A Million Quiet Revolutions

Gr 10 Up–A beautifully written novel in verse about self-discovery and first love. Aaron and Oliver are trans boys beginning their senior year of high school. They’re happy to have each other in their small town devoid of any other LGBTQ+ teens, or even adults, and have always looked to each other for comfort, understanding, and love. Their plans of a future together come to a halt when an incident causes Aaron’s family to move away. To cope with his loneliness, Oliver dives into history to find stories of queer people. What he finds is a tale of two Revolutionary War soldiers who may have been trans men in love. Aaron and Oliver decide to adopt the names of these soldiers and write letters to each other, hoping to keep their love alive until their next meeting. Gow delivers incredibly realistic and well-developed characters in Aaron and Oliver. Secondary characters also feel authentic; both boys’ parents are aware of their sons’ feelings, and while Oliver’s parents want to listen, understand, and accept him, Aaron’s parents have a difficult time accepting him once he transitions. Readers will enjoy embarking on the roller coaster of emotions this title evokes and learning about a history rarely explored in fiction. Aaron is Puerto Rican; Oliver is white and Jewish. An explicit sex scene is included.