Fight for Your Rights!

Brief synopsis: 
Zeke Thompson has never thought of himself as a "good gay." He's felt forced to hide his sexuality by his Dad, a prominent attorney in their small Alabama town. He's not been able to be a full member of his high school's Queer Straight Alliance (QSA), whose president is Sawyer, his best friend for years--after their initial relationship was that of bully (Sawyer) and bullied (Zeke). Zeke's just never been able to be his true authentic self...until his parents' divorce is finalized and he and his mother move to their own place in town. His mother opens her own mechanic shop--something she's always wanted to do--and uses Zelda Fitzgerald, the first American flapper (and ex-wife to a famous American author) to inspire her. Zelda is also the inspiration for Zeke's name--and what he chooses to be called after the divorce. No longer Anthony, like his Dad, whom he refers to as JACass.
Zeke wans to be a "bad gay," i.e., all the stereotypical things associated with a young gay male. 
He's now able to be a part of the QSA, and just in time to help Sawyer and the other members, Cohen--a former flame of Zeke's--and Kennedy, a popular, African-American cheerleader and graphic artist, and Sawyer's girl-crush/wannabe girlfriend, to organize Beggs, Alabama's first official Pride celebration. 
Unfortunately, on the date--actually a few minutes prior to the start of the official first Pride event--Beggs' mayor puts a stop to the event, with Zeke's Dad there at the mayor's side, with a proclamation that the Pride event will go against the Mayor's newly introduced "Family First" initiative. 
This upheaval leads Zeke to suggest the idea of speakeasies (again, using Zelda Fitzgerald and the 1920s as inspiration) in the month of June to allow those LGBTQIA+ people of Beggs and their supporters to celebrate....Mayor-initiative be damned!

Matthew Hubbard does an amazing job of writing diverse and related characters--both the main LGBTQIA+ teens and adults at the center of the story and those on the opposite side: the Mayor, the "anti" townspeople. Even secondary characters are relatable and likely trigger every reader to an "I know someone just like them" (in real life). 

Zeke is not a "perfect" main character--his aforementioned want to be a "bad gay" to mostly get under his Dad's skin and sully his reputation, but also to figure who he is & just "be." 
Zeke's want to live an authentic life leads him to speak up (to his own and others' surprise) at the Pride event, after it is cancelled, with that speakeasy idea. Though, at the time of that outburst, he has no idea how it will happen!
There are many trials and roadblocks--BUT through the support of Sawyer, Kennedy, and reluctantly, Cohen (also  affectionately called Coco by Zeke), and MORE through his own guile and determination, the town of Beggs is changed from Zeke, his courage, and his desire for a life out loud. 

This story of Pride-bans, stripping LGBTQIA+ individuals of rights or flat out refusing their rights, unfortunately continues to take place--not just in small-town Alabama, but everywhere. 
Matthew's story, Zeke's story and journey, are important, timely, powerful and inspiring!

Rebel's Guide is relatable and fun, and addresses the hard-hitting discrimination, hate, and more head-on--No shying away from that in Matthew's book. 
The "relationship" with Zeke's Dad is quite tennuous and strained. Watch out for the billboards, ya'll!!
Zeke's relationship with his Mom is strained at times; however, Matthew does show their relationship evolve and grow--pre- and post-divorce--and she becomes a major source of stability and LOVE for Zeke. I love that Matthew's characters have at least one, if not both, supportive and caring parents and MANY adult figures and role models in their lives. The adults aren't perfect & shouldn't be, and they often grow and evolve with the main characters--BUT that the majority are loving and supportive and reasonable is just so amazing to have in these stories, and we need more of these people in real life...EVERYWHERE!!

This book also offers a little more romance than Matthew's first book! A welcomed edition--not too spicy, now, but hints and openness regarding sex, for sure!

This book and story is very much a Pride/queer-positive story for teens, YA, adults--everyone!

Look forward to more writing and stories from Matthew Hubbard!! 

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this eARC of Matthew Hubbard's second novel, "The Rebel's Guide to Pride."