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Alice Austen Lived Here

Audiobook
3 of 4 copies available
3 of 4 copies available
From the award-winning author of Melissa, a phenomenal story about queerness past, present, and future.

Sam is very in touch with their own queer identity. They're nonbinary, and their best friend, TJ, is nonbinary as well. Sam's familyis very cool with it... as long as Sam remembers that nonbinary kids are also required to clean their rooms, do their homework,and try not to antagonize their teachers too much.The teacher-respect thing is hard when it comes to Sam's history class, because their teacher seems to believe that only DeadStraight Cis White Men are responsible for history. When Sam's home borough of Staten Island opens up a contest for a newstatue, Sam finds the perfect non-DSCWM subject: photographer Alice Austen, whose house has been turned into a museum,and who lived with a female partner for decades.Soon, Sam's project isn't just about winning the contest. It's about discovering a rich queer history that Sam's a part of — a queerhistory that no longer needs to be quiet, as long as there are kids like Sam and TJ to stand up for it.
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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from February 21, 2022
      When Staten Island (“a place known for ways to leave it”) holds a contest for a new statue of a local historical figure, white seventh grader Sam Marino and their best friend, tan-skinned TJ, both nonbinary, design a statue of lesbian photographer Alice Austen, a turn-of-the-century Staten Island resident. As Sam researches Austen, they find another personal connection: not only was Austen queer, she once lived in Sam’s apartment. It’s proof that queer people have always existed, and Sam wants everyone to know—especially their history teacher, who only seems to be interested in DSCWM (“Dead Straight Cisgender White Men”). With the help of their largely white neighbors, including femme 28-year-old Jess, with whom Sam discusses being “fat and fabulous,” and 82-year-old lesbian Ms. Hansen, they gain a deeper understanding of queer community. Gino (You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!) provides a memorable protagonist in confident, stubborn Sam, whose enthusiasm for Austen’s legacy—and the importance of queer history—is infectious. Sam has a strong understanding of institutional racism, and conversations with their older queer friends often center around intersectional oppression. A late interpersonal conflict feels tacked-on, but the solid representation in this novel offers a testament to the power of intergenerational queer community. Ages 9–12. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Author Alex Gino narrates their newest middle-grade audiobook with cheerful vivacity. Sam and TJ are two nonbinary kids looking for a project subject who isn't a dead straight cisgender white man (DSCWM) when they stumble on the history of a mostly forgotten queer photographer. With help from their LGBTQIA+ community, they campaign to put Alice Austen on the map. Gino's voicing of Sam is charmingly authentic--the perfect preteen mix of sweetness and stubbornness. Sam's every quicksilver change of feeling is apparent in their tone. Gino also creates an array of engaging character voices for Sam's family, both real and found, and their pedantic history teacher. An author's note recounts Gino's own discovery of Alice Austen and her connection to their childhood home. N.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:830
  • Text Difficulty:4-5

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