A Queer History of the United States for Young People

April 1, 2019
In this adaptation of his 2011 book for adults, Bronski suggests that the Stonewall riots were precipitated by a great many LGBTQ Americans making their own strides toward liberty. Bronski opens with a discussion of the gender fluidity embraced by some indigenous North American tribes before providing brief biographies of queer individuals from history, along with discussion of changing views on sexuality throughout time. Some figures—Emily Dickinson, Jane Addams, Harvey Milk—will be familiar to readers. More obscure subjects include Jazz Age blues singer Gladys Bentley; 19th-century actor Charlotte Cushman; activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya; and Jose Sarria, the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in the U.S., in 1961. Chavet’s adaptation includes chapters devoted to modern coming-out stories, profiles of contemporary activists, and a look into “the future of queer history.” Readers seeking role models from the past will find an edifying resource and invitation for further exploration into untold stories. Ages 12–up.

April 15, 2019
An adaptation for teens of the adult title A Queer History of the United States (2011). Divided into thematic sections, the text filters LGBTQIA+ history through key figures in each era from the 1500s to the present. Alongside watershed moments like the 1969 Stonewall uprising and the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, the text brings to light less well-known people, places, and events: the 1625 free love colony of Merrymount, transgender Civil War hero Albert D.J. Cashier, and the 1951 founding of the Mattachine Society, to name a few. Throughout, the author and adapter take care to use accurate pronouns and avoid imposing contemporary terminology onto historical figures. In some cases, they quote primary sources to speculate about same-sex relationships while also reminding readers of past cultural differences in expressing strong affection between friends. Black-and-white illustrations or photos augment each chapter. Though it lacks the teen appeal and personable, conversational style of Sarah Prager's Queer, There, and Everywhere (2017), this textbook-level survey contains a surprising amount of depth. However, the mention of transgender movements and activism--in particular, contemporary issues--runs on the slim side. Whereas chapters are devoted to over 30 ethnically diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer figures, some trans pioneers such as Christine Jorgensen and Holly Woodlawn are reduced to short sidebars. Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future. (glossary, photo credits, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from June 1, 2019

Gr 7 Up-This adaptation for teens of the author's 2012 Stonewall Award-winning A Queer History of the United States is doubly valuable; it serves well as a general read and fills a clear curricular need. Each carefully selected profile bolsters the case for queer leadership and activism as a driving force of progress. Captioned photos, helpful sidebars, and short chapters encourage browsing. Bronski is definitive about relationships being romantic or sexual only when there is evidence for that having been the case; he carefully avoids imposing current terminology or concepts on the featured individuals. Without diminishing the risk involved in challenging societal norms, the author shows how there were, even within other eras, cultural messages/spaces that allowed for what the status quo would now consider non-heterosexual behavior. Heartbreak, aging, and blind spots, in theory, are addressed as thoroughly as successes and legacies. There are a few flaws in the glossary: the use of "sex-reassignment" surgery (rather than gender confirmation) in relation to transgender individuals, and a definition of asexuality that equivocates about whether it is a sexual orientation or a temporary feeling. The explanatory tone and frequent definitions in this edition may feel awkward at times to the intended audience of older teens but could increase its usefulness for slightly younger readers. A good companion to Pénélope Bagieu's Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World and Sarah Prager's Queer, There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World. VERDICT An overall successful adaptation of an important work, rich with content relevant to all disciplines and beyond.-Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Now here's an attention-getting title. Be they erstwhile researchers, concerned adults, or curious kids, readers will find a straightforward, documented, nonsensational celebration of the contributions of LGBTQ people in the U.S. over the past three centuries. Information is presented chronologically, beginning with pre-European Native American societies and progressing through current day. Each section profiles a few representative individuals, including well-known gay icons (Harvey Milk, Jamie Nabozny), more anonymous presences (women in the military, cross-dressing entertainers), and luminaries mentioned in traditional history texts (Jane Addams, Walt Whitman). No previous knowledge is assumed: definitions are provided, context is established, and quaint contemporary mores are explained, such as the commonplace practice of people of the same sex, even strangers, sharing beds during the nineteenth century, or the profusion of same-sex "romantic friendships" during periods when men and women were pretty much separated in public life due to strictly defined gender roles. Above all, there is continuous reassurance that the definition of "normal" has always been in flux, that numerous LGBTQ people have been important figures in American history, and that young LGBTQ people of today will make crucial contributions to future queer history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)