A witty and warm-hearted novel about a trans teen finding his place in the world perfect for fans of Red, White and Royal BlueThere’s only one thing standing between Finch Kelly and a full-blown case of high school senioritis: the National Speech & Debate Tournament. Taking home the gold would not only be the pinnacle of Finch’s debating career, but the perfect way to launch himself into his next chapter: college in Washington, DC, and a history-making career as the first trans congressman. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, for starters, Finch could develop a teeny tiny crush on his very attractive, very taken, and very gay debate partner, Jonah. Never mind that Finch has never considered whether he’s interested in more than just girls. And that dream of college in DC? Finch hasn’t exactly been accepted anywhere yet, let alone received the full-ride scholarship he'll need to make this dream a reality.
Worst of all, though, is this year's topic for Nationals: transgender rights. If he wants to cinch the gold, and get into college, Finch might have to argue against his own humanity.
People say there are two sides to every argument. But, as Finch is about to discover, some things—like who you are and who you love—are not up for debate.
Peyton Thomas is a freelance journalist with bylines in
Pitchfork, Billboard, and
Vanity Fair. He was a 2016 Lambda Literary Fellow, studying under Benjamin Alire Sáenz. He lives in Toronto, and
Both Sides Now will be his debut novel.
* "Queer issues are given center stage, evoking the lived experiences of many in a sensitive and sympathetic way...These characters feel
nuanced and genuine, with their identities and backgrounds as integral parts of the plot and characterization.
Emotionally charged and politically relevant, this is a must read." —
Kirkus* “Thomas’ debut is a
chingly vulnerable… There’s no debate:
Both Sides Now is
a compelling, heartfelt must-read.”
—
Booklist"Debut author Thomas’s conversational writing style is
highly engaging and should draw readers in with a
compelling story of self-realization and a bit of youthful romance." —
The Horn Book“A
sharp, witty narrative… full of cerebral teens with big plans and snark to spare.” —
SLJ"This coming-of-age romance
poignantly depicts self-discovery and finding your place in the world." —
BuzzFeed
"A
delightful YA read.” —
The Advocate
“A
heartfelt, witty debut novel.” —
Buffalo News
