Garden, N. (1982). Annie on My Mind. NY: Farrar,
Straus, and Giroux Publishing.
Liza Winthrop is a 17-year-old girl from an affluent
residential neighborhood, within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. She
attends an exclusive private schoool, Foster Academy and aspires to attend MIT.
Annie Kenyon doesn’t come from such a privileged background, living in a
lower-income part of Manhattan with her blue-collar mother and father. Annie
hopes to attend the University of California, Berkeley to develop her talent as
a singer.
Liza
and Annie meet by happenstance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They come
from very different backgrounds, but develop a strong friendship that quickly grows
into much more for the two girls. They are both afraid to come out about their
relationship for fear of the negative reactions they foresee. A
volunteer opportunity to house sit for a couple of her female teachers, gives
Liza a chance for to spend some alone time with Annie. It is here that they
begin to come to terms with their relationship and own sexuality. They also
discover another secret relationship; their teachers’. During the holiday, they
are discovered by a school administrator, and both secret relationships are
revealed. Liza narrowly avoids expulsion, while the two teachers are
terminated. Liza feeling guilt and responsibility for what she has caused,
breaks off her relationship with Annie.
The two
girls wind up going their separate ways and on different sides of the country,
although Annie continues to write Liza constantly. Eventually, Liza comes to
terms with her feelings. Finally reaching out to Annie, they agree to reunite
over winter break and get back together.
Annie on my mind is a poignant
story of love found, lost, and then found again. This story is told from the
point of view of our protagonist Liza Winthrop, which adds a personal view of
the plot’s events. Havighurt’s Theories of adolescents fits in easily as the
characters achieve new and more mature relationships of a sexual nature. Understand
the development of adolescents is also important with this book. While most
struggle through puberty, I think the added struggle with homosexuality makes
this book even more relevant. Also prevalent is the theme of morality as both
girls struggle when they are questioned about their relationship. The language
in this book is not outwardly strong, but I think the sexual tones make this
book more appropriate for mature readers in high school.
**Required YA novel
Discussion Guide
Other books about LGBTQ topics:
Dare Truth or Promise by: Paula Boock
Am I Blue: Coming Out From the Silence by: Marion Bauer
Book Trailer
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