The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
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4.5 • 73 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
National Book Award Finalist * William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist * Goodreads Finalist for Best Teen Book of the Year * Walter Honor Award Winner * Pura Belpré Honor Book * Lambda Literary Award Winner for LGBTQ+ Young Adult
A sharply funny and moving debut novel about a queer Mexican American girl navigating Catholic school, while falling in love and learning to celebrate her true self. Perfect for fans of Erika L. Sánchez, Leah Johnson, and Gabby Rivera.
Sixteen-year-old Yamilet Flores prefers to be known for her killer eyeliner, not for being one of the only Mexican kids at her new, mostly white, very rich Catholic school. But at least here no one knows she’s gay, and Yami intends to keep it that way.
After being outed by her crush and ex-best friend before transferring to Slayton Catholic, Yami has new priorities: keep her brother out of trouble, make her mom proud, and, most importantly, don’t fall in love. Granted, she’s never been great at any of those things, but that’s a problem for Future Yami.
The thing is, it’s hard to fake being straight when Bo, the only openly queer girl at school, is so annoyingly perfect. And smart. And talented. And cute. So cute. Either way, Yami isn’t going to make the same mistake again. If word got back to her mom, she could face a lot worse than rejection. So she’ll have to start asking, WWSGD: What would a straight girl do?
Told in a captivating voice that is by turns hilarious, vulnerable, and searingly honest, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School explores the joys and heartaches of living your full truth out loud.
She has a foolproof plan to stay invisible. But what happens when the only openly queer girl at school is impossible to ignore?
A Coming Out Story (in Reverse): After being outed at her old school, Yami is determined to shove herself back in the closet. But faking being straight is harder than it looks.An Unforgettable Lesbian Romance: She plans to keep her head down and her heart locked up. Then she meets Bo: the impossibly perfect, openly gay girl who might just be Yami’s undoing.Authentic Sibling Relationship: Yami's number one priority is protecting her brother, Cesar. But at a new school with new problems, keeping him out of trouble is a full-time job.Funny and Heartfelt YA: Told with a searingly honest and hilarious voice, this novel tackles family, faith, and first love in a story you won’t forget.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Transferring to a new school should mean a fresh start for 16-year-old Mexican American lesbian Yamilet Flores, one that she desperately needs after being outed at her old school by her crush and ex-best-friend. Luckily, her mother didn't find out, and since no one at her new school knows she's queer, Yami plans to keep it that way. But Slayton Catholic presents new problems: her mother expects Yami to watch over her younger brother Cesar, who is navigating depression; the student body is overwhelmingly white; and it's difficult to keep her re-closeted mouth shut around the homophobia that's seemingly baked into the curriculum. Slayton's only bright spot is outspoken Chinese American lesbian Bo Taylor, the only openly queer person at school. But if Yami wants to maintain her relationship with her mother, getting to know another lesbian, let alone dating one, isn't an option. Reyes's hopeful debut excels in its honest depiction of family dynamics, highlighting Yami's sense of responsibility for Cesar and her loving but tense relationship with her mother. As the narrative vulnerably tackles difficult subjects such as intolerant religious institutions and living with mental illness, Yami's sardonic voice adds levity and heart. Ages 13–up.
Customer Reviews
Amazing so far!
Amazing soo far I’m almost done! Really like this book don’t matter what age difference 🩵🦋
A riveting and incredibly sweet read
There are some AMAZING Latina/Chicana/Latinx authors in the YA field and Sonora Reyes is one of them. This story is so important I found myself reading this and seeing myself in the characters, my besties, my parents, my friends parents. The softening of Yami through her interactions with Bo, the roasting relationship between her and her brother, the fierceness and sharpness of her mom. As a mid-30s Chicana, this book had me saying again and again I wish I had books like these when I was younger. I seldom saw myself or my community in YA lit and the way I could feel and hear and connect in such an affirming way makes me so happy this book exists and takes on sexuality, identity and culture in such a meaningful way.
It’s really good
This book made me feel. It made me cry and laugh and put me through all the emotions. When I finished it, I just had to hug it.
It does deal with some heavy topics but it does so really well. It especially felt for the family aspect and how both parents reacted so differently. The Latin aspect also felt natural and not forced at all. I definitely recommend reading it.
I bought first in paperback but I felt I really needed a digital edition.