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What is the favorite book you remember as a child?
My favorite series as a kid was A Series of Unfortunate Events. In particular, I loved The Hostile Hospital. I think that’s what really started my current draw to angsty books of tragedy and terror.
What is your favorite book today?
It’s really difficult to choose, but if I had to pick one, I think it would be More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera. I love Silvera’s writing in general, I’ve read many of his books and absolutely adore the Death-Cast series, but More Happy than Not really hit me in a place of familiarity. The main character does so much to try and erase his queerness, and it reminds me of myself at a young age.
What are you reading right now?
Right now, I’m between three books. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas, Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire (Love the Wayward Children series), and I just started Lesser Known Monsters by Rory Michaelson.
E-Reader or print? and why?
Print! I love the feeling of a book in my hand, turning the pages. Also, it’s easier for me to read. I’m dyslexic, and for some reason letters seem to jump around more when they’re on a screen.
One book at a time or multiples?
As you can tell by my currently reading list, I tend to read a couple books at once. I have one that I bring to work with me for down times, and then typically one that I read at night before bed.
Dog-ear or bookmark? (don’t worry—Librarian Judith won’t hold it against you—much)
Bookmark! I used to dog-ear when I was younger, but it always gave me a bad feeling. Plus it’s nice when you get a pretty bookmark! I tend to buy them at conventions from artist tables.
When do you do most of your reading?
Mostly, at night before bed. Sometimes I’m not feeling it and I’ll watch videos instead, but I always sleep better when I turn the screens off (another reason I like print books better) and read for a bit before going to sleep.
Favorite place to read?
Cuddled up in bed with my dog and a weighted blanket!
Favorite genre?
Contemporary, coming of age, things like that. I’ll branch out into sci-fi and fantasy sometimes – anything that’s queer really. I don’t tend to pick up a book unless there is a degree of queerness to it.
Keep books or give them away?
I like to keep them! I’ll lend them out sometimes, but I love having a rainbow of queer books on a shelf to look up. It activates my dragon hoarding tendencies.
Things take a surprising turn when Alex’s mother discovers her relationship with Theo. After Alex is thrown out of her house and taken in by Theo’s foster family, Alex can live honestly. For a while, things start to feel manageable. Alex finds a new group of friends. She navigates what “family” means beyond her mother and sister. She even considers forgiving her mother’s past mistakes. But forgiveness requires honesty. Secrets Alex’s mother has been keeping are surfacing, trying to bind Alex to misery. As Alex learns the full truth of her mother’s past mistakes, she will need the love of her chosen family and friends to gently bind her life into a shape that keeps her whole.
I sat on my bed and pulled Theo down to my level, kissing them on the forehead. They sat down with me and kissed me on the lips until they were leaning over me and my hands were wrapped around the back of their neck, pulling them closer. They were so soft, always so tender. I focused all my attention on the kiss, so much so that I didn’t hear the small squeak of my door opening. Theo pulled away suddenly, jarring me and forcing me to look in the direction of their gaze.
Leah had opened the door. She stood there with her mouth open, her face frozen in wonder and confusion. She’d known Theo since we’d become friends, I bet she had never imagined finding us kissing when she opened my door.
Theo and I looked at each other in horror. The secret was out, how were we going to get her to keep quiet? We should’ve been more careful. We’d gotten too comfortable.
I signed for Leah to come sit between us on the bed. My face got hot as she sat and tears brimmed in my eyes. My mom could never, ever find out - Leah knowing was so dangerous. She looked up at me with wide eyes and signed, “Boyfriend?”
Theo must’ve seen the panic rising up in me, because they took over. They gently rested one hand on her shoulder to get her attention and then explained, “We love each other. I’m not a boy, but I’m still her partner. I’m like a boyfriend, just minus the boy part.”
Walking through the threshold of Theo’s house was like a weight lifting off my shoulders, all the tension of home and school falling away. This was what home was supposed to feel like. I flopped down on the couch and Theo joined me a couple minutes later with two mugs of tea, handing me one. I leaned into them as they wrapped an arm around my shoulders after turning the television on to the latest show we’d been binging. This felt so safe, so calm. A feeling I rarely got in my own home. Always on edge, an internal dissonance telling me that I wasn’t good enough. Here, I was everything I was supposed to be.
We watched television until Seth–Theo’s brother–made his way down the stairs and started rummaging through the kitchen to start dinner. The house was quickly filled with smells that made my mouth water - meat searing in a pan, vegetables being chopped, pasta water boiling. I sat in the scents until I couldn’t take it any longer and my stomach growled, causing me to get up and make my way into the kitchen.
Seth shot me a sly smile. “Probably another ten minutes.”
I pouted, staring at the food and willing it to cook faster.
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ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book!! Good Luck!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
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