Somebody Told Me

February 1, 2020

Gr 9 Up-When they start to feel unsafe after an assault, bigender teen Alexis/Aleks makes the difficult decision to go stay with their uncle, a Catholic priest, for the summer. Once there, Alexis/Aleks plans to cut off all ties to their former cosplay communities and to be as invisible as possible. The rectory's spare room shares a vent with the church confessional, and Alexis/Aleks keeps overhearing confessions. After listening to a particularly heartbreaking one, they decide to use their newfound invisibility to secretly help parishioners, growing in confidence along the way. But after hearing their uncle absolve another priest for a heinous criminal act, Alexis/Aleks cannot stay invisible any longer. Siegert's book maintains interest throughout with a fast-paced mystery, a relatable main character, and compassionate explorations of several tough topics. The deep, thorny issues of religion, sexual assault, and guilt are covered unflinchingly and with compassion. Relatably imperfect Alexis/Aleks must overcome their own assumptions and anxiety in order to help an innocent victim, and makes mistakes with tragic consequences along the way. Readers are also forced to face their own assumptions throughout the unexpected narrative. It seems especially unlikely at first that a queer teen would choose to stay with conservative family members, especially clergy, but Siegert writes Alexis/Aleks so well that their decision makes complete sense. A diverse and nuanced cast of secondary characters proves that friends and enemies can be found anywhere, and that those who help or hurt us are not always the ones we expect. VERDICT Highly recommended, especially where #OwnVoices books are in demand.-Heather Waddell, Abbot Public Library, Marblehead, MA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2020
An agnostic, bigender teen moves in with their Catholic aunt and uncle after being sexually assaulted. Chapter headers indicate if the protagonist currently identifies as Aleks (male, using he/him pronouns) or Alexis (female, using she/her pronouns). Aleks/Alexis cuts off all contact with their cosplay community after these former friends enabled their assault. When Aleks/Alexis discovers that their new room beside the church allows them to overhear confessions, they decide to secretly aid troubled parishioners. When they hear the confession of a priest who is molesting boys--and when their uncle, the priest receiving confessions, absolves him rather than stepping in--Aleks/Alexis determines that drastic action is needed. Aleks/Alexis narrates in a heavy first person that is colored by the shame, anger, and self-hatred they feel as a result of their trauma. The novel's strongest element is the authentic bigender representation: Aleks/Alexis' frequent ruminations on their relationship to gender and presentation ring resoundingly true. Though Aleks/Alexis' parents model an excellent support system, readers should prepare for intense transphobia and homophobia from other characters. Unfortunately, the story's pacing is off-kilter, with some elements rushed and others overly convenient. Though some character moments feel real, others lack nuance. Olive-skinned Aleks/Alexis has Russian Jewish heritage on their dad's side; their crush, Sister Bernadette, has brown skin; the ethnicity of most other characters is not specified. Authentic bigender representation is tempered by an ill-flowing narrative. (author's note, topics for discussion) (Fiction. 14-18)

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March 1, 2020
Grades 9-12 What would you do if you overheard a priest admitting to sexual abuse? This is the question facing 17-year-old bigender teen Aleks/Alexis after they hear a confession through an air vent. In the aftermath of a sexual assault during an anime convention, Aleks/Alexis moves in with their aunt and uncle to temporarily escape the trauma. But when they discover the air-vent conduit to the confessional, they try to play guardian angel, solving problems for others through ingenuity and cunning, at least until the priest's confession. In this novel, Siegert (Jerkbait, 2016) confronts a history of abuse without disparaging all Catholics. In fact, Aleks/Alexis befriends Sister Bernadette, a sarcastic and open-minded nun, and Dima, a candidate for the priesthood who also loves anime. Although some of Aleks/Alexis' internal monologue reflects a strong anti-religious leaning?which can read as overly didactic at times?Siegert's blunt and honest prose brings together a compelling narrative layered with intersections of gender, sexuality, and spirituality, which will be sure to provide teen audiences with much food for thought.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)