THIS IS WHY THEY HATE US

A young bisexual man in East LA attempts to get over a long-term crush by pursuing other options.

High school junior Enrique “Quique” Luna has had feelings for Saleem Kanazi for quite some time, but Mexican American Quique is pretty sure that Saleem is straight, and this crush isn’t doing him any favors. In order to move on with his life and finally get some experience with guys, he enlists the help of Fabiola, his Afro-Latina bisexual best friend, to make moves on some quality prospects who might become something more. There’s dynamic, wild Manny Zuniga; chilled-out (and well-endowed) Tyler Montana; and even sweet, confident class president Ziggy Jackson. But although Saleem is away with his family for the first part of the summer, he still preoccupies Quique’s thoughts. Complicating matters, Quique is dealing with the suicidal ideation that has been plaguing him; he’s grappled with his mental health since the end of eighth grade. Tight, fast-paced prose guides readers through Quique’s attempts to unpack complicated tangles of desire, sexuality, and depression while laugh-out-loud punchlines pop up on every page. Aceves’ debut novel honors queer kids of color with earnest, honest depictions of messy teenage life. The tender portrayal of Palestinian American Saleem and his struggles with his family’s displacement in the Nakba is particularly bold and notable.

An outstanding portrait of teenage longing, angst, and self-discovery.