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A review by zinelib
The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon
5.0
Is literary YA a thing? If it is, Kekla Magoon is one of its premier artists. Her style features short, staccato chapters that are like poetry darts--but for poetry resisters such as myself, don't worry, it's all prose, no novel-in-verse treachery! The narrator and newest member of the Minus-One Club is Kermit, a closeted teen who just lost his older sister in a car accident. The object of Kermit's affection is Matt, a charter Minus-One member, who is part of the club by virtue of his mother's cancer death.
At first, I was concerned that Matt was suffering from perfect YA boyfriend syndrome, but as the story unfolds, we learn that despite Matt's outward appearance as the Indiana town's one public gay, he's just as troubled as the other members of the club. Unfortunately, a rule of Minus-One Club is there is no talking about it (death, grief, loss)--even at club events.
Kermit's story reminds us (me) that though things are easier now for queer teens than they once were, coming out is still a Big Deal, especially if you come from a Baptist family and live in a state that would elect Mike Pence governor.
It's mentioned in passing at one point that Kermit is biracial. None of his friends' racial identities is referenced. cw: drinking, suicidal ideation
At first, I was concerned that Matt was suffering from perfect YA boyfriend syndrome, but as the story unfolds, we learn that despite Matt's outward appearance as the Indiana town's one public gay, he's just as troubled as the other members of the club. Unfortunately, a rule of Minus-One Club is there is no talking about it (death, grief, loss)--even at club events.
Kermit's story reminds us (me) that though things are easier now for queer teens than they once were, coming out is still a Big Deal, especially if you come from a Baptist family and live in a state that would elect Mike Pence governor.
It's mentioned in passing at one point that Kermit is biracial. None of his friends' racial identities is referenced. cw: drinking, suicidal ideation