Finally, the intersectional, lesbian, historical teen novel so many readers have been waiting for.

Lily Hu has spent all her life in San Francisco’s Chinatown, keeping mostly to her Chinese American community both in and out of school. As she makes her way through her teen years in the 1950s, she starts growing apart from her childhood friends as her passion for rockets and space exploration grows—along with her curiosity about a few blocks in the city that her parents have warned her to avoid. A budding relationship develops with her first White friend, Kathleen, and together they sneak out to the Telegraph Club lesbian bar, where they begin to explore their sexuality as well as their relationship to each other. Lo’s lovely, realistic, and queer-positive tale is a slow burn, following Lily’s own gradual realization of her sexuality while she learns how to code-switch between being ostensibly heterosexual Chinatown Lily and lesbian Telegraph Bar Lily. In this meticulously researched title, Lo skillfully layers rich details, such as how Lily has to deal with microaggressions from gay and straight women alike and how all of Chinatown has to be careful of the insidious threat of McCarthyism. Actual events, such as Madame Chiang Kai-shek’s 1943 visit to San Francisco, form a backdrop to this story of a journey toward finding one’s authentic self.

Beautifully written historical fiction about giddy, queer first love. (author’s note) (Historical romance. 14-18)

- Kirkus Review

4

A beautiful story about self discovery, evaluating friendships, and following the life YOU are meant to live. ( )

A beautiful book, with beautiful language. Enthralling characters and a wonderful story about first love. ( )

5/5 Stars
My Thoughts: I found the book a little slow to start, but overall, this book was so beautifully written that I don't think I am the person I was after finishing this book. i fell in love with both Lily and Kath. I love that they both wanted to be something special when they left high school instead of other girls like Shirley, who just wanted to get married. My heart was in my throat when I knew the cops were raiding the telegraph club. Although I hate that lilys parents sent her away to Pasadena with her aunt but I like that her aunt was at least open to understanding what lily was going through. and I would like to start a formal position for this to be a movie with Ari who played cynthia in Rise of the Pink Ladies as Kath please and thank you. ( )

Lily has always been a good Chinese daughter, doing all the things expected of her in 1950s San Francisco. But tensions are high for Chinese American citizens during this time - suspected communists lurk around every corner. So when Lily starts to feel differently about Kath Miller than she is supposed to, she’s scared. But Kath and Lily have a connection blossoming in the hills of San Francisco, particularly at The Telegraph Club. This is dangerous and exciting, which feeling will be more powerful for Lily?

Lo has done a wonderful job evoking San Francisco - I could feel myself walking down the streets and up the hills with Lily and Kath. Beautiful and poignant. ( )