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A review by lilyrooke
The Civil War of Amos Abernathy by Michael Leali
4.0
are you looking for a bold and brave MG novel that challenges the lack of engagement with queer history?
read this if you enjoyed: Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff; Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper.
rep: gay MC; LI; Black side character
cw: death of a parent (off-page, in the past); religious trauma; arguably abusive parents; queerphobia; verbal abuse; microaggressions, all involving/challenged by children.
Happily out Amos loves history and has volunteered at a Civil War re-enactment park most of his life, but as he grows into a teenager, he's beginning to recognise the lack of engagement with true history, the history that includes LGBTQIAP+ and BIPOC people. Once he discovers the story of Albert, a Civil War soldier who would likely have identified as trans today, there's no stopping Amos' drive to bring his Forgotten Voices project to life. But just as he and his best friend Ben seem to be growing closer, Ben's parents forbid the two of them to spend any more time together. Fighting an internal civil war, Amos must stand up to the conservative voices of his rural Midwest community and be brave enough to be the voice for queer heroes of the past.
CAWPILE: 7.9 (4*)
favourite aspect: I loved how Amos unapologetically forges ahead with finding as many examples of queer historical figures as he can, and I love that the author then presented a detailed source list at the back of the book just to challenge anyone coming in with a 'what is this liberal propaganda' mindset. Achillean Abe Lincoln is an iconic revelation. It was fascinating to learn about Albert and I found Amos' speech to the transphobic/queerphobic religious community figures heart-wrenching and powerful. He's such a brave character. My queero lol!
a wish: I would have liked Ben's experience with religious trauma and with his homophobic parents to have been explored in more detail, but if this was considered inappropriate for a MG book, I would have at least liked the psychological impact on Ben to have been explored in more detail or even addressed by supportive adults such as Amos' mum.
read this if you enjoyed: Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff; Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper.
rep: gay MC;
Spoiler
gaycw: death of a parent (off-page, in the past); religious trauma; arguably abusive parents; queerphobia; verbal abuse; microaggressions, all involving/challenged by children.
Happily out Amos loves history and has volunteered at a Civil War re-enactment park most of his life, but as he grows into a teenager, he's beginning to recognise the lack of engagement with true history, the history that includes LGBTQIAP+ and BIPOC people. Once he discovers the story of Albert, a Civil War soldier who would likely have identified as trans today, there's no stopping Amos' drive to bring his Forgotten Voices project to life. But just as he and his best friend Ben seem to be growing closer, Ben's parents forbid the two of them to spend any more time together. Fighting an internal civil war, Amos must stand up to the conservative voices of his rural Midwest community and be brave enough to be the voice for queer heroes of the past.
CAWPILE: 7.9 (4*)
favourite aspect: I loved how Amos unapologetically forges ahead with finding as many examples of queer historical figures as he can, and I love that the author then presented a detailed source list at the back of the book just to challenge anyone coming in with a 'what is this liberal propaganda' mindset. Achillean Abe Lincoln is an iconic revelation. It was fascinating to learn about Albert and I found Amos' speech to the transphobic/queerphobic religious community figures heart-wrenching and powerful. He's such a brave character. My queero lol!
a wish: I would have liked Ben's experience with religious trauma and with his homophobic parents to have been explored in more detail, but if this was considered inappropriate for a MG book, I would have at least liked the psychological impact on Ben to have been explored in more detail or even addressed by supportive adults such as Amos' mum.