Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit

Starred review from May 23, 2016
Joanna has always been out as a lesbian to her minister father, but now that he is remarrying and moving them from tolerant Atlanta to a small Georgia town, he asks her to “lie low.” Initially, it doesn’t seem so bad: it’s only a year until she graduates from high school, and it turns out that finding friends who share her Christian faith is kind of great. Then one of Jo’s new friends reveals that she has feelings for her, and that she isn’t interested in hiding. Brown (No Place to Fall) ably depicts Jo’s conundrum: if she tells the truth, she breaks her promise to her father; if she doesn’t, she risks losing the first girl she’s been serious about. Faith matters in this book, but so do family, friends, and being funny. The dialogue is snappy—Joanna is sharp tongued and sometimes bratty—and the characters aren’t types. Rather, they’re individuals navigating a complicated world, which makes for a rich and satisfying read. Ages 14–up Agent: Alexandra Machinist, ICM.

Amanda Dolan narrates the story of a gay teenager who moves from cosmopolitan Atlanta to the evangelical town of Rome, Georgia. Dolan embodies the reactions of Jo Gordon, who is spending her senior year with her father and new stepmother. A devout Christian, Jo promises to "lie low" if she can run an on-air ministry show. Her initial resentment about the move results in a humorous snarky tone, which Dolan captures perfectly. Dolan also expresses Jo's more vulnerable side--her fear of being found out; her developing love for Rome native Mary Carlson, who doesn't understand why Jo won't come out; and the conflict between lying to friends and her strong faith. This audiobook is as open about sexuality as Jo finally becomes. That makes it a refreshingly expressive listen. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine