by Michael Leili
HarperCollins
06/07/2022, hardcover
SKU: 9780063119864
Amos Abernathy lives for history. Literally. He's been a historical reenactor nearly all his life. But when a cute new volunteer arrives at his Living History Park, Amos finds himself wondering if there's something missing from history: someone like the two of them.
Amos is sure there must have been LGBTQ+ people in nineteenth-century Illinois. His search turns up Albert D. J. Cashier, a Civil War soldier who might have identified as a trans man if he'd lived today. Soon Amos starts confiding in his newfound friend by writing letters in his journal--and hatches a plan to share Albert's story with his divided twenty-first century town. It may be an uphill battle, but it's one that Amos is ready to fight.
Told in an earnest, hilarious voice, this love letter to history, first crushes, and LGBTQ+ community will delight readers of Ashley Herring Blake, Alex Gino, or Maulik Pancholy.
Target age: 8 to 13
Reviews:
"A compelling debut, brimming with charming characters who take responsibility for making the world around them more honest and more inclusive." -- Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal, New York Times Bestselling Co-Authors of I'm Not Dying with You Tonight and Why We Fly.
"Entertaining and engaging. A necessary addition to all collections seeking heartwarming tales of first crushes, and the importance of centering marginalized history." -- School Library Journal
About the Author:
Michael Leali, a historical reenactor in his youth, is now a writer and educator. When he's not dreaming up stories, he's probably playing a board game, eating cheese, or grading papers somewhere in the suburbs of Chicago.