South of Sunshine - Hardcover

Elmendorf, Dana

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807575682 ISBN 13: 9780807575680

Publisher: AW Teen, 2016

Synopsis

What is Kaycee willing to risk for the sake of love? 
And what will she risk for acceptance?
 
In Sunshine, Tennessee, the main event in town is Friday night football, the biggest party of the year is held in a field filled with pickup trucks, and church attendance is mandatory. For Kaycee Jean McCoy, life in Sunshine means dating guys she has no interest in, saying only "yes, ma'am" when the local bigots gossip at her mom's cosmetics salon, and avoiding certain girls at all costs. Girls like Bren Dawson.
 

Unlike Kaycee, Bren doesn't really conceal who she is. But as the cool, worldly new girl, nobody at school seems to give her any trouble. Maybe there's no harm if Kaycee gets closer to her too, as long as she can keep that part of her life a secret, especially from her family and her best friend. But the more serious things get with Bren, the harder it is to hide from everyone else. Kaycee knows Sunshine has a darker side for people like her, and she's risking everything for the chance to truly be herself. 

About this title

About the Author

Dana Elmendorf was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee, and now lives in southern California with her husband, two boys, and her tiny dog. This is her first book.

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Kaycee Jean McCoy has lived her entire life in the small town of Sunshine, TN. She's aware of the dangers of revealing her lesbian identity, the secret she's worked hard to keep even from herself. From her mother's store to church on Sunday, Kaycee goes to great lengths to fit in, even seeking boyfriends to support her disguise. But when athletic, worldly Bren transfers to their school, Kaycee finds it hard to stay away, even when it puts her new girlfriend and closest friends in danger. Kaycee's coming-out story presents a dark side of contemporary small-town life. The members of Kaycee's community regularly use racial and antigay slurs, and she faces an immediate threat of antigay violence. The tumultuous coming out and secret romance with Bren will resonate with readers, as will the effects on the teen's friendships. The setting is fully realized, establishing a familiar backdrop for the realistic and unsettling bigotry of the town. Readers seeking lesbian coming-out tales might also enjoy Emily M. Danforth's The Miseducation of Cameron Post for its more authentic exploration of coming to terms with a lesbian identity. VERDICT Recommended for readers seeking additional works with LGBTQ protagonists.—Amanda Foulk, Sacramento Public Library

About this edition

• Publisher: AW Teen
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0807575682
• ISBN 13: 9780807575680
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 256