like bare-skin belly high-fives and letting the kid watch you change shirts so they can 'get used to and normalise fat bodies' is noooooooot it. It just had me cringing. Also the needless drama of Jess saying she is not Sam's "best" friend was just weird, needless drama for the sake of a story with no real ending conflict so one had to be invented.
Lastly, the contest. I found it unbelievable that, of Audre Lorde vs Alice Austin, the winner ended up being Alice Austin. So much of this book's message was about the lack of non-white race rep in local history, yet Gino decides their choice of Alice Austin should win over Lorde? I was just so confused.
That's really what this book left me feeling. Confused. And I could understand the lingo. Someone NOT knowledgeable in activism or gender/queer history is going to be incredibly confused by this book. Acronyms are unexplained, non-binary is unexplained, fat activism and ableism is occasionally called out, but never explained. Example (TW, ableist language):
"You must think I'm an idiot."
"I do not, and don't use ableist language in my house."
That's the only time ableism is mentioned. But in order for the reader to understand this, they must know what ableism is. Does a young reader know? I hope so, but it's still not a common word. Will they know that the ableist language referred to was 'idiot'? If Gino had included a small explainer, or re-worded it differently, readers could have come away with more awareness of ableism, perhaps rethink their own use of the 'i' word. Instead that interaction is locked behind the wall of knowledge some readers don't have yet.
If you aren't going to make the books language accessible, one you can learn from, how can it be helpful and learned from? Be activism?
That's the bottom line. It's a book for queer folk who have already got their I's dotted and T's crossed - their history already learned and acronyms and activism sorted. It's not that books like this CAN'T exist - bring on the fully queer don't-pander-to-the-cis/straights books! But, especially for a middle grade book about 'learning queer history', it is nearly inaccessible for those starting that learning journey.
Note: I am a non-binary, queer, white person
I hate giving this a low score - but I've got thoughts(tm) and wish the good intentions of this book weren't so frought.
The good: Gino has a great talent for the easy but expansive language middle-grade fiction needs. The topic was interesting and I enjoyed having so many queer characters living between the pages of a single book, rather than the single character for 'diversity points' (thought like the gay trash I am I will still squee when they show up).
The bad: I just didn't...feel this book. I didn't get excited or learn anything about queer history. I learned *OF* Alive Austin, but learned about as much from this book as I would have from reading a museum plaque. I didn't get that emotional connection that books can so artfully plant the seeds of.
Sam was our most developed character, but they still didn't have much character to them. Towards the end of the book they became completely self absorbed and it was very frustrating. Them accusing their teacher of being homophobic for giving their report of a queer figure 4 points less (93) than the winning essay's score of 97 points, with no proof aside from assumptions made me want to pull my hair out. 93 points on a queer essay, with a full 15/15 score for the topic? I just was flabbergasted that they would just jump to "I got an astounding grade for my essay, but not the best therefore teacher = homophobic" is incredibly damaging and not helpful to the queer cause.
As other reviewers have stated I was also uncomfortable with Sam's (12 yo) relationship with Jess (25 yo). Towards the end of the book they were described as 'found family' sure, but still, having things like bare-skin belly high-fives and letting the kid watch you change shirts so they can 'get used to and normalise fat bodies' is noooooooot it. It just had me cringing. Also the needless drama of Jess saying she is not Sam's "best" friend was just weird, needless drama for the sake of a story with no real ending conflict so one had to be invented.
Lastly, the contest. I found it unbelievable that, of Audre Lorde vs Alice Austin, the winner ended up being Alice Austin. So much of this book's message was about the lack of non-white race rep in local history, yet Gino decides their choice of Alice Austin should win over Lorde? I was just so confused.
That's really what this book left me feeling. Confused. And I could understand the lingo. Someone NOT knowledgeable in activism or gender/queer history is going to be incredibly confused by this book. Acronyms are unexplained, non-binary is unexplained, fat activism and ableism is occasionally called out, but never explained. Example (TW, ableist language):
"You must think I'm an idiot."
"I do not, and don't use ableist language in my house."
That's the only time ableism is mentioned. But in order for the reader to understand this, they must know what ableism is. Does a young reader know? I hope so, but it's still not a common word. Will they know that the ableist language referred to was 'idiot'? If Gino had included a small explainer, or re-worded it differently, readers could have come away with more awareness of ableism, perhaps rethink their own use of the 'i' word. Instead that interaction is locked behind the wall of knowledge some readers don't have yet.
If you aren't going to make the books language accessible, one you can learn from, how can it be helpful and learned from? Be activism?
That's the bottom line. It's a book for queer folk who have already got their I's dotted and T's crossed - their history already learned and acronyms and activism sorted. It's not that books like this CAN'T exist - bring on the fully queer don't-pander-to-the-cis/straights books! But, especially for a middle grade book about 'learning queer history', it is nearly inaccessible for those starting that learning journey.
May 16, 2022
Hledáte queer tématiku v knihách pro děti? Tak v tom případě rozhodně musíte omrknout tvorbu od Alex Gino! Jeho*její nejnovější román se pak zabývá tématikou nebinarity, ale najdete tu reprezentaci celé další škály genderů a sexualit. Velký důraz je tu i na fakt, že být queer není žádný výmysl moderní doby, že i queer lidé mají vlastní historii. Bylo to hrozně milé čtení, nádherně pozitivní a já se už teď těším, s čím dalším Alex Gino přijde! A pořád doufám, že jednou jeho*její tvorba vyjde v češtině.
August 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it did so many things well: talking about queer pasts, presents, and futures in a way that made them all feel alive and vital; showcasing intergenerational connections and how sometimes those are friendships and sometimes they're chosen family; showing how the education system can crush real learning.
Howeverrrr, I'm giving it three stars instead of the 5 I originally gave it because I, inspired by main character Sam, ordered Alice's World by Ann Novortny through my own library's interlibrary loan program. I was riveted looking through this book of Alice Austen's incredible photography and, while not exactly surprised, definitely struck when I saw that she'd labeled two of her photographs of Black people by referring to her subjects as "darkies." Knowing this, I can't help feel upset and disappointed that Gino didn't take this on in their novel, and in fact elided it entirely, and elision that feels especially pointed because such a point is made of Sam and TJ poring over Alice's World--they definitely would have seen this. What an important and real-life opportunity to discuss how intersectional identities work: how Alice Austen may have been marginalized in terms of her queerness while being massively privileged in terms of class and race; how, from her place of privilege, she chose to treat her Black subjects. Furthermore, choosing to obfuscate this aspect of Alice's story removes agency from TJ's character. Would TJ have so enthusiastically signed on to the idea of putting forth Alice as their class project if, in the world of the novel, they had been given the opportunity to know about how she labeled Black subjects of her art? I'm left feeling frustrated and disappointed.
Howeverrrr, I'm giving it three stars instead of the 5 I originally gave it because I, inspired by main character Sam, ordered Alice's World by Ann Novortny through my own library's interlibrary loan program. I was riveted looking through this book of Alice Austen's incredible photography and, while not exactly surprised, definitely struck when I saw that she'd labeled two of her photographs of Black people by referring to her subjects as "darkies." Knowing this, I can't help feel upset and disappointed that Gino didn't take this on in their novel, and in fact elided it entirely, and elision that feels especially pointed because such a point is made of Sam and TJ poring over Alice's World--they definitely would have seen this. What an important and real-life opportunity to discuss how intersectional identities work: how Alice Austen may have been marginalized in terms of her queerness while being massively privileged in terms of class and race; how, from her place of privilege, she chose to treat her Black subjects. Furthermore, choosing to obfuscate this aspect of Alice's story removes agency from TJ's character. Would TJ have so enthusiastically signed on to the idea of putting forth Alice as their class project if, in the world of the novel, they had been given the opportunity to know about how she labeled Black subjects of her art? I'm left feeling frustrated and disappointed.
March 10, 2022
There are a lot of things that I really loved about Alice Austen Lived Here- I'll attempt to be brief and cut right to the chase. Long story short- this is a great book that I look forward to adding to my library collection when it comes out.
A little bit longer story...and some of the things I loved about Alice Austen Lived Here.
- The middle schoolers felt like actual middle schoolers. I work with middle schoolers every day and it's hard sometimes to get a really rounded out vision of that age. 7th grade in particular exists in this weird world of being kind of a big kid, but still a little kid, old enough to have an opinion and big feelings about stuff, but not quite old enough to act on your own to get things to change. Sam and TJ are sitting right in that spot and it makes everything else about the story work.
- The adults represent all types. The adults in this story cover all our bases, we have supportive family members and other adults and then we have not so supportive adults- we've got real family and found family and throughout the story we get to see Sam in particular figure out how to navigate all those relationships. For middle schoolers reading the story, they will get to see how to handle a teacher who isn't in your corner, but also get to see that there are other adults out there who are ready to go to bat for you.
- The History! I love when books include not just a story, but real facts that ground the story and invite students to learn more. In this case, while Sam and TJ are learnign about Alice Austen and her place in Staten Island history, the reader gets to learn too. Towards the end of the book when Audre Lorde is mentioned, both Sam and TJ are interested in learning more, and I instantly wanted to learn more too. As a librarian I LOVE when a book not only can draw kids in, but inspire them to go out and learn more.
I can't wait to add this one to my collection so that my students can read it next year.
A little bit longer story...and some of the things I loved about Alice Austen Lived Here.
- The middle schoolers felt like actual middle schoolers. I work with middle schoolers every day and it's hard sometimes to get a really rounded out vision of that age. 7th grade in particular exists in this weird world of being kind of a big kid, but still a little kid, old enough to have an opinion and big feelings about stuff, but not quite old enough to act on your own to get things to change. Sam and TJ are sitting right in that spot and it makes everything else about the story work.
- The adults represent all types. The adults in this story cover all our bases, we have supportive family members and other adults and then we have not so supportive adults- we've got real family and found family and throughout the story we get to see Sam in particular figure out how to navigate all those relationships. For middle schoolers reading the story, they will get to see how to handle a teacher who isn't in your corner, but also get to see that there are other adults out there who are ready to go to bat for you.
- The History! I love when books include not just a story, but real facts that ground the story and invite students to learn more. In this case, while Sam and TJ are learnign about Alice Austen and her place in Staten Island history, the reader gets to learn too. Towards the end of the book when Audre Lorde is mentioned, both Sam and TJ are interested in learning more, and I instantly wanted to learn more too. As a librarian I LOVE when a book not only can draw kids in, but inspire them to go out and learn more.
I can't wait to add this one to my collection so that my students can read it next year.
July 11, 2022
4.5 stars
This was absolutely lovely! A short, quick read, but full of queer found family, queer history, and middle schoolers discovering that their voices can be heard. I honestly didn't expect anything less from Alex Gino.
My favorite aspect of this book was the way that Sam and TJ have this little queer community around them that function as mentors, that show them where the LGBTQ+ community has come from and where it can go. Sam learns a hard lesson in this book, but the way that it was handled was beautifully done. Not only do Sam and TJ have things to learn from the adults, but the adults allow themselves to learn from Sam and TJ as well. It's incredibly sweet.
The history! So often, queer history gets erased, and I loved that it was front and center in this book. And the pictures are included in the back! All around, there is so much to love about this book. I definitely recommend picking it up if you like middle grade in any capacity!
This was absolutely lovely! A short, quick read, but full of queer found family, queer history, and middle schoolers discovering that their voices can be heard. I honestly didn't expect anything less from Alex Gino.
My favorite aspect of this book was the way that Sam and TJ have this little queer community around them that function as mentors, that show them where the LGBTQ+ community has come from and where it can go. Sam learns a hard lesson in this book, but the way that it was handled was beautifully done. Not only do Sam and TJ have things to learn from the adults, but the adults allow themselves to learn from Sam and TJ as well. It's incredibly sweet.
The history! So often, queer history gets erased, and I loved that it was front and center in this book. And the pictures are included in the back! All around, there is so much to love about this book. I definitely recommend picking it up if you like middle grade in any capacity!
April 6, 2022
Short and cute. Nothing wildly exciting but a really great story with many characters on the queer spectrum.
I did appreciate the variety of identities as well as the identities not being the MAIN part of the story. Yes it played a role, but it was moreso the characters were normal people who happened to be queer (imagine that).
I also appreciated that this wasn’t a trauma porn type story of bigotry and abuse. Queer characters were surrounded by other queer characters and even addressed the concept of chosen family.
Overall it was great and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone, especially grades 3+. It was really story and a very simple storyline, so I’m not sure I would even consider this much of a middle grade. It’s like perfect for grades 3,4,5 but I feel like middle schoolers might not be too engaged with the story and plot.
I did appreciate the variety of identities as well as the identities not being the MAIN part of the story. Yes it played a role, but it was moreso the characters were normal people who happened to be queer (imagine that).
I also appreciated that this wasn’t a trauma porn type story of bigotry and abuse. Queer characters were surrounded by other queer characters and even addressed the concept of chosen family.
Overall it was great and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone, especially grades 3+. It was really story and a very simple storyline, so I’m not sure I would even consider this much of a middle grade. It’s like perfect for grades 3,4,5 but I feel like middle schoolers might not be too engaged with the story and plot.
April 14, 2022
Alex Gino's work can feel more instructional rather than narratively nuanced, though the bonus is that kids will learn about queer icons and queer history in their books. Kids will enjoy rooting for Sam and TJ as they present their report on Alice Austen (although once I saw they were competing against kids who researched Audre Lorde, I wasn't quite as strongly in their camp anymore.) One of my favorite scenes in the book was when 28-year-old Jess had to explain her relationship to Sam and how while she wasn't their best friend, she was happy to be part of their chosen queer family. Kids who enjoyed Melissa and Rick will also like this.
Note: I read an arc and so didn't get to see the photos that should be in the final copy.
Note: I read an arc and so didn't get to see the photos that should be in the final copy.
February 9, 2025
happy pride month!! Alex Gino is ah-maz-ingggg. this is one of my favorite books! so sad its rated so low on Goodreads! don't listen to the bad comments, this is a must read!
Read
May 8, 2022When nonbinary seventh grade best friends Sam and TJ are assigned a project about an influential local historical figure, they are elated when they learn about Alice Austen. A lifelong Staten Islander, Alice Austen was a photographer and an unapologetic lesbian (although she probably didn't use that word during her lifetime in the first part of the 20th century). The pair with the best grade in their history class will have their project submitted as an entry in the contest to build a new statue in their burrough. Sam knows they have to win - it wouldn't be just a win for them, but for LGBTQIAP+ representation throughout their community. And that becomes more and more important to them as their research leads them to realize that their neighborhood is even more queer than they ever thought.
This is a fantastic story about two contemporary tweens learning more about their queer culture and connecting with queer mentors. It's unusual (so far) to have a middle grade book with more than one or two queer characters, which makes this book a lot more realistic than most other current offerings. This is a book that celebrates queerness and includes actual queer history. This is a must read for newly exploring queer kids (and queer adults!) who want to know more about their community.
This is a fantastic story about two contemporary tweens learning more about their queer culture and connecting with queer mentors. It's unusual (so far) to have a middle grade book with more than one or two queer characters, which makes this book a lot more realistic than most other current offerings. This is a book that celebrates queerness and includes actual queer history. This is a must read for newly exploring queer kids (and queer adults!) who want to know more about their community.
April 11, 2023
Sam and TJ are best friends. They are in seven grade and are non-binary. Their teacher wants them to work on a project in pairs. To find a local history to compete for a spot inspiring new status.
So when they found out that one of the ferries is named after a lesbian photographer Alice Austen, they worked on their project to discover who she was and the history that no one knows about.
So a project about LGBTIQ+ is to show the new generation that we always exist. Most statues are of cis white men. Women, especially women of color, and non-heterosexuals are seldom celebrated. Male privilege exists and it is an uncomfortable topic. And I am glad that there are books like these out there, who got challenged by backwards-thinking nasty people. I know some religions inspired nasty behaviors in followers, but it is not limited to religions. Communism inspired nasty behaviors too. With that said, I hope there is no communism or religion in the future. That is something that I could look forward to, as the future of humans.
So when they found out that one of the ferries is named after a lesbian photographer Alice Austen, they worked on their project to discover who she was and the history that no one knows about.
So a project about LGBTIQ+ is to show the new generation that we always exist. Most statues are of cis white men. Women, especially women of color, and non-heterosexuals are seldom celebrated. Male privilege exists and it is an uncomfortable topic. And I am glad that there are books like these out there, who got challenged by backwards-thinking nasty people. I know some religions inspired nasty behaviors in followers, but it is not limited to religions. Communism inspired nasty behaviors too. With that said, I hope there is no communism or religion in the future. That is something that I could look forward to, as the future of humans.
July 31, 2022
Alex Gino does it once again! They have a phenomenal way of writing stories so that everyone feels seen and heard. In this story, our two main characters are nonbinary, a representation that was so fantastic to read about. But this book also tells the important story of everyone being able to see themselves represented in the world. In this story, Sam and TJ have to do a school project about someone from Staten Island who should have a statue of them. Immediately, they decide to do their report on someone who represents the LGBT community that is so important to them. In the process, Sam learned more about themselves, what it means to be nonbinary in a "straight world," and the importance of having a queer family by your side. In addition to this being a wonderful story with great characters and emotion, Alice Austen is a real person and we learn a lot about her life throughout this novel as well. A great shorter novel that all will enjoy and was very interesting to read!
June 9, 2022
i think i liked this book better than the other alex gino books i’ve read. i liked how it was really rooted in true history and i learned a lot about alice austen and new york from reading it. i liked the message that queer people always are, have been, will be here and how that was reflected throughout the characters in the story in so many ways. parts of the plot seemed almost too good to be true but it was a sweet story. i do think that their writing has improved since earlier books of theirs i’ve read but i did have a really hard time getting into the story and voice of the mc which is why this is 4 stars.
April 1, 2025
My heart!!! So many generations of queers!! (Also it challenged me to respect Staten Island more lol). Idk how many kids I could hand this too who would be as into it — it’s a little slow and kind of pedantic in parts? (So really I should give it 3.5 or 4 stars, probably. But I looooved it and am riding the high of the ending.)
I see people saying this isn’t accessible for a kid who doesn’t know a lot about queer stuff yet, but I think they’ll ask, or find out, or just get the gist! Plus it’s ok to make books for the Sams and TJs of the world.
And it’s funny!
Like this exchange:
“Yes, Mother.”
“Watch who you’re gendering, nonbinary offspring!”
“Yes, genderfluid parental figure.”
I see people saying this isn’t accessible for a kid who doesn’t know a lot about queer stuff yet, but I think they’ll ask, or find out, or just get the gist! Plus it’s ok to make books for the Sams and TJs of the world.
And it’s funny!
Like this exchange:
“Yes, Mother.”
“Watch who you’re gendering, nonbinary offspring!”
“Yes, genderfluid parental figure.”
June 8, 2022
Another great middle grade novel from Alex Gino. This one features two nonbinary friends who work together on a school project and discover that Alice Austen, an important queer figure from the past lived in their NYC neighborhood. I loved the history lessons (learned lots I didn't know before) and the found family in this book, with different generations of queer folk living in the same building. Great on audio too and highly recommended!
October 16, 2025
A cute, little book about two best friends who enter a contest for a new statue to be put up on Staten Island. Their entry is based on Alice Austen, a Queer photographer from the early 1900s. It’s a good story that explores friendship, Queer community and Queer history. A great read for upper elementary / middle school.
August 10, 2022
Cute and important book, especially for middle school kids (11-13y). My queer 14yo dnf because "boring" and I understand why; I think they are already 'too old' for the way the book is written. I am happy to know about Alice Austen and her beautiful photographs!
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