Books of Wonder

Alice Austin Lived Here

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Sam is very in touch with their own queer identity. They're nonbinary, and their best friend, TJ, is nonbinary as well. Sam's family is 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 Dead Straight Cis White Men are responsible for history. When Sam’s home borough of Staten Island opens up a contest for a new statue, 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 queer history that no longer needs to be quiet, as long as there are kids like Sam and TJ to stand up for it.

Customer Reviews (4.7 / 5 · 7 reviews)

Nicholas J. ★★★★★

I've read a lot of YA about queer kids with supportive families, but this one actually gets the nuance right—like the pressure to perform identity perfectly. The way Sam navigates TJ's understanding alongside their own self-discovery feels painfully real.

Andrew K. ★★★★★

Finally, a story that nails what it feels like to be a nonbinary teen with a supportive family. The way Sam and TJ's friendship is written feels so real and specific. This one’s going straight to my favorites shelf.

Christopher N. ★★★★★

The way Sam’s family is supportive but puts conditions on it feels so real—that tension hit close to home. I finished it in one sitting because I couldn’t stop turning pages.