The One True Me and You

January 1, 2022
Teagan and Kaylee explore young love while under threat from mean girl Madison. Miss Virginia Teagan needs to win one last pageant to have enough scholarship money for college, but she lives in fear of her sexuality being uncovered, thus hurting her chances of becoming Miss Cosmic Teen USA. Meanwhile, Kaylee is scared that no one will enjoy their original writing as much as their fan fiction but is determined to use GreatCon as a means of exploring their gender and sexuality. With the two events taking place in the same Florida hotel, the pair meet and form an instant attraction when Teagan sneaks out after curfew to explore the convention. Unfortunately, they encounter a mutual enemy in Miss North Carolina Madison, who will stop at nothing to sabotage Teagan and humiliate Kaylee. Teagan finds a true ally in Kaylee, who helps her avoid Madison's scheme to have Teagan get caught sneaking around when she should be in her room, and Kaylee is inspired by Teagan to write outside of their comfort zone. This novel wonderfully explores the alienation and confusion felt by many LGBTQ+ teens without slipping into hopelessness; Teagan and Kaylee experience heartwarming and immensely relatable character growth. Evocative and witty prose will ensnare readers and keep them engaged. Central characters are White; there is diversity in the supporting cast, and the book discusses racism in the pageant system. Delves into both the wonderful communal spaces and the toxic minefields presented by pageants and fandom. (Fiction. 12-18)

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January 31, 2022
England (Spellhacker) plays on the collision between the pageant circuit and fandom culture in this queer romance about two teens who arrive at the same hotel for a weekend. Kay, a fanfic writer attending a fan convention, is hoping for a chance to land a writing opportunity, use they/them pronouns, and work up the courage to kiss a girl. Pageant contestant Teagan, Miss Virginia, is hoping to secure the last win she needs to pay for college so she can finally be out as a lesbian. They share a common enemy in Madison, Miss North Carolina, a bully determined to win the pageant and torment both Kay and Teagan. Through a series of chance meetings, secret hangouts, and text messages, Kay and Teagan both fall for each other. The pageant is portrayed as a milieu rife with toxicity, including homophobia and racism, while the fandom community is described as imperfectly accepting. Though conflicts melt away without resolution, and characters of color take the roles of “protective” friends who further the white protagonists’ goals, Kay and Teagan’s affirming romance, and the wish-fulfillment narrative of escaping societal norms and finding oneself, will resonate. Ages 12–up. Agent: Eric Smith, P.S. Literary.