Ode to My First Car

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.