
Reach for this book if your teenager is struggling to fit into a traditional community or is questioning their identity while feeling the pressure of religious expectations. It follows Billie McCaffrey, a preacher's daughter in a small town, who navigates the complexities of gender expression, friendship, and faith. As Billie explores her feelings for two different friends, she must reconcile her authentic self with the 'dress codes' or roles her town expects her to play. This story is deeply empathetic toward the 'in-between' feelings of adolescence. It provides a roadmap for teens who feel they do not fit into binary boxes, offering a hopeful perspective on how to maintain community ties while being true to oneself. It is particularly appropriate for high schoolers who are moving beyond black-and-white thinking toward a more nuanced understanding of love and identity.
Teenage pining, kissing, and exploration of feelings for multiple friends.
Themes of social isolation and the fear of losing family support.
Depiction of a party with some underage drinking.
There are mentions of past trauma involving the loss of a sibling in the community, though it is not the primary focus. There are also depictions of social ostracization and religious pressure.
A high schooler who feels like a square peg in a round hole, particularly one who loves their religious community or small town but fears that their gender expression or sexual orientation might make them an outcast.
This book can generally be read cold. Parents may want to discuss the distinction between a community's traditional rules and a person's individual worth. A parent might reach for this when their teenager says, I do not think I can be myself and still stay in this church, or when a child expresses that they feel they have to perform a certain version of gender to be loved.
Younger teens will focus on the friendship dynamics and the high stakes of a high school crush. Older teens will appreciate the nuanced exploration of intersectional identity, specifically how one balances faith with queer identity.
Unlike many YA novels that present a binary choice between being queer and being religious, this book suggests a middle path where a protagonist can advocate for their place within their faith community rather than simply leaving it behind.
Billie McCaffrey is a tomboy and the daughter of a preacher in Otters Holt, a small town with very specific expectations. Billie finds herself caught in a complicated romantic triangle, realizing she is attracted to both her male best friend, Woods, and her female best friend, Janie Lee. The narrative follows her navigation of these feelings alongside her desire to stay connected to her faith and her community without losing her authentic self.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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