Small Town Pride
Ratings3
Average rating4
15
Ratings3
Average rating4
From acclaimed author Phil Stamper (The Gravity of Us and As Far as You’ll Take Me) comes a poignant coming-of-age, contemporary middle grade debut novel about finding your place, using your voice, and the true meaning of pride. Perfect for fans of Rick by Alex Gino and The Best at It by Maulik Pancholy. Jake is just starting to enjoy life as his school’s first openly gay kid. While his family and friends are accepting and supportive, the same can’t be said about everyone in their small town of Barton Springs, Ohio. When Jake’s dad hangs a comically large pride flag in their front yard in an overblown show of love, the mayor begins to receive complaints. A few people are even concerned the flag will lead to something truly outlandish: a pride parade. Except Jake doesn’t think that’s a ridiculous idea. Why can’t they hold a pride festival in Barton Springs? The problem is, Jake knows he’ll have to get approval from the town council, and the mayor won’t be on his side. And as Jake and his friends try to find a way to bring Pride to Barton Springs, it seems suspicious that the mayor’s son, Brett, suddenly wants to spend time with Jake. But someone that cute couldn’t possibly be in league with his mayoral mother, could he?
Reviews with the most likes.
This was very sweet and I loved the depiction of Midwestern small town life (although: it's population 2000 and it has a McDonald's?? I GUESS). I appreciated that it was challenging but not cliched, and that it wasn't totally bleak despite the setbacks Jake faces.
Smallest nitpick: the video game Jake plays is very clearly Stardew Valley and like, are tweens big on the Stardew grind?? It doesn't really matter but it definitely felt like something an adult author who plays a lot of Stardew would include and less like something that will directly resonate with a lot of kids. But the point of the online game community itself will still work.
