![]() The focus was on the protagonist's discomfort, anxiety, and alienation with this group who he *should* feel at home with, but whose emphasis on and pressure for sexual activity makes him feel isolated and as if there's something wrong with him. Alvin did seem a little slow on the pickup but it did allow the reader to learn along with him.Ī short read about a teen starting at a new school without his best friend and feeling out of place: he knows he's gay, but doesn't feel as knowledgeable about LGBT+ stuff as the queer friend-group that adopts him, and doesn't understand why their very sexually-charged social culture (and their new focus on getting him laid, once they find out he hasn't had sex) makes him so anxious and uncomfortable. Also interesting was how prejudice among the LGBTQ community was presented, without being overt about it (except for one scene at the end), not only in how sex is considering a defining factor of a relationship but also in another scene as a trans character is seen as not being "gay" after transition (e.g. This was a quick read that might have had a bit too much telling and not enough showing, but Alvin's journey toward discovering that he's asexual and what that means for a relationship felt very realistic. But Alvin begins to realize that he feels uncomfortable talking about sex and especially when things progress to more than kissing and hand-holding. He finds a group of LGBTQ+ friends, and they agree to help him find a boyfriend between jock Jesse, outgoing Alistair, and reclusive Rowan. ![]() In conclusion, I may not love the cover (the book lead me to believe Alvin was a Carribean kid, but the cover shows a kid of East Asian descent?) but the story is well-worth it.Īfter moving to a new town, Alvin is hoping to be more "out" than he was at his old school. I cringed when I saw it and I hope Lorimer change it if they run another print.Īlso I know that Daniel character is supposed to represent the gatekeepers in general, but I really wanted to punch him when he went on about other orientations taking space away from gay/lesbian people. My only slight critic is that, since this book came out early 2020, Elliot Page wasn't out and he's referenced by their deadname. A hundred bonus point for including a reference to The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality and LGBT Youth Line. The romance was easily resolved (I know whom he'd end up with from the get go), but Alvin's journey to that point is what many of us go through. I cringed and felt bad for Alvin, but what he goes through is pretty standard for an ace person. People saying it's just a phase, or that you haven't found the right person yet, or that it's okay to take your time. I LOVED IT! I say it's anxiety-inducing, but that's because many challenges asexual people face are shown. But for its purpose it works magnificently.Īnd the rep. I wish the characters were more developped and that the love triangle (it's not a square because Jesse downright sounds like a predator at times) had been more fleshed out. I remember reading Romeo for Real (gay rep) a few years ago and wishing there was more to it because it's just so good! And it's the same with Ace of Hearts. Lorimer publishes pretty good hi-lo books that pack a punch while educating teens on LGBTQ+ issues. This little book is wonderful for its ace rep, but it's also anxiety-inducing for somebody who is on the aro/ace spectrum. ![]() Trigger warning: mentions of bullying, ace-erasure, aphobia
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