When he finally comes to the conclusion that what Barton Springs needs is its very own Pride festival, he isn’t prepared for the political stonewalling from the mayor and town council, or to discover that some of his neighbors are blatant homophobes. He gives a lot of thought to this as he ponders the meaning of pride and why he doesn’t know what it’s supposed to feel like or exactly what it is. Jake might be the only out kid in the 8th grade, but he eventually comes to the conclusion that he can’t be the only queer person in the entire village. The issue is that Jake had no intention of coming out to the entire village of Barton Springs in one massive and unmistakable display, but he leaves the flag up while he works out how he feels about it. When he finally works up the courage to come out to his parents-even though he knows, without a doubt, that they’ll keep supporting and loving him unconditionally-he couldn’t have predicted his dad would be so enthusiastic to show his support that he’d hang a giant Pride flag from the pole in their front yard. Jake has only recently come out to a few people at school, including his best friend Jenna. Review: Phil Stamper’s Small Town Pride is a sweetly earnest-and earnestly sweet-middle grade novel about embracing who you are and discovering the meaning of pride. And as Jake and his friends try to find a way to bring Pride to Barton Springs, it seems suspicious that the mayor’s son, Brett, suddenly wants to spend time with Jake.īut someone that cute couldn’t possibly be in league with his mayoral mother, could he? Why can’t they hold a pride festival in Barton Springs? The problem is, Jake knows he’ll have to get approval from the town council, and the mayor won’t be on his side.
A few people are even concerned the flag will lead to something truly outlandish: a pride parade.Įxcept Jake doesn’t think that’s a ridiculous idea.
When Jake’s dad hangs a comically large pride flag in their front yard in an overblown show of love, the mayor begins to receive complaints. While his family and friends are accepting and supportive, the same can’t be said about everyone in their small town of Barton Springs, Ohio. It’s an uplifting story about the power of love and acceptance, and, of course, taking pride in who you are.īlurb: Jake is just starting to enjoy life as his school’s first openly gay kid. At a Glance: Just in time for Pride month, Small Town Pride is a book that needs to be given a place on middle school library shelves.
0 kommentar(er)
