Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
A story about a young queer Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx who spends a summer in Portland as an intern to her feminist idol.
THEMES:
LGBTQ+, Latine, Coming of age, Identity
Juliet Milagros Palante is a self-proclaimed closeted Puerto Rican baby dyke from the Bronx. Only, she's not so closeted anymore. Not after coming out to her family the night before flying to Portland, Oregon, to intern with her favorite feminist writer--what's sure to be a life-changing experience. And when Juliet's coming out crashes and burns, she's not sure her mom will ever speak to her again.
But Juliet has a plan--sort of. Her internship with legendary author Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women's bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff, is sure to help her figure out this whole Puerto Rican lesbian thing. Except Harlowe's white. And not from the Bronx. And she definitely doesn't have all the answers . . .
In a summer bursting with queer brown dance parties, a sexy fling with a motorcycling librarian, and intense explorations of race and identity, Juliet learns what it means to come out--to the world, to her family, to herself.
Publication Date: January 18th, 2016
Audiobook? Yes
Age Range: 14+
Read Time: 3 hours, 57 minutes (at 300 WPM)
ISBN-13: 9781626012516
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gabby Rivera is a Bronx-born queer Puerto Rican babe on a mission to create the wildest, most fun stories ever. She's the first Latina to write for Marvel comics, penning the solo series AMERICA about America Chavez, a portal-punching queer Latina powerhouse. In 2017, Gabby was named one of the top comic creators by the SyFy network, and one of NBC's #Pride30 Innovators. Gabby now makes magic on both coasts, currently residing in California. She writes for all the sweet baby queers and her mom.
Gabby Rivera talks about radical creativity & queer Latinx joy on Artist Events (November 2020, Free Library of Philadelphia).
10 years after her first It Gets Better video, Gabby Rivera reflects on what's happened since then - including her book, "Juliet Takes a Breath," and writing "America" for Marvel starring queer superhero America Chavez.(December 2020, It Gets Better Project).
IN THE NEWS
Forsyth school board tackles banned books controversy (Book and Film Globe)
Opinion: First, it was critical race theory. Now, it’s books (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)