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betweentheshelves 's review for:

Lucy, Uncensored by Mel Hammond
3.5
emotional hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to Knopf Books for sending an advanced copy of this book to my library!

Lucy is a senior in high school, trying to decide where to go to college. After a transphobic incident at the local college, she finds an LGBTQ+ friendly college that seems like a dream. But as a women's only college, she's unsure about how trans friendly they really are.

This book hits all the right notes for teens trying to figure out what to do after high school. I loved the friendship between Lucy and her best friend Calli, who is ready to fight anyone who hurts Lucy. They're both super into theater, so if you were also a drama kid in high school, you'll love their journey putting on their play as seniors in high school theater.

There is also a plot line about Lucy and Callie getting their play censored because it features a trans storyline. The school board claims that they're afraid of "controversy," which is unfortunately all to believable in this day and age.

I will say, some of the writing felt a bit clunky at times, and some of the diaglogue didn't quite feel realistic. But, it's also a debut, so plenty of time to improve. This is a sweet book that queer theater kids will definitely relate to. Check it out when it comes out in October!

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