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If It Makes You Happy
by Claire Kann
WASHYARG review
Winnie spends every summer in a tiny Southern town, working for her Granny at her diner and hanging out with her family and ungirlfriend/partner, Kara. Every summer the town holds the Haven Summer Royalty event, a grand matchmaking spectacle resulting in a reigning couple (or thruple) that presides over additional events throughout the season. Somehow, Winnie's name is entered into the contest and she is, against her will, selected as Queen. Her partner Kara immediately volunteers to be King, but then so does Dallas - the cute boy Winnie has secretly be crushing on! Relationship drama ensues and Winnie models very self-aware and mature communication habits. Kara and Dallas? Not as much. Between this, a cooking contest show coming to town that her brother is desperate to compete in, and an ever-grating relationship with her Granny, this is a summer full of twists and turns. Winnie is a fat, Black, queer girl, and the book highlights issues related to fatphobia, racism, and queer identity. Winnie illustrates to complexities of being fat, from how precious it is to find clothes that truly fit, to problems with healthcare providers, to the daily anti-fat discrimination found in strangers and loved ones. In terms of race, issues such as police violence, a lack of mirror representation in books and problematic fantasy tropes, and dangerous racial power dynamics that constantly threaten Black people in this country. Winnie describes herself has queer and this is an asexual ownvoices story. Winnie's sexuality is illustrated both through her interactions with her partners, as well as through conversations with her parents and Dallas. Winnie is a fully fleshed out character, driven by her love for her family and dedication to being herself. The secondary characters are not as fully explored. This compelling, character-driven story will appeal to grades 8 and up, has no drinking, drugs, physical violence, has some kissing and swearing. Content warnings: fatphobia (interpersonal, medical) and racism.
Winnie spends every summer in a tiny Southern town, working for her Granny at her diner and hanging out with her family and ungirlfriend/partner, Kara. Every summer the town holds the Haven Summer Royalty event, a grand matchmaking spectacle resulting in a reigning couple (or thruple) that presides over additional events throughout the season. Somehow, Winnie's name is entered into the contest and she is, against her will, selected as Queen. Her partner Kara immediately volunteers to be King, but then so does Dallas - the cute boy Winnie has secretly be crushing on! Relationship drama ensues and Winnie models very self-aware and mature communication habits. Kara and Dallas? Not as much. Between this, a cooking contest show coming to town that her brother is desperate to compete in, and an ever-grating relationship with her Granny, this is a summer full of twists and turns. Winnie is a fat, Black, queer girl, and the book highlights issues related to fatphobia, racism, and queer identity. Winnie illustrates to complexities of being fat, from how precious it is to find clothes that truly fit, to problems with healthcare providers, to the daily anti-fat discrimination found in strangers and loved ones. In terms of race, issues such as police violence, a lack of mirror representation in books and problematic fantasy tropes, and dangerous racial power dynamics that constantly threaten Black people in this country. Winnie describes herself has queer and this is an asexual ownvoices story. Winnie's sexuality is illustrated both through her interactions with her partners, as well as through conversations with her parents and Dallas. Winnie is a fully fleshed out character, driven by her love for her family and dedication to being herself. The secondary characters are not as fully explored. This compelling, character-driven story will appeal to grades 8 and up, has no drinking, drugs, physical violence, has some kissing and swearing. Content warnings: fatphobia (interpersonal, medical) and racism.