Lucy, Uncensored by Mel and Teghan Hammond

4* (minor spoilers)

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At surface level, this is a coming-of-age novel about best friends and self-proclaimed “drama nerds” who have written a queer retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, their senior showcase that will serve as an audition for the university drama program they both hope to get into nearby. Dig deeper and it's an important book that pulls back the curtain to show what transgender and non-binary youth have to endure while trying to live as their authentic selves, battling transphobia, homophobia and gender dysphoria.

Lucy and Callie have planned out their path to success which includes getting into the Hughes drama program at Central University where they’ll be roommates. However, when they make a visit, Lucy runs into classmates who taunt her with transphobic slurs, leaving her uncomfortable with the idea of going to college so close to home. To add to her mounting distress, in a ripped from the headlines scenario, the local school board has banned them from putting on their play, forcing them to either rewrite a “sanitized version” or to give up their chance to attend Hughes. So, Lucy decides to see what other options are out there and finds an all-women’s college 6 hours away. Now all she has to do is visit the campus with Callie and hope it’s everything she’s been led to believe it might be, including meeting face-to-face with a handsome guy she connects with online who she’s been pumping for information about the school.

As Lucy starts to have conversations with queer students who have various gender identities and sexual preferences, readers are given the opportunity to witness the challenges these vulnerable, yet proud young adults face from family, classmates, supposed friends, and strangers. For some readers, this will be a valuable lesson; for those who are navigating their own journey, it will hopefully provide validation, comfort and hope when they see themselves in the characters. This is a worthy addition to any teen collection. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Knopf BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.




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