This month is flying by, but I seem to be pretty efficient when it comes to reading my arcs recently. I’m excited to be headed into the new year. I will be posting more of my reading plans in the coming week.
Synopsis
Turning Twelve by Kathryn Ormsbee and Molly Books is a great look at the life of a young person growing up in a religious community. Katie is looking ahead to turning twelve. She wants to start sharing adventures with her friends. When she turns twelve it will be the beginning of pool parties, friends and all sorts of new adventures. However when things change with her friends. She also runs into conflict with new rules like an unfair dress code at her church. It seems as she is growing up more rules start to apply to her. She begins to question the changes that are and whether or not they are good or not.
Is growing up not as fun as she expected it to be? One thing seems right in all the chaos though, her new friend Grace that she met through theater. Both of them are playing orphans in Annie, and they slowly get close. Katie begins to question whether or not she has a crush on Grace. She also considers the effects it will cause on her life. Can she stay true to herself despite the pressure?
Review
This book goes into some great territory when it comes to the early 2000s culture around being gay. Like Katie I figured out I was queer around the same time. While I didn’t have to do deal with the same religious issues I know many friends who did. The struggle of staying true to yourself despite pressure is a timeless story.
While I didn’t read Growing Pains, the book before this. While I don’t think it’s needed to read this book. I’d like to go back and take a look at the story. Four stars, quality art and writing with great historical details. I really enjoyed Katie as a protagonist. From her love of Anne of Green Gables to her hate of shaving. She spoke to my younger self and I would happily hand this book to a young person.
Amazon: Turning Twelve
About the Author
Kathryn (K.E.) Ormsbee is the author of several acclaimed books for kids, including Candidly Cline (A 2023 ALA Rainbow Book List Book). She was born and raised in Kentucky and now lives in Austin, Texas with her wife and their dog. .
Molly Brooks is the author and illustrator of the acclaimed Sanity & Tallulah graphic novel series, as well as the illustrator of Flying Machines and many other short comics. Molly grew up in Tennessee and now lives in Brooklyn with her wife and cats.
What’s your favorite piece of queer literature for the younger set?
Rose's Book Garden 