SUMMER IN THE CITY OF ROSES

Two siblings try to find each other in this queer and feminist journey.

Headstrong Iphigenia Santos Velos often advocates for her sensitive brother, Orestes, shielding him from the harsh whims of those who don’t understand him. But when their mother leaves to attend an artist residency and their father can’t handle taking care of Orr on his own, he sends him to the Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Center for Boys. Learning of this decision prompts Iph to run away from her father, disturbed by his betrayal. Then, lost in an unfamiliar area of Portland, Oregon, she runs into the charming and genderqueer George, who assists Iph in finding her bearings. Meanwhile, Orr escapes the wilderness boot camp, falling in with a group of punk rockers who graciously allow him to stay with them in their pink house named Penelope. Both Iph and Orr decide not to return home, instead seeking one another while unearthing new sides of themselves during a transformative summer. Set in the early ’90s, this novel with mythological influences captures the mystical, feminist wonder of the City of Roses’ underground scene. Through its enchanting, dual storylines, readers spend considerable time with Iph’s and Orr’s inner thoughts, making this an intimate and observant character study. Iph and Orr are Mexican and Greek, and the supporting cast is diverse all around.

Quirky, contemplative, and nostalgic.