
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling isolated in their identity or struggling to see how their current life fits into a broader history. It is a perfect choice for a child who feels like an outsider and needs to know that others have walked this path before them. Claire, a bisexual teen, takes a job at a nursing home to pay for car repairs and develops a transformative bond with Lena, an 85-year-old lesbian resident. Through their friendship, Claire discovers that queer history is not just in textbooks but in the lived experiences of those who came before her. This verse novel beautifully handles themes of aging, identity, and the importance of intergenerational community. It is a gentle, sophisticated read for ages 14 and up that validates the teenage experience while offering a hopeful perspective on the future.
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Sign in to write a reviewIncludes a sweet, age-appropriate teenage crush and mentions of past adult relationships.
The book deals with identity and the realities of aging and memory loss in a direct but compassionate way. The approach to queer identity is secular and celebratory. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, emphasizing connection over perfect outcomes.
A thoughtful 15-year-old who feels a bit lonely in their identity and enjoys quiet, lyrical storytelling. This is for the teen who prefers deep conversations to high-octane drama.
Read cold. The verse format makes it an accessible but deep read. Parents should be prepared to discuss the history of LGBTQ+ experiences and the value of spending time with elders. A parent might notice their child withdrawing or expressing a fear that their current struggles or identities are 'just a phase' or that they have no future roadmap to follow.
Younger teens (14) will focus on Claire's crush and the stress of the car accident. Older teens (17-18) will likely resonate more with the themes of legacy, the passing of time, and the nuances of Lena's history.
Unlike many YA novels that focus strictly on peer relationships, this book centers an intergenerational queer friendship, using the car as a clever metaphor for autonomy and the journeys we take through life.
Claire crashes her beloved first car and must take a job at a local nursing home to cover the insurance costs. While there, she meets Lena, an elderly resident who has lived a long, proud life as a lesbian. Through their conversations and Lena's stories, Claire navigates her own bisexual identity, her first serious crush on a girl named Rose, and the realization that her life is part of a much longer lineage of queer resilience.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.