by Sonora Reyes
Balzer & Bray
4/25/2023, paperback
SKU: 9780063060258
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.
Target age: 13 and up
Reviews:
"The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes is a story about bravery, love, and so much more. It's about discovering what makes you feel most at home within yourself, and the comfort that comes with sharing those parts with the people you love, even when it's scary. With a sweet sapphic romance and fiercely loyal friends, this book is a warm, protective hug for teens who are fighting to be seen as themselves in a world that wants them to hide." -- Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
"A bold debut that invites us into a world of cultural specificity and queer love through the voice of a heroine who is impossible to resist. I'm so thrilled for readers to go on this uniquely hilarious and deeply moving journey of self-acceptance." -- Abdi Nazemian, author of Stonewall Honor book Like a Love Story
About the Author:
Sonora Reyes is a queer second-generation immigrant who attended a Catholic high school. They write fiction full of queer and Latinx characters in a variety of genres. Sonora is also the creator and host of #QPOCChat, a monthly community-building Twitter chat for queer writers of color. They currently live in Arizona, in a multigenerational family home with a small pack of dogs who run the place.