May the Best Man Win

April 1, 2021
Ex-boyfriends Lukas and Jeremy will each do anything to become homecoming king. Lukas, a White cisgender boy, and Jeremy, a White transgender boy, were the picture-perfect football player and cheerleader couple at their exclusive private school--until Jeremy began transitioning and broke up with Lukas. Now Lukas, who is autistic, wants to prove himself to his ableist family, and Jeremy seeks validation as a man. Both see winning homecoming king as the key to their dreams, which include admission to prestigious colleges. Jeremy's confidence and strong gay identity make him an enjoyably unusual trans male character, and discussions of gender identity throughout are interesting and current. Though Jeremy's desire to enter the world of rich White men may be understandable, the dynamics of these wealthy teenagers' underlying privilege are underdeveloped. The text acknowledges their socio-economic advantages, but Jeremy still bemoans being "stuffed full of privilege in every way but the one that matters most," forcing readers to ponder which privilege "matters most," a subject that could have been richly explored. The book also presents some stereotypes without irony, like the Asian best friend whose cultural texture does not extend beyond having harshly controlling and perfectionist parents and the college dropout with two jobs and criminal tendencies. Lukas is sympathetic, but Jeremy's antisocial behaviors render him unlikable, without enough growth for a satisfying redemption. A fun premise that misses the mark a few too many times. (Fiction. 14-18)

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May 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Jeremy Harkiss is determined to triumph senior year, his first year back at Cresswell Academy after coming out as transgender. Jeremy faces bigots and an outdated school code of conduct, and he wants to make waves. First on the agenda is being voted Homecoming King, but he faces competition from his ex-boyfriend, Lukas. Lukas is facing challenges of his own: a dead brother, his parents' marriage falling apart, and a secret diagnosis of autism that seems to stand in the way of every achievement he desires. The boys' rivalry gets in the way of other friendships, as well as them facing the truth of how they feel about each other. The author uses this story to bring many important issues to focus. Jeremy is consistently asked to defend his own existence by clueless adults and hateful classmates, and he clearly articulates how frustrated he is with this burden in addition to the challenges of transitioning and cementing his identity. Relationships of all types are explored, and an emphasis on caring for others while also caring for oneself emerges. The pacing is fast, bordering on manic, with the romance wrapping up so close to the end that it feels forced, and the plot feels scattered and overwhelming at times. Some teens will have trouble relating to the characters, who attend a preppy private school, name-drop elite colleges, and see Homecoming as the social culmination of their lives. The villains, a bully student and the principal, are flat and predictable, and seem contrived in the face of so many other inner battles. VERDICT An additional purchase for school and public libraries.-Christine Case, Hillcrest H.S., Country Club Hills, IL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 15, 2021
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* With his debut, Ellor delivers an intense story about self-discovery, pain, and forgiveness. After Jeremy comes out as transgender, he has to deal with outdated school policies on top of continuous harassment. His ex-boyfriend, Lukas, is managing complicated grief over the death of his brother, leftover feelings for the person he knew as his girlfriend, and the effort of trying to mask his autism at school. When the two exes go up against each other for homecoming king, they both think they're willing to do whatever it takes to beat their ex--even if that means destroying each other completely. Ellor adeptly conducts a nuanced conversation about the challenges that coming out as trans brings for the transgender person and the relationships they must navigate. While teen homecomings may seem like well-trod territory, this is fresh and engaging even independent of Jeremy's coming-out narrative. Ellor's diligently realistic and earnest depiction of his teen characters is equally refreshing; these authentic portrayals help drive home a heartening message of the complex and emotionally paradoxical nature of humans. Fans of Leah Johnson's You Should See Me in a Crown (2020) won't want to miss this thoughtful lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers high-school dramedy with a romantic core, and they'll no doubt look forward to Ellor's next.

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