A review by melissa_renee
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

4.5

An open letter to Malinda Lo,
I hope you know your writing is beautiful and needed in todays world. I want to make it clear that I read every single page and would not be sharing my thoughts openly had I not. As an avid reader of romance titles that range from tame to downright smut, I can honestly say that the sex scene in this book may be too much for some young readers. It's not just about the act, it's the level of emotion and connection they have during the scene in question. It's also the way you describe the act which leaves little to the imagination. Just know that as a mother and a librarian I love this book, just for an older audience due to this scene. Please don't villainies* all of us that feel this way, we are not all crazy right wingers.
x
Melissa

*https://www.malindalo.com/blog/2023/10/3/book-banning-2023

Full book

Book Review for Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Lo, M. (2021). Last night at the telegraph club. Dutton Books.
ATOS Book Level: 6.3
Awards:
  • Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Award, 2022
  • Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred, 12/01/20
  • Horn Book Magazine starred, 03/01/21
  • Stonewall Book Award, 2022
  • Kirkus Reviews starred, 12/01/20

Genre and subgenre: Young Adult Fiction: Historical Fiction, LGTBQAI+
Diversity Issues: 
Last Night at the Telegraph Club being presented as a historical fiction novel is a huge disservice to the reader. Yes, the backdrop of a 1950’s San Francisco, deep within Chinatown, is absolutely historical in nature, but the main objective of this book is to present the internal struggle of a young Chinese American woman who is gay, therefore placing diversity at the core of the story. 
Our main character Lily is surrounded by constant diversity issues, whether it’s her father, a Chinese immigrant who is now an American citizen, having his immigration papers taken away by the police, or the women she meets at the lesbian nightclub, that is then raided by the authorities for “deviant” acts. Lily is entrenched in two opposing worlds that are more alike than some might want to admit. 
The novel dives into Chinese American culture with food, language, and the sights and sounds of her home in Chinatown. Throughout the story the author uses Cantonese words in Chinese characters, footnoted for the reader's easy understanding, enriching the story and bringing it to life. At one point Lo (2021) describes the streets of Chinatown which I can attest is incredibly accurate to modern day Shanghai, “ buckets of iced fish lined up in pearlescent rows; bushels of green-and-white bok choy and mounds of gnarled ginger roots; tourists gaping at the glistening roast ducks hanging on hooks in the deli windows. And through it all there was a cacophony of smells and sounds: bitter herbs mingling with sweet buns; the quick, harsh Cantonese of shopkeepers making deals; the rank background stench of yesterday’s seafood” (p. 96).
Book Review:
Last Night at the Telegraph Club follows a young, queer Chinese American girl in the 1950’s, sharing the balancing act she has to perform in order to keep her two worlds separate. The main plot of the novel, though historically rich, is the awakening of the main character to the fact that she is gay. The basic building blocks of the plot are not new, however, the richness to this story is created by the backdrop of San Francisco in the 1950’s, incorporating the current laws and views of homosexuality created unique layers to the setting that otherwise would not be there, or maybe not as prominent. Her Chinese heritage gave a uniqueness to the story, creating depth and development of the characters that you don’t see often in YA literature. 
The point of view changes a few times throughout the book but it creates a deeper understanding of the main character's life and gives the reader a broader perspective of the family background in China. The characters are believable and also quite diverse. When Lily meets other lesbian woman at the Telegraph Club a new world is introduced to her and thus creates relatability to those that might identify as queer or gay. 
Themes of love, identity, and family are woven throughout the book as she slowly opens herself up to her true self. However, this is where the review becomes slightly difficult for me. As a mother, I have to say that a few scenes in this book that are sexual in nature, may not be appropriate for audiences under the age of 16.
“So Kath put her hand between Lily’s legs, and Lily helped her, fumbling with her underwear. It was awkward, but when Kath’s fingers touched her, they both gasped” (Lo, 2021, p. 287).
The scene continues a bit further, but out of all the YA books I have read this shocked me a little. I am fully aware that most teens know what this scene is and would have no problems reading it, however, some readers might not fully understand sexual topics yet and might be embarrassed or confused. I think the taming (not removal) of the scene would be appropriate for the age range this book is targeted to. 
As a librarian however, this book shares many historical and racial issues that are important for students to read about. It created a richness and also a sequential understanding with a timeline. The weaving of this fictional story with real life historical events and locations was fascinating, especially for me since I currently live in Shanghai, China. 
Rich historical elements, queer identity, and family dynamics make this book a unique read, especially for those that categorize themselves as LGBTQAI+. Stories such as this one are important to tell and as a librarian I would absolutely house this book on the shelves, however, I would be cautious to check it out to younger readers. I believe I would need to have a conversation with the Principal and English department head to assess the best practices for a book like this in the library.