BOTH SIDES NOW

The debate club is Finch’s passion, but when the topic for nationals is announced, he is anything but excited.

Students from across the U.S. will be debating bathroom access for transgender students. It feels to Finch, as a White transgender boy, like a debate about his right to exist in public spaces. With hopes for winning—and thus improving the odds of a life-changing college scholarship—on the line, he has to choose between his academic and political ambitions and his emotional well-being. Complicating things are his growing feelings for his friend and debate partner, Jonah, who is gay; Finch is unsure of his sexual orientation. Queer issues are given center stage, evoking the lived experiences of many in a sensitive and sympathetic way. Racial and other identity-related subjects, while not the focus of the narrative, are also addressed, with Filipino American Jonah receiving his own fleshed-out subplot regarding anti-Asian racism and diverse representation in the supporting cast. Bigotry is depicted in its many insidious forms, including the buildup of day-to-day microaggressions. Despite presenting the full picture of these attacks, the novel makes it clear that Finch’s and Jonah’s lives are not bleak tragedies: They are allowed their happiness and their triumphs. 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.