The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School explained

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
Author:Sonora Reyes
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Young adult fiction
Set In:Phoenix, Arizona
Publisher:Balzer + Bray
Pub Date:May 17, 2022
Media Type:Print / Digital
Pages:385
Awards:Lambda Literary Award for Young Adult Literature (2023)
Isbn:978-0-06-306023-4
Oclc:1264273041

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School is the debut young adult novel by American writer Sonora Reyes, published by Balzer + Bray in 2022. It was a finalist for the 2022 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and won the 2023 Lambda Literary Award for Young Adult Literature.

Plot

Sixteen-year-old Yamilet Flores, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, is adjusting to her new, predominantly white Catholic school and reeling from being outed as a lesbian within her social circle. As she struggles to keep her sexuality a secret from her classmates and religious mother, she bonds with a classmate, Bo, who is out and proud.[1]

Themes and background

The book speaks to the theme of "found family", as well as self-acceptance, and the relationship between queerness and religion. Yamilet is frustrated that she has to hide her sexuality at school and from her mother for fear of rejection.[2]

Sonora Reyes drew on their experience growing up as a closeted queer Catholic school student to inform the book's content.[3]

Reception

Selenia Paz reviewed the book in the School Library Journal as "filled with humor and love, this fast-paced novel will have readers immersed in Yamilet's world, rooting for her and her loved ones all the way."[4] The book was described positively in Kirkus Reviews: "The portrayal of found family and the threads of love and acceptance woven into this story make it a satisfying read with a hopeful ending."[5] April Spisak praised the authors' portrayal of both difficult and joyful elements in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "the ultimate tone is a celebratory one, highlighting the mom who loves her kids ferociously and the alternative prom held after same-sex couples are forbidden at school events."[6] The Lesbian Review concluded that those "in the mood to devour an engrossing, poignant and uplifting young adult novel [need] look no further because this story is filled with so much hope and love."[7]

Awards and honors

The Chicago Public Library included The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School on their list of the best young adult novels of 2022.[8] The following year, it was included on Young Adult Library Services Association's list of Teens' Top Ten.[9]

YearAwardResult
2022Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction[10]
National Book Award for Young People's Literature[11] [12]
2023Lambda Literary Award for Young Adult Literature[13]
Pura Belpré Award[14] [15]
Walter Dean Myers Award[16]
William C. Morris Award[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School Book Review . 2023-05-01 . . en . 2023-05-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501052959/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/lesbianas-guide-to-catholic-school . live .
  2. Web site: Recinos . Eva . I Wish I Had The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School as a Teen . Elle . June 2022 . 1 May 2023 . 1 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501051456/https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a40118765/sonora-reyes-lesbianas-guide-to-catholic-school-essay/ . live .
  3. Cedillo . Melissa . 2022-06-24 . Through queer protagonist, novelist revisits Catholic school. . National Catholic Reporter . 58 . 19 . 1 May 2023 . 2023-05-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501051501/https://www.ncronline.org/news/culture/through-their-queer-protagonist-novelist-sonora-reyes-revisits-catholic-school . live .
  4. Paz . Selenia . REYES, Sonora. The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School. . School Library Journal . May 2022 . 88 . 7 . 1 May 2023 . 1 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501051501/https://www.slj.com/review/the-lesbianas-guide-to-catholic-school . live .
  5. Web site: 2022-02-08 . THE LESBIANA'S GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL . 2023-05-01 . . 2023-05-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501051502/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sonora-reyes/the-lesbianas-guide-to-catholic-school/ . live .
  6. Spisak . April . May 2022 . The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes (review) . Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books . 75 . 9 . 1 May 2023.
  7. Web site: April . 2022-06-28 . The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes: Book Review · The Lesbian Review . 2024-07-02 . The Lesbian Review . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Best Teen Fiction of 2022 . 2024-06-01 . . en-US . 2023-04-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230408145403/https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200121216/2203493022 . live .
  9. Web site: 2023 Teens' Top Ten Winners . 2024-06-01 . Young Adult Library Services Association . . en . 2024-05-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516054759/https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2023-teens-top-ten-winners . live .
  10. Web site: The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School . 2024-06-01 . . en . 2024-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204142941/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58842731-the-lesbiana-s-guide-to-catholic-school . live .
  11. Web site: The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230501051458/https://www.nationalbook.org/books/the-lesbianas-guide-to-catholic-school/ . 2023-05-01 . 2023-05-01 . . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2022-10-05 . National Book Award Finalists Announced . 2024-06-01 . . 2023-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205192436/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=4332 . live .
  13. Web site: Alquist . Pierce . 2023-06-12 . 2023 Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced . 2024-06-01 . BOOK RIOT . en-US . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228202804/https://bookriot.com/2023-lambda-literary-award-winners/ . live .
  14. Web site: 2021-03-24 . Pura Belpré Award . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514133550/https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpre . 2023-05-14 . 2023-05-01 . Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) . en.
  15. Web site: Roback . Diane . Kantor . Emma . Jones . Iyana . 2023-01-30 . Luqman-Dawson, Salati, and Tahir Win Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards . 2024-06-01 . . en . 2023-03-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230330172310/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/91407-luqman-dawson-salati-and-tahir-win-newbery-caldecott-printz-awards.html . live .
  16. Web site: Jones . Iyana . 2023-01-10 . 2023 Walter Dean Myers Awards Announced . 2024-06-01 . . en . 2023-02-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209102008/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/91267-2023-walter-dean-myers-awards-announced.html . live .
  17. Web site: 2012-02-27 . Morris Award . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514133051/https://www.ala.org/yalsa/morris-award . 2023-05-14 . 2023-05-01 . Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) . en.

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