Driving Lessons: A You Know Who Girls Novel (The You Know Who Girls, 2) - Softcover

Hesik, Annameekee

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1626392285 ISBN 13: 9781626392281

Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, 2014

Synopsis

Abbey Brooks has recovered from her end-of-freshman-year heartbreak and has vowed that this year, her sophomore year at Gila High, will be different in every way. Her to-do list: get her driver’s license, come out to her mom, get (and keep) a girlfriend, and survive another year of basketball. As always, though, nothing goes according to plan. Who will be there for her as her plans start to unravel? Who will bring her back to life after another round of heartache and betrayal? These remain a mystery—even to Abbey.

But one thing is for sure, she’s not confused about who she is. And that is going to make all the difference.

About this title

About the Author

Annameekee Hesik came out when she was fifteen and has since told her entire family, the pet store guy, the lady in line at the post office, and pretty much anyone else she comes in contact with. After surviving high school, she went to college for six years and changed her major five times. She is thrilled she finally decided to become a high school English teacher (with a background in anthropology, American Sign Language, history, and environmental biology). And yes, she is out to her students, too. When she isn’t teaching lessons on writing, reading, and talking about why reading and writing are so important, she spends her time in Santa Cruz, California, walking her dogs, riding bikes with her wife, slurping down mocha shakes, and writing books that she hopes will help lesbian and questioning teens feel like they are not the only girl loving girls in the world.

Reviews

Gr 9 Up—Abbey's sophomore year is already in trouble. She's scared to learn to drive after her father's fatal accident, afraid to come out to her mother, and is suddenly targeted by the meanest girl in school. That, plus baggage from her last not-girlfriend, confusing dynamics with her very straight BFF, and a flirtatious straight girl all mean that this year will be one for the books. A fun, contemporary, lesbian heir to Alex Sanchez's "Rainbow Boys" trilogy (S. & S.), this series seems to be a wonderful and relatively light realistic look at the specific trials of being a teenaged girl who likes girls. Hesik does a good job of filling new readers in on the relationships and plot points established in Freshman Year (Bold Strokes, 2012) without bogging down the opening chapters. Although some of the references are dated (The Butchies; Late Night with Dr. Drew; Buffy the Vampire Slayer), that doesn't deter from the book's quality. There is also a very well-handled relationship between a Deaf character and the hearing protagonist. Although the speed with which Abbey becomes comfortable signing is surprising, the interactions ring true to the way that Deaf and hearing individuals and culture rub up against each other. The characters are delightfully affectionate and frank, and go through the tensions and changes typical of teen girl friendships in a realistic way. VERDICT A strong read for girls just coming out who want to see their own experiences reflected back at them.—L. Lee Butler, Hart Middle School, Washington, DC

Edition details

• Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1626392285
• ISBN 13: 9781626392281
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 264